Finnish government introduces new regulations to simplify work permit procedures

Highlights: Revised rules for Finland work permit process 

• The Finnish government has implemented rules to smooth the work permit process for employees & employers.

• An Employer certification program has been introduced to speed up the work permit processing time.
• Graduates from Finnish universities will now have a streamlined pathway to acquire Residence permits.

Changes in the Finland Immigration programs

The revised changes in the policies are directed towards increasing the skill & labor shortage of the country, in turn boosting the Finnish economy.

The Finnish government has made multiple changes to the Immigration rules and programs that are mentioned below:

New trusted employer program:

• Finnish employers can apply for a certification to speed up the processing time for work permits and PR of foreign candidates hired in bulk.
• The initial employer certification comes with a validity of two years and can be extended for an additional three years.

Revised employment requirements:

• Employers that are non-certified must include terms of employment in the work permit applications via the online Finland portal.
• The application form must have a signature from a designated Finnish official.
• The signature must be on the employee's application or a registered employer's "Enter Finland" account.  

Validity of passport:

International employees do not require mandatory validation of their passports. Employees can now work for the entire work permit duration without a valid passport.

New graduate work permit:

• A new work permit has been introduced for graduates with a degree from a Finnish university and a monthly income of at least EUR 1000.
• The work permit will be valid for two years and eligible for extension if the graduate has a job offer or has established a business.
• The application process, fee structure, and documentation requirements are similar to that of the Finnish Specialist Permit.

Benefits of the New Finland Immigration program

• Employers with the certification can benefit from a faster processing time for work permits
• Certification holder applications will be prioritized over non-certified employers in cases of delays or postponements in the processing time of work permit applications.
• Employers with the certification do not have to mention the mandatory terms of employment for each of the employee applications.
• The short validity of passports will give employees flexibility while applying for work permits on their passports.
• The new work permit for graduates comes with multiple benefits and advantages.

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