Amendment of the Aliens Act (the so-called 3-month rule and extension of the right to work)

Goals and results

In accordance with the Government Programme, work-based residence permits will be more strongly tied to work.

Summary

The working group will prepare a government proposal for a situation where a foreign employee must leave Finland if the TCN’s employment relationship has ended and TCN has not concluded a new employment relationship within 3 months. In addition, employers will be obligated to report unemployment to the Finnish Immigration Service, and the right to work under work-based permits will be extended to sectors suffering from a labour shortage.

Starting points

According to the Government Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government, work-based immigration is very important for Finland's economic growth and for securing services. A work-based residence permit in Finland is based on the right and obligation to work. The Government will maintain the current system of labour market tests and strive to ensure, as a matter of priority, that unemployed jobseekers already in Finland become employed.

In February 2024, the Government has outlined that this legislative proposal proposes a period longer than three months for holders of residence permits for EU Blue card, national specialists, startup entrepreneurs, and managers and experts referred to in the ICT Directive.