An automated monitoring system is introduced by the Finnish Immigration Service to check whether residence permits are still valid for employed people.
The monitoring system will be implemented on 20 January 2025 and applied to first residence permits issued on or after 1 January 2024 and to extended permits issued on or after 1 January 2023.
An application can be submitted for a permit by prospective workers who are moving to live and work for a Finnish or other employer operating in Finland. The applicant must secure a job in advance in the field that they are applying for a permit. But so that the Finnish immigration authorities and government can keep control of the numbers of people coming into the country legitimately, and curb illegal migration, automated systems will be able to count valid permits in circulation.
The key requirements for a permit to be issued and remain valid include proof that employees are being paid a salary that meets the income requirement, for example.
“Post-decision monitoring is carried out to enable us to intervene in residence permit infringements. With the help of post-decision monitoring, we can withdraw permits that no longer meet their requirements. Furthermore, it provides us with information that helps us develop our permit processes,” says Miia Mattila, Process Owner at the Control and Monitoring Department.
Automated post-decision monitoring is already in use to monitor the permits of students, startup entrepreneurs and specialists and now the software will be upgraded to ensure hyper-vigilant permit checks post issuance. The Finnish Immigration Service has had powers to carry out post-decision monitoring since 2017.
Mattila also commented that post-decision monitoring allows the service to “detect and take measures against labour exploitation and human trafficking” where outdated or false ID documents can help crimes be committed within businesses or cross regions and borders.
“We can, for example, refer victims of exploitation to the assistance system for victims of human trafficking when needed. Any misconduct detected on the part of an employer can also be taken into account later when we consider issuing residence permits for employed persons,” says Mattila.
Expanding the scope of post-decision monitoring to cover work-based residence permits is part of the Government’s action plan against labour exploitation.
