Finland Chamber of Commerce: The next government must build a social contract on immigration – a point-based system would create a clear path for permanent residence permit

“Skills-based immigration is a matter of national importance for Finland. We can no longer afford contradictory and erratic policies that drive talent away. When that happens, business growth, investments, and innovation also move elsewhere,” says Suvi Pulkkinen, Senior Specialist at the Finland Chamber of Commerce. 

Companies cannot succeed in an isolated Finland. According to the Finland Chamber of Commerce, population aging, labor shortages, and strengthening competitiveness can be solved in only one way: through skills-based immigration and by making full use of international expertise. 

The Finland Chamber of Commerce proposes that the next government agree on a broad social compact on immigration that combines the conditions for economic growth with social cohesion. 

“Finland needs a comprehensive and long-term immigration policy with clear strategic objectives. Merely setting quantitative targets for net immigration is not enough. What matters is how skilled immigrants who move to Finland can put down roots permanently: build their everyday lives through work, learn the language, and become part of communities. This is not about individual measures but about a change in direction that will determine Finland’s future growth,” Pulkkinen says. 

A key part of the necessary reform is a points-based pathway to permanent residence, which could have a significant impact on Finland’s attractiveness. 

“A points-based model is not a new, complicated system. Rather, it is a way of assessing a person’s overall qualifications instead of relying on a single criterion. It would reward education, employment, language skills, and integration into Finnish society, while giving international talent a clearer reason to choose Finland as the place to build their future,” Pulkkinen says.  

The Finland Chamber of Commerce proposes six reforms for the next government program: 

1. Introduce a points-based system 

A points-based system would create a clear and predictable pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers and their families, while also encouraging society to invest in integration. Under the model, factors such as education, work experience, language skills, and ties to Finland would allow applicants to obtain permanent residence permit more quickly than under current arrangements. 

2. Eliminate the labor market test 

Removing the labor market test would streamline recruitment and speed up the start of employment. The phase-out should begin with people already working in Finland and their spouses. At the same time, the period allowed for job searching after the end of employment should be extended to at least eight months. 

3. Refocus education-based immigration 

Increasing the number of international students alone is not enough if their path into the workforce ends after graduation. International students should be removed from higher education funding formulas, while higher education institutions should instead be rewarded for successfully placing graduates into jobs in Finland. 

4. Enable faster workforce integration for foreign talent 

International professionals face practical bottlenecks that make overseas recruitment and relocation more difficult. The need for in-person visits should be reduced through measures such as a digital wallet and a temporary identity card. Identity verification booths should also be introduced at embassies. 

5. Support language learning and family integration 

Finland currently lacks clear goals and a comprehensive approach to integrating the families of people who move to the country for work and helping them learn the language. Yet the long-term retention of skilled workers depends largely on how smoothly everyday life functions in Finland. Employers should be offered service vouchers to support Finnish and Swedish language learning, and spouses’ employment should be systematically supported through measures such as dual-career programs. 

6. Advance workplace internationalization and ensure fair labor standards and competition 

Finland should ensure the availability of services that support the management of multicultural workplaces and help small and medium-sized enterprises internationalize. At the same time, labor exploitation must be addressed more effectively by strengthening oversight and information-sharing among authorities and ensuring that workers’ rights are protected.