Finland sees drop in immigration but record citizenship grants in 2025

Immigration to Finland declined last year, according to a statement from the Finnish Immigration Service, while the number of people granted citizenship reached an all-time high.

The agency cited a weak economic outlook and stricter foreigner legislation as key factors behind the drop in migration. Work-based residence permits fell by roughly a quarter compared to the previous year.

At the same time, 14,700 individuals were granted Finnish citizenship in 2025—the highest figure on record and nearly 1,000 more than in the prior year. The Immigration Service attributed the surge to efforts to clear a backlog of pending citizenship applications from previous years.