Finland rejects majority visa applications for wild-berry pickers

Finland has rejected majority of seasonal work visa applications this year, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release on Tuesday.

The Finnish embassies received about 2,200 seasonal work visa applications for the purpose of wild-berry picking in Finland and 1,600 of the applications have been processed.

The authority rejected about 1,400 of the applications.

The processing has revealed indications of a risk of worker exploitation, as well as shortcomings in employers’ compliance with their statutory obligations, said the ministry.

Most of these seasonal work visa applications (about 2,100) were processed at Finland’s Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

Small numbers of applications were also submitted in Kazakhstan, Kenya, Vietnam, Nepal and India.

Wild-berry picking became subject to seasonal work rules with an amendment to the Seasonal Workers Act that entered into force in February 2025.

The aim is to improve the position of berry pickers and prevent labour exploitation. Subsequently, foreign berry pickers coming to Finland are hired for a contractual employment relationship and must apply for a seasonal work visa or a residence permit for seasonal work.

The amendment brought wild-berry pickers within the scope of labour legislation, the occupational safety and health regulations and the related supervision by the authorities.

In the 2026 season, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been able to draw on the Finnish Supervisory Agency’s 2025 reports on wild-berry picking, alongside information provided by other authorities, to support the processing of seasonal work visa applications.

“The primary reason for refusal is that the mission processing the application is not satisfied that the employer will be able to fulfil its obligations as an employer,” said Katja Luopajärvi, Director of the Visa Unit of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.