Filipino workers face new residence permit challenges in Finland as income thresholds rise

The opportunities for low-income foreign workers to bring their families to Finland are becoming increasingly limited. Starting from early November, the income thresholds for residence permits will be raised significantly. This change is particularly concerning for Filipino workers who have arrived to work in Finland’s healthcare sector, many of whom had hoped to bring their families with them.

For instance, Race Ann Mayo, a Filipino caregiver starting her job in the North Savo welfare region, expressed her hope of reuniting with her children, aged 17 and 11, who are still in the Philippines. However, family reunification for healthcare workers in Finland is challenging. According to Barona, the staffing agency that recruited them, these workers earn slightly over €2,300 a month, translating to an estimated net income of around €1,860 after taxes.

To obtain residence permits for their children based on family ties, workers must meet new income requirements, which will increase from the current threshold of €1,900 to €2,300 for a family of one adult and two children. The average net salary for healthcare workers in welfare regions, considering extra shifts, is just over €2,043, which falls short of the necessary threshold for a single parent with two children. For a family of two adults and two children, the monthly net income requirement rises to €2,910.

The Finnish Immigration Service mandated the increase in income requirements to ensure that applicants do not rely on social assistance. They aim for family reunification to consider children’s best interests, but stringent income thresholds may hinder immigration for various sectors, particularly in healthcare and services. Barona’s director for international workforce, Elina Koskela, emphasized the need for easier family reunification processes to promote work-related immigration in Finland.