Finland’s increasingly restrictive residence permit system is contributing to migrant irregularity and heightened vulnerability to labour exploitation. Migrants in atypical or precarious legal situations—including asylum seekers, seasonal workers, students, temporary protection beneficiaries, and undocumented individuals—are often stigmatized as criminals or welfare abusers. In practice, many are active participants in the labour market, filling essential roles in sectors critical to Finland’s economy and security of supply.

Under the Aliens Act, work-based residence permits are closely tied to specific employers or sectors. This dependency limits workers’ ability to change jobs, even in cases of exploitation or unlawful conditions, increasing the risk of coercion and abuse. Inflexible employment criteria and strict documentation requirements prevent some migrants from regularizing their status, even when they are employed and paying taxes. Recent legislative changes have further narrowed pathways to permanent residence, increasing the likelihood that individuals who have lived and worked lawfully in Finland fall into undocumented status.

Research suggests that tightening residence permit conditions does not reduce irregular migration; instead, it risks expanding it by pushing legally residing workers into precarious or undocumented situations. Migrants, regardless of their initial reason for arrival, typically seek stability, lawful employment, and the opportunity to build secure lives. Aligning migration policy more closely with labour market realities and strengthening workers’ rights would reduce exploitation, limit undeclared work, and benefit the Finnish labour market as a whole.