Anna Lindh Foundation

Familia Ry Opinion On Proposed Immigration Law

Language: English

The Finnish organization Familia ry has given an expert statement to Parliament’s Administration Committee about the government’s proposal to change the Aliens Act (HE 62/2025 vp).

Familia says the new rules would make life harder for international families and create inequality between different groups of immigrants.

Key concerns include:

  • Longer wait for permanent residence: The required time to live in Finland before getting a permanent permit would increase, which could harm family stability.

  • Unfair “fast tracks”: Faster paths to residence would favor people with higher education, strong Finnish skills, or good income, leaving others behind.

  • High language demands: The proposed C1-level Finnish or Swedish requirement is too difficult for most people to reach within a few years.

  • Strict income rules: Families could face problems if a parent loses their job or relies on support, possibly hurting children’s well-being.

  • Unequal treatment of degrees: People with polytechnic degrees might be treated worse than university graduates.

Familia urges lawmakers to consider children’s rights, family unity, and equal treatment in all immigration law reforms.