Long-term national D visa to expedite entry of foreign labour

NordenBladet — A legislative amendment, which will enter into force in June, will enable the introduction of a long-term visa. A long-term visa is related to work-based immigration and a fast track procedure for entry into the country. In the first phase, a long-term visa can be issued to senior specialists, start-up entrepreneurs and their family members.On 10 February 2022, the Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the amendments. The President is expected to approve the amendments on Friday 11 February 2022 and they will enter into force on 1 June 2022. Finland aims to significantly increase the immigration of skilled labour. This is why the entry of those who come to Finland to work and study will be facilitated by reforming legislation. The legislative amendment will create a legal basis for the use of long-term visas in Finland.  In future, legislative amendments can be presented to expand the coverage of long-term visas to include also other groups of persons. The Ministry of the Interior is preparing a government proposal on expanding the coverage of long-term visas to include researchers, students and their family members.Long-term visas help in fulfilling the fast track pledgeThe introduction of long-term visas contributes to the implementation of the fast track plan for specialists, growth entrepreneurs and their family members. The fast track refers to an expedited residence permit procedure. The fast track will be ready in June 2022 when the long-term visa is to be taken into use.The long-term D visa supports the implementation of the 14-day fast track service pledge in that senior specialists or start-up entrepreneurs and their family members can travel to Finland immediately after they have been issued with a residence permit. In other words, in future, they do not need to wait for a residence permit card abroad. The amendment will enter into force on 1 JuneThe Ministry for Foreign Affairs has prepared legislation on long-term visas in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Finnish Immigration Service and several other authorities.