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7.7.2026 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has received approximately 2,200 seasonal work visa applications this year for the purpose of wild-berry picking in Finland. To date, a majority of the applications have been processed, approximately 1,600 applications in total. The processing has revealed indications of a risk of worker exploitation, as well as shortcomings in employers’ compliance with their statutory obligations. The majority of the applications, approximately 1,400, have been refused.

2.3.2026 | Wild-berry picking has been regulated under the Seasonal Workers Act since 2025. Companies must hire foreign berry pickers subject to a visa requirement for a contractual employment relationship to enable them to apply for an entry permit to Finland. For stays up to three months, berry pickers apply for a seasonal work visa at a Finnish mission abroad.

2.7.2025 | About 2,600 wild-berry pickers were granted a seasonal work visa for Finland for summer 2025. About 60 applicants received a negative decision.

19.2.2025 | Following legislative amendments that entered into force on 17 February, wild-berry picking carried out by foreign nationals is treated as seasonal work. Companies must hire foreign berry pickers for a contractual employment relationship to enable them apply for an entry permit to Finland. In future, berry pickers will apply for a seasonal work visa for stays up to three months.

6.2.2025 | Due to the problems encountered in the wild berry sector, foreign berry pickers will enter Finland as seasonal workers from now on. Following the change, it will be easier to monitor that the rights of pickers are protected and guarantee them a sufficient level of income.

10.10.2024 | The amendments aim to safeguard a sufficient level of income for foreign pickers and improve monitoring to ensure the rights of pickers are realised. The wild berry sector will be brought into line with other sectors requiring seasonal labour.  

26.6.2024 | In May 2024, the Government outlined that the picking of wild berries is an activity based primarily on seasonal work in an employment relationship. The aim is to safeguard a sufficient level of income for foreign pickers and to improve monitoring to ensure the rights of pickers are realised. The sector will be brought into line with other sectors requiring seasonal labour.

15.5.2024 | The ministerial working group on employment and entrepreneurship decided on 15 May 2024 to prepare amendments to the Seasonal Workers Act and Decree. The primary route for wild berry picking will be seasonal work in an employment relationship. The aim is that the changes will enter into force for the harvest season of 2025.

30.10.2025 | A working group of the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Defence has been appointed to explore how nature restoration and other ways to make use of natural barriers can support national defence and border security especially in eastern Finland.

6.5.2024 | In its current form, the status of foreign wild berry pickers involves significant risks. To support political decision-making, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment commissioned a study on the economic impacts of different solutions. A working group of the Ministry has also produced an additional impact assessment of the options.

19.1.2024 | As it is at present, there are significant risks associated with the status of foreign berry pickers. The study commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment assesses the economic effects of the alternative solutions to both berry pickers and berry companies. The Government will decide on further preparation that may be needed later on.

15.3.2024 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has decided to suspend the reception of wild-berry pickers’ visa applications in Thailand. The suspension applies to all applicants in countries within the consular district of the Embassy of Finland in Bangkok: Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar. This means that Schengen visas will not be issued to wild-berry pickers from these countries for the summer 2024 harvest season.

22.12.2022 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has prepared an amendment to the Seasonal Workers Decree according to which the picking of natural products would take place under contractual employment relationships. The Ministry has also submitted reports to Parliament on acts that aim to prevent the exploitation of foreign workers. The amendments to the Seasonal Workers Act, Act on the Legal Sta...

10.2.2023 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs suspended the issuing of visas to Thai berry pickers in November 2022. The Ministry stated as grounds for the suspension certain ambiguities concerning wild-berry picking, including risk of trafficking in human beings, an ongoing police investigation in Finland and the possible amendments to the status of wild-berry pickers prepared by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

2.2.2023 | In November 2022, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs instructed the Embassy of Finland in Bangkok to suspend the issuing of visas to Thai wild-berry pickers for the time being. The Ministry stated as grounds for the suspension a number of ambiguities concerning wild-berry picking, including unreliable information entered into visa applications, risk of trafficking in human beings, an ongoing police investigation in Finland and possible amendments to the status of wild-berry pickers.

3.6.2021 | A new Act will strengthen the legal status of wild produce pickers and lay down the obligations of companies in more detail and in more binding terms. At the same time, earnings opportunities of foreign berry pickers will improve and companies will enjoy from a more equal competitive environment, which will help the sector to grow sustainably and become more international.

31.3.2021 | On 31 March 2021, the Government proposed new legislation to improve the legal status and earnings opportunities of foreign berry pickers and to make the competitive environment equal to companies in the sector. As foreign berry pickers have not been deemed to be in an employment relationship but instead to work as entrepreneurs, their status is currently unregulated from a legal point of view.

31.3.2021 | On 31 March 2021, the Government proposed new legislation to improve the legal status and earnings opportunities of foreign berry pickers and to make the competitive environment equal to companies in the sector. As foreign berry pickers have not been deemed to be in an employment relationship but instead to work as entrepreneurs, their status is currently unregulated from a legal point of view.

13.9.2023 | Strengthening the labour market and international recruitment requires that proactive and effective measures are taken to tackle abuse in the labour market. In order to meet the objectives of the Government Programme, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will prepare an action plan to prevent and combat exploitation by the end of 2023.

8.12.2021 | The demand for natural products is expected to grow globally. Natural raw materials are expected to generate significant business activities because their economic potential has not yet been fully realised.