Immigration updates – 2nd of January

Contributor(s): Daniel King
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    Denmark

    Positive Lists updated

    The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has updated the Positive Lists for people with a higher education and for skilled work. The new lists are applicable from 1 January 20254. 

    The Positive Lists are lists of professions experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals in Denmark. Those offered a job included in the Positive List can apply for a residence and work permit in Denmark based on the scheme.

    The new Positive List for People with a Higher Education includes 162 job titles, while the Positive List for Skilled Work includes 48.

    In the current update, more positions have been added to the Positive List for People with a Higher Education. This is partly due to slightly more positions where there is a labour shortage, and partly because the positions on the list with effect from 1 April 2023 are on the list for at least 2 years at a time.

    The Positive List for Skilled Work has fewer positions as fewer positions where there is a labour shortage have been registered.

    New residence permit fees

    The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has reduced its fees for processing applications for residence permits.

    The new fees are as follows. The amounts are in Danish kroner (DKK).

    New fees20242025
    Work cases
    Study cases
    Au pairs and interns
    Accompanying family
    6,290
    2,490
    4,740
    2,880
    6,055
    2,255
    4,210
    2,380

    Foreign nationals applying for a residence permit on the basis of work or studies etc. must generally pay a fee for submitting the application. The fee amounts are generally set once a year based on the tasks associated with the case processing.

    Finland

    New minimum income limit for the residence permit for an employed person

    The minimum income limit for a residence permit for an employed person increased as of 1 January 2025 because of amendments to legislation. A foreign employee who arrives in Finland with a residence permit for an employed person will have to earn at least 1600 euros per month for their work in Finland. The purpose of the amendments is to ensure that employees who move to Finland for work are paid a salary that is sufficient to cover their living costs.

    Currently, a residence permit for an employed person can be issued if the applicant’s salary complies with the applicable collective agreement or meets the minimum income requirement of 1399 euros per month. When the amendments have entered into force, international employees who are working in Finland with a residence permit for an employed person must still have a salary that complies with the applicable collective agreement, but 1600 euros will be the minimum salary level that is required.

    The employer may pay up to 50% of the salary as fringe benefits, such as by offering a company car or an accommodation benefit.

    Under the Aliens Act, a person who applies for a residence permit is considered to have sufficient financial resources if he or she cannot be expected to become dependent on social assistance.

    The new minimum income limit concerns all applications for a first-time residence permit for an employed person as of 1 January 2025 and extended permits as of 1 April 2025.

    The residence permit for an employed person is the most common work-based residence permit issued in Finland. The number of applications for a first residence permit for an employed person submitted between January and November 2024 was 9104. The most common citizenships among applicants who have applied for a work-based residence permit this year are Thailand, Philippines, India, China and Vietnam. Most applicants from Thailand came to Finland for a short time period to pick wild berries.

    New processing fees

    The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) updated its processing fees effective 1 January 2025, based on a decree by the Ministry of the interior.

    Examples of price changes include the following.

    • Previously, the residence permit card on the basis of temporary protection was free of charge. Moving forward, the card will be subject to a charge. The processing fee for an online application for a card on the basis of temporary protection is EUR 20, and for a paper application, EUR 40.
    • The processing fee for an online application for a permanent residence permit has increased to EUR 240. The previous price was EUR 220. The price of a paper application for a permanent residence permit has increased to EUR 350. The previous price was EUR 270.

    2024 fees will apply to applications submitted by 31 December 2024.

    Decision-making pause in January 2025 concerning residence permit for an employed person and seasonal work permits

    The decision-making on certain residence permit applications is on pause from 1 to 8 January 2025. The pause concerns applications for a residence permit for an employed person and residence permits for seasonal work that exceeds six months. The decision-making on both first and extended permits will be on pause.

    The pause does not affect the submission of residence permit applications, which can be submitted normally through the online service Enter Finland even during the break.

    Processing times are likely to be longer than usual due to the pause in decision-making.

    The reason for the pause is the transfer of work permit services from the TE Offices to the Finnish Immigration Service and the system updates required because of the transfer.

    Netherlands

    Improved services for highly skilled migrants in Zeeland

    Effective 1 January 2025, highly skilled migrants can go to the municipal office in Goes to arrange everything for their stay in Zeeland. They and their families can register at once with one of the local councils in Zeeland. They will receive a Citizen Service Number (in Dutch: burgerservicenummer or BSN), pick up their residence document and receive practical information about working in the region. This is possible because Expat Centre Zeeland, the local councils in Zeeland and the IND have joined forces to create a one-stop shop at the town hall in Goes under a three-year pilot programme.

    Besides highly skilled migrants and their families, other migrants who wish to stay in the Netherlands, for work, education or residency with a partner, can also go to this IND service point. The IND service point offers limited services, such as collecting a residence document, taking biometric data, and obtaining a residence endorsement sticker or a return visa.

    Digital application for recognition as a sponsor possible in 2025

    In the first quarter of 2025, it will be possible to digitally submit the application for recognition as a sponsor for labour. The digital application form is only available in Dutch (‘Erkenning als referent (arbeid)’) and is submitted via the IND’s Business Portal. 

    For a digital application for recognition as a sponsor, the employer needs eHerkenning (eRecognition). Application for eHerkenning can be submitted now. Those who want to submit the digital application as authorised representative on behalf of a company need chain authorisation and can then log in to the Business Portal on behalf of the company and submit the application there. 

    Applicants pay the fee directly when submitting a digital application. This allows for a quicker decision on the application. They will receive the proof of payment of the fees by post. 

    New fees and required amounts for 2025

    From 1 January 2025, new fees apply for applications for residency in the Netherlands. The IND adjusts these fees every year as prices and wages rise. This year, the fees will increase by 6.7 percent.

    The required minimum income amounts for residence permit applications have also been adjusted from 1 January 2025.

    These are the gross required amounts per month without holiday allowance for 2025:

    • Highly skilled migrant aged 30 years or older: EUR 5688
    • Highly skilled migrant under 30 years of age: EUR 4171
    • Orientation year highly skilled migrant: EUR 2989
    • EU Blue Card: EUR 5688
    • Reduced salary criterion EU Blue Card: EUR 4551.
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