Questions and answers: Corona and worker mobility

The purpose of the restrictions and recommendations in force during the coronavirus epidemic is to slow down and prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Finland, to safeguard the resource capacity and resilience of our healthcare system throughout the country, and to protect people, especially those who are the most at risk.

On 10 July, the Government decided to extend the temporary restrictions on border traffic in Finland. This decision follows on from the decisions made by the Government on 19 March, 7 May and 12 June.

On 13 July 2020, restrictions were lifted on traffic at the internal borders between Finland and countries where the incidence of the coronavirus is similar to that in the countries where internal border control has already been lifted. Restrictions at the external borders to continue with certain exceptions. More information on border traffic is available in the Border Guard guidelines.

The Government is closely monitoring the development of the disease and is prepared to change the decisions on border traffic if necessary.

Finland’s missions abroad keep their own websites and social media channels updated on current information on the impact of the coronavirus situation on the processing of visa and residence permit applications.

https://um.fi/finland-abroad

Holders of a Finnish residence permit may enter the country.

Other information on work-related travel across internal and external borders is available in the Border Guard guidelines.

The purpose and conditions for travel for contractual or assignment-based employment will be assessed in connection with border checks. At border checks, you may be requested to present documents verifying that your travel meets the conditions for entry into the country, such as an employment contract or documents concerning your assignment.

In situations where restrictions have been imposed on external border traffic from third countries, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide a justification for the essential travel of an employee arriving in Finland from outside the EU. Tasks that are critical for the security of supply or for a specific sector, and that must be carried out without delay, are deemed essential. Based on the authorities’ assessment, a list has been prepared of tasks that are essential for the security of supply or critical for a specific sector.

A list prepared by the authorities of tasks essential for the security of supply or critical for a specific sector 

The employer will fill in the form Employer’s justification for the necessity of an employee entering the country during the state of emergency and give it to the employee. An employee attempting to enter Finland will present this form in addition to other documents required for crossing the border.

Form: Employer’s justification for the necessity of an employee entering the country during the state of emergency (FI/EN)

Form: Employer’s justification for the necessity of an employee entering the country during the state of emergency (SV/EN)

It is the employer’s duty to ensure that the person entering the country has a valid residence permit or visa entitling to work, if the work to be carried out so requires.

The sector-specific list of necessary traffic prepared jointly by the ministries, the National Emergency Supply Agency, the Finnish Immigration Service and the Border Guard does not constitute an advance ruling on who will be admitted into the country, but the border control authority will take it into account when assessing the necessity of traffic.

The main rule is to restrict unnecessary travel. According to the Border Guard’s guidelines, third-country nationals who have been granted a residence permit may enter Finland starting from 1 May 2020. Residence permits for seasonal workers are not included in this category. They are treated as their own special group. To be allowed to enter Finland, a third-country national with a residence permit for seasonal work entering Finland for the first must be included in the seasonal worker quota of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Entry into Finland as foreign seasonal workers is permitted to citizens of the Schengen area, other EU countries and the United Kingdom under the same conditions as travel for contractual or assignment-based employment. 

The Finnish border authorities will allow entry into Finland of 3,000 seasonal workers, in addition to the previously decided 1,500, who are citizens of third countries outside the Schengen area, other EU countries and the United Kingdom to meet the labour needs in the spring and early summer. The Border Guard will monitor the number of citizens of third countries entering into Finland for critical primary production tasks in the spring and early summer.

More detailed information on border traffic during emergency conditions is available in the Border Guard guidelines.

Seasonal workers who are citizens of third countries (e.g. Ukraine, Belarus, Thailand) are allowed to enter the country if they have the necessary permits for entry into the country and for working, and their employer has filled in the form proving the necessity of their entry into the country.

More frequently asked questions concerning seasonal workers can be found on the coronavirus page of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

A person arriving in the country must restrict unnecessary close contacts and enter self-isolation for 14 days. Under self-isolation, movement is restricted to travel between the workplace and place of residence, and other essential movement. Use your own car, if possible.

Anyone who experiences respiratory symptoms should contact healthcare services immediately. Further instructions on the 14-day period of self-isolation will be distributed upon arrival in the country.

Remember the following:

• Avoid physical contact and maintain a safe distance of at least 1–2 metres from other people.
• Only go out if necessary.
• Avoid crowds and close contacts as much as possible.
• If you cannot avoid close contact, wash your hands with water and soap immediately after the contact.
• Follow the instructions on good hand and cough hygiene. Read the instructions on good hand and cough hygiene.

Persons arriving to work in healthcare and social welfare must agree with their employer on any special work arrangements. The employer must assess the risk of infection and, if necessary, make changes to the employee’s duties for 14 days from arrival in the country in order to ensure client and patient safety and the safety of the workplace.

If you get symptoms of a respiratory infection and suspect a coronavirus infection:

Contact a health centre immediately. You can

• make an assessment of symptoms at omaolo.fi
• call the local health centre, emergency services or Medical Helpline at 116 117

No. The current legislation does not allow reimbursement of the application processing fee.

No. The current legislation does not allow reimbursement of the application processing fee.

The residence permit will remain in effect for the duration of the layoff. An extended permit may be granted on condition that the employee has had secure means of subsistence while the previous permit was in effect. More information on working and unemployment benefits while laid off  is available the websites of Kela and the TE Office.

More information on the Finnish Immigration Service’s website

• Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus situation on the website of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
• Current information on the TE Services website
• TE Services: If you are laid off
• TE Services: Instructions for employers regarding layoffs (in Finnish)

 

For now, the Talent Boost action programme will focus on measures taken in Finland. We are monitoring the situation and will adjust measures as necessary.

Pilot projects that were to be implemented abroad to boost international recruitment and attract international talent will be postponed. The international recruitment pilot projects of EURES that were in their early stages will be postponed.  However, EURES experts may continue to contact companies that have job vacancies and prepare assessments of situations in companies. Efforts will be made to complete the ongoing recruitment and coaching programmes online.

Companies and other employers are encouraged to use instruments such as Talent Explorer financing to recruit international experts living in Finland. Action to promote diversity in working life is taken through the Successful Multicultural Company campaign, the Talent Boost metrics and the Global Talent communications campaign.

The emergency conditions do not affect immigrants with valid residence permits. The Finnish Immigration Service and the TE Offices and ELY Centres that make partial decisions are now prioritising work-based residence permit applications considered essential for security of supply or the activities of specific sectors. Applications for extended permits will also be processed.

At the moment, the Centre for Economic Development in Uusimaa (ELY Centre) where partial decisions regarding residence permits for entrepreneurs are centrally processed, only processes permits for entrepreneurs who work as health care professionals, care workers for the elderly, in goods transport, or in other duties considered essential (for example for the security of supply). Applications for extended permits will also be processed. Granting of residence permits for entrepreneurs is always based on an overall consideration of each individual case, which involves the ELY Centre making an assessment of the conditions for profitable business and income security. The effects of the coronavirus on business activities will be taken into account when a partial decision is made. In the assessment, more weight may be given to accounting information for a period before the acute impact of the coronavirus on business activities. Future outlook will also be assessed.

Third-country nationals residing in the country with a residence permit or a permit under the Aliens Act may change employer and profession without applying for a further permit.

A residence permit issued by 9.4.2020 at the latest or a seasonal work permit referred to in the Aliens Act entitle employees to work in all sectors and tasks essential for security of supply or the functioning of the labour market.

Special act on emergency conditions is in force until 31.10.2020.

Press release