Eva proposes job-seeking visa for non-EU skilled workers in Finland

The Confederation of Finnish Industries (Eva) is proposing a job-seeking visa for Finland that would allow a six-month job search without access to Finnish social security. According to Eva’s proposal, this visa would be aimed at “non-EU skilled workers with a high likelihood of employment,” meaning applicants must possess sufficient education, skills, or work history.

“If a permanent job is secured during the visa’s validity, the individual would receive a residence permit based on employment. If no job is found, there would be no right to a residence permit,” said consultant Jussi Pyykkönen, who prepared an analysis for Eva on the matter.

Eva also suggests eliminating labor market testing, which currently requires that non-EU job seekers only be considered for positions where there are no candidates available from Finland or elsewhere in Europe. Eva views this practice as cumbersome and bureaucratic.

“Rather than assessing entry requirements based on job availability, we should evaluate the prospective applicant’s likelihood of gaining employment and contributing to the workforce,” Pyykkönen stated.

Eva believes that their visa proposal would attract skilled professionals to Finland.

The issue of labor market testing is divisive among the government parties. The Swedish People’s Party (RKP) has proposed eliminating labor market testing, even though the government program currently maintains its status. The Finns Party strongly supports retaining the existing testing, and the National Coalition Party’s Minister of Labor, Arto Satonen, sees no need for changes.

“My understanding, however, is that we are currently able to fill available jobs quite effectively,” Satonen told Yle News in August.