Finnish Immigration Service has updated its application volume forecasts

Number of students’ applications predicted to remain high

A total of 11,839 applications were submitted by students in January–October 2025, which is 5% less than in the corresponding period last year.

“One of the probable reasons behind the stagnation of the rapid growth seen in recent years is the application fee of EUR 100 that was introduced in the joint application procedure concerning higher education at the beginning of 2025. It has decreased the number of non-EU and non-EEA citizens applying for a student place in higher education in Finland. The introduction of full costing of tuition fees is expected to decrease the number of international students, at least in the short term,” says Johannes Hirvelä, Director of Information Services.

The Finnish Immigration Service predicts that the number of students applying for residence permits will still remain at a high level. According to the estimate, the number of applications will be 13,000–14,000 in 2025 and 13,000 in 2026.

Number of applications for first work-based residence permits is expected to remain at the current level in 2026

In January–October 2025, the number of applications for a first work-based residence permit was 9,593, which is approximately 29% less than during the corresponding period in 2024. The total number of applications this year is roughly at the same level as in 2018.

“The slow economic growth and the increase in unemployment in Finland in recent years together with the uncertainties regarding the global economy still explain the downward trend in the number of applications. According to our estimates, the number of applications for a first work-based residence permit will remain at the current level in 2026. Even if the economy was to take an upward turn, the labour market would react to it with a delay, and demand for foreign labour typically recovers more slowly than the demand for domestic labour,” Hirvelä says.

According to the Finnish Immigration Service’s estimate, the number of applications will be 11,000 in 2025 and 11,000–13,000 in 2026. 

Number of asylum applications is expected to remain moderate also in 2026

This year, the number of asylum applications in the territory of the European Union has remained lower than last year. 

“In particular, the number of asylum applications submitted by Syrian citizens has declined from last year after the change in the country’s administration. At the same time, entry into the territory of the EU has become generally more difficult,” Hirvelä says.

Despite the decline, the number of asylum applications submitted in the EU was 399,000 in total in January–June. There are still significant push factors in the surrounding regions due to, for example, conflicts, social instability and economic reasons in the countries of origin.

The number of asylum applications in the Nordic countries, including Finland, has declined, following the general trend in the EU. A total of 1,709 first asylum applications were submitted in Finland in January–October 2025, which is 15% less than in the corresponding period last year. 

The Finnish Immigration Service estimates that in 2025 and 2026, a total of 1,500–2,500 first asylum applications will be submitted annually.

Media enquiries

• Johannes Hirvelä, Director of Information Services, email: firstname.surname@migri.fi, tel. 0295 434 083
• Website: Forecasts | Finnish Immigration Service