Finland Residence Permit Applications Delay 2025: How to Overcome Delays

International workers seeking residence permits in Finland face significant delays in 2025. These delays result from administrative changes within the immigration system. Specifically, the transfer of work permit services from TE Offices to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has led to substantial backlogs.

This article outlines the current situation, the reasons for the delays, and how applicants can navigate these challenges.

Reasons for the Delays

The processing delays stem from several key changes in Finland’s work permit system:

Transfer of Responsibility

As of January 1, 2025, Migri assumed responsibility for processing residence permits for employed individuals. This shift has caused a disruption in the application flow.

System Updates

To facilitate this transition, Migri paused decision-making on residence permits from January 1 to January 8, 2025. During this time, they updated their systems, contributing to the slowdown.

Early Processing Suspension

TE Offices ceased processing new applications as early as December 2024. This early stoppage further exacerbated the backlog of applications.

Elimination of Partial Decisions

The requirement for partial decisions from TE Offices has been eliminated. This change alters the procedural workflow, causing additional delays.

Current Application Backlog

As of January 28, 2025, there are 4,233 residence permit applications for employed individuals either being processed or awaiting processing. The Finnish Immigration Service updates its statistics every Tuesday, reflecting the current backlog status.

Processing Times for First-Time Residence Permits

The processing times for first-time residence permits vary:

• 38% of applicants receive a decision within 30 days or less.
• 19% receive a decision within 30 to 60 days after verifying their identity.
• 35% of applications with positive outcomes mostly approved within 14 days.

Since January 1, 2025, 286 first-time residence permit applications have been submitted. Of these, 60 applications remain finalized, resulting in 29 positive decisions.

Processing Times for Extended Residence Permits

Extended residence permit processing times are also varied:

• 62% of extended permit applicants receive a decision within 30 days or less.
• 7% get a decision within 30 to 60 days.
• 38% of positive decisions mostly made within 14 days.

Since January 1, 2025, 826 extended permit applications have been submitted. So far, 209 applications remain finalized, with 103 resulting in positive decisions.

What This Means for Applicants

The Finnish Immigration Service is actively working to reduce the backlog. They aim to process all applications within one month. However, requests for expedited processing will not hasten decision times.

Applicants should regularly check their application status through Migri’s official website at Migri. Staying informed and proactive will help applicants navigate these challenging delays.

In summary, while the delays in processing residence permits in Finland are frustrating, understanding the reasons and keeping track of application status can ease the process. As Migri continues to address the backlog, applicants should remain patient and prepared.