The number of residence-permit applications increased significantly in 2019

A total of 12,687 residence permit applications were submitted on the basis of work last year, rising from 10,805 in 2018.

Almost half of the applications concerned an employee’s residence permit, which includes consideration related to availability by the TE office before Finnish Immigration Service’s decision (2019: 6,270, 2018: 5,791).

The number of applications also increased in almost all other work-related permit types, such as permits for special experts (2019: 1,791, 2018: 1,536).

The growth can also be accounted to the new permit types for seasonal work introduced in 2018. A total of 2,051 residence-permit applications were submitted for seasonal work (2018: 1,055). In addition to residence permits, 9,940 seasonal work certificates intended for seasonal work lasting less than three months were granted (2018: 6,839).

All in all, the number of residence-permit applications increased by 4,936 from 2018. A total of 71,317 persons applied for residence permit (2018: 66,381). In addition to work, a residence permit can be applied for on the basis of family ties or study, for example.

A total of 4,550 asylum applications were submitted last year, of which 2,467 were submitted by new asylum-seekers.

Changes have also taken place in the asylum-seekers’ countries of origin. Most of the new asylum-seekers last year arrived from Turkey and Russia.

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