Background information

In implementing the renewed EU Blue Card Directive (Directive 2021/1883 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2021 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment), the parliament of Finland has passed the Act on the Conditions of Entry and Residence of Third-Country Nationals for the purpose of high qualified employment 224/2024 (Laki kolmansien maiden kansalaisten maahantulon ja oleskelun edellytyksistä korkeaa osaamistasoa vaativaa työtä varten). Passing the new act also resulted in amendments to the Aliens Act 301/2004 (Ulkomaalaislaki) as well as supporting amendments to adjacent legal framework. The purpose of the EU Blue Card Directive is to make the European labour market more attractive for high skilled workers from countries outside the EU.

Content of measure

The EU Blue Card Directive applies to high skilled workers from countries outside of Europe, for which there is also already a specific national residence permit for persons employed as specialists (Erityisasiantuntijan oleskelulupa), as per the Aliens Act 301/2004 73§.

The work migrant can from now on choose if they enter Finland on the EU Blue Card or the national residence permit for specialists. The government of Finland has harmonised the income requirements of the EU Blue Card and the national specialist residence permit, the level of which was €3,638 per month in 2024. Previously, the EU Blue Card had a higher income requirement as compared to the national permit.

Generally, third-country nationals are subject to the Aliens Act 301/2004, unless deemed otherwise in the new Act on the Conditions of Entry and Residence of Third-Country Nationals for the purpose of high qualified employment 224/2024.

Amendments to the Aliens Act have been made to allow for EU Blue Card holders to work short periods in other EU countries. EU Blue Card holders have a protection period of 3 months in case of unemployment, and six months if they have resided in the country for more than 2 years.

EU Blue Card holders are however covered by the planned amendment to the Aliens Act making foreign workers to leave Finland if they are unemployed for more than three months. Specialists, startup entrepreneurs, and ICT experts would be exempt, and the maximum period of unemployment allowed would be six months. The proposal is undergoing parliamentary proceedings but has not been passed yet.

Use of measure

In 2023, there were 163 EU Blue Card based residence applications to Finland. The national specialist residence permit applications amounted to 1,297 in 2023

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government EU (Council, EC, EP)	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The government proposal has undergone consultation rounds.

Views and reactions

The Confederation of Finnish Industries have in their statement to the government proposal voiced concern that the time to find a new job in case of unemployment is too short. Considering that Finland is not comparatively good at attracting foreign experts, the added vulnerability that the short protection period gives to both the employee and their family is another negative factor for potential applicants to consider.

The trade union for health care professionals Tehy have in their statement pointed out that most social and health care professionals, while meeting the requirements for being exerts, do not reach to the minimum salary requirement due to low wages in the sector.

Sources

• 12 September 2023: Tehy´s statement on the EU Blue card (Tehyn lausunto EU:n sinisestä kortista) (sairaanhoitajat.fi)
• 04 March 2024: Confederation of Finnish Industries statement on the EU Blue Card (EK:n lausunto EU:n sinisestä kortista) (www.eduskunta.fi)
• 15 February 2025: Government proposes changes to residence permits specialists [Hallitus esittää muutoksia EU:n erityisosaajan oleskelulupaan (tem.fi)