Most seasonal berry picker visa applications rejected, Finland says

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has received around 2,200 seasonal work visa applications for wild berry pickers this year, with roughly 1,600 processed so far, most of which have been rejected, the ministry reports.

Officials cited signs of exploitation risk for workers and employers failing to meet legal obligations as key factors in the decisions.

About 2,100 applications were handled at Finland’s Bangkok embassy in Thailand, with smaller numbers submitted in Kazakhstan, Kenya, Vietnam, Nepal, and India.

A February 2025 amendment to Finland’s seasonal work law reclassified wild berry picking as seasonal labor, aiming to improve pickers’ conditions and prevent workplace exploitation.