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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.

29.4.2026 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a project to prepare the necessary amendments to the provision of the Aliens Act on sufficient financial resources for family reunification. In future, a government decree would lay down provisions on the euro amounts required to demonstrate sufficient financial resources. This requirement would apply to family members of people who live in Finland with a residence permit.

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.

13.11.2023 | To prevent labor exploitation and human trafficking, foreign workers need to have access to information in their native language about working in Finland.

3.12.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has published the Non-Violent Childhoods Action Plan for 2026–2033 aimed at preventing all forms of violence against children. The plan, which will be implemented at the government level, is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Lanzarote Convention and national statutes that require all forms of violence against children to be combated.

18.6.2025 | The Finnish Border Guard will be given new powers concerning the prevention and investigation of human trafficking offences and money laundering offences. The Government submitted the Act on Crime Prevention by the Finnish Border Guard and certain other acts for approval on 18 June. The President of the Republic is scheduled to approve the amendments on 27 June, and they will enter into force on 1 September.

3.11.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is requesting comments on a draft new act on healthcare and social welfare units that assist in investigating suspected offences involving children. The aim is to make the child-friendly Barnahus model a permanent part of the investigation of suspected offences involving children. Comments can be submitted between 3 November and 15 December.

25.1.2024 | The European Commission strives to increase police cooperation in the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. In November, the Commission proposed a regulation that would reinforce Europol's role and increase information sharing between Member States. The Government expressed its position on the Commission's proposal in its communication submitted to Parliament on 25 January 2024.

18.4.2024 | On 18 April, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal on temporarily reducing the reception allowance and the spending allowance. The act would enter into force as soon as possible and remain in force until the end of 2025.

29.12.2022 | The status and the right to services of victims of human trafficking will improve as the help provided through the Assistance System will no longer depend on the progress of the criminal proceedings related to human trafficking. Primarily, assistance will be based on an assessment of the victim’s individual situation. The President of the Republic approved the related legislative amendments on 29 December and they will enter into force on 1 January.

7.6.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has commissioned a study on the reflection periods granted to victims of human trafficking during which the victims can decide whether to cooperate with the authorities in apprehending those suspected of human trafficking. At the same time, it will be examined how suspicions of trading in sexual services are taken into account in cases where denial of stay is being considered.

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.

10.6.2025 | Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and Nigerian Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo met in Helsinki on 10 June. Topics on the agenda for their discussions included migration.

17.6.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments draft amendments to the Act on the Reception of Persons Applying for International Protection and on the Identification of and Assistance to Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings. The amendments aim to weaken the link between the provision of assistance to victims of human trafficking and criminal proceedings. In accordance with the Governm...

24.5.2026 | RESOLUTION FAL.14(46) (adopted on 13 May 2022) AMENDMENTS TO THE ANNEX TO THE CONVENTION ON FACILITATION OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME TRAFFIC, 1965 THE FACILITATION COMMITTEE, RECALLING article VII(2)(a) of the Convention on Facilitation of Internati...

18.2.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to review the provisions on the Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking. This builds on the Government Programme, which states that the status of victims will be improved, regardless of the progress of related criminal proceedings in a human trafficking case.

4.11.2021 | Nordic authorities and civil society actors working against trafficking in human beings will meet at a seminar in Helsinki on 18 November 2021. The aim with the seminar is to share information and expertise and thus support the participants in their work for strengthening the anti-trafficking efforts. Registration for the live-streamed parts of the seminar is open until 15 November 2021.

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.

18.11.2021 | Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished seminar participants here in Helsinki and over the live stream,

8.6.2020 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has set up a working group to draw up a new act to assist victims of human trafficking.