Finnish government aims to tighten permanent resident permit rules

Hi everyone.

I would like to discuss this news. The information provided in the news column was not enough for me, so I went further, to the website of the Ministry of the Interior and opened a document (in Finnish), in which you can read about the new restrictions in detail. As you know, now permanent residence can be obtained after 6 years with an A type visa, sufficient skills (B1) in the Finnish or Swedish language and a two-year work history.

Now about the exceptions. Obtaining a permanent residence permit based on a four-year period of residence would still be possible, but the applicant would have to meet one of the three additional requirements. These would be 1) a minimum annual income of EUR 40,000, 2) a Master’s degree or a postgraduate degree recognised in Finland and a two-year work history, and 3) particularly good skills in the Finnish or Swedish language and a three-year work history.

What interested me most was the 3. requirement, because theoretically my husband matches him. I spent a long time looking for information about language requirements in this case and finally found. "Pykälän 5 momentin mukaan kielitestillä todennetulla erityisen hyvällä suullisella ja kirjallisella suomen tai ruotsin kielen taidolla tarkoitettaisiin sitä, että ulkomaalainen olisi suorittanut yleisen kielitutkinnon taitotasolla viisi (C1) tai valtionhallinnon kielitutkinnon erinomaisella suullisella ja kirjallisella taidolla. Kielitaitovaatimuksesta ei tässä kohdin voitaisi tehdä poikkeuksia, koska kyse olisi edellytyksestä sille, että hakija voi saada pysyvän oleskeluluvan normaalitilannetta nopeammin".

So, they demand C1 level and no exceptions? I don't know, maybe they will change this requirement, but it's unlikely. My husband has more than 3 years of work experience, he studies at AMK in Finnish, but he only has B2 level in Finnish. And yeah, according to this, he won't be able to get type P visa faster, didn't deserve I guess. I am also at a loss because despite my good knowledge of Finnish, I do not have 2 years of work experience, because I only had small part-time jobs and unpaid long-term internships, without which I would not have been able to complete my education. I always wanted to work and was not idle, but everywhere I received refusals or was offered short-term part-time jobs.

Yes, we can apply after 6 years, but I don't see much point in it. My husband will probably do it, but I'm not going to. I'm very angry at the Finnish government and all I want is to get a higher education and flee. I feel crushed and humiliated because my husband and I, like many immigrants here, have worked very hard to integrate, learn the language and get into university. And all this seems to go unnoticed by the government. They don't give a shit about it.

This racist populism has gone too far. Do you consider this an adequate immigration measure? If so, why? My position, I think, is clear to everyone.

Thank you for your time. I wish all immigrants here resilience and good luck.

P.S. The law is intended to enter into force on January 8, 2026.