Income limit of EUR 1,600 for a residence permit for an employed person set

Persons arriving in Finland with a residence permit for an employed person should receive a monthly pay of at least EUR 1,600 for work carried out in Finland. The decree enters into force on 1 January 2025.

On 19 December 2024, the Government gave a decree that sets an income limit of EUR 1,600 for the residence permit for an employed person. The income limit refers to the pay that a person must receive for work that they arrive in Finland to do. Other income is not included in the income limit. 

All employees in sectors or groups of experts for which no separate residence permit exists apply for a residence permit for an employed person. Typically, these people are skilled workers.

The background lies in legislative changes in accordance with the government program, which stipulate that a separate income threshold is required for granting a residence permit for employees. The level of the income limit is determined by a government decree. The income limit should be set at a level where work-based immigration strengthens the general government finances and does not unnecessarily endanger the availability of labour.

The proposal aims to ensure that the people coming to work in Finland receive a pay that they can live on. The proposal also supports the Government’s objective of increasing full-time work in Finland. According to a report by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the income limit of EUR1600 has minor impact on the availability of labour nationally.

More information:
Ariann Grandell, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 236