Permanent Residence: Europe vs Canada
Finland makes it harder and harder: Is the Grass Greener on the Other Side? Hmm.. just not for the immigrants
Another European fairy tale that we want to believe in is starting to sound less and less like a fairy tale. The Finnish government has decided to update its approach to issuing permanent residence permits (PR), and this update is clearly not looking like "come to the country, we'll be glad to welcome you."
According to a new initiative by the Finnish Ministry of Internal Affairs, to obtain a permanent residence permit, you will now need six years of continuous residence in the country, instead of four. And that's not all.
A mandatory knowledge of Finnish or Swedish (yes, those languages which pronunciation will drive you nuts), as well as at least two years of work experience in Finland.
For those who still hope to “sneak through” under the previous conditions, there is a loophole: you need to earn at least €40,000 per year, have a recognized academic degree, a high level of language, and three years of work experience. You don’t need to be good, you need to be perfect.
“And the grass is greener on the other side”
We often hear:
“Oh Europe! Oh Scandinavia! I wish I could move there because everything is humane there.” Only it turns out that the grass is not just greener on the other side, it is behind a high fence and with a filtration system, so that, God forbid, it might grow on your property.
And, by the way, do not forget: Finland is not the only one. There is a steady trend all over the world: immigration rules are becoming stricter. Fewer chances, higher requirements, stricter control. Welcome to 2025.
And now let's go back home. Common sense still works in Canada, at least for now. To get permanent residence, you don't need to live there continuously or have work experience in Canada (in many programs). Some people get the status and leave, some haven't worked a day yet, but already have PR. Sounds strange? Maybe. But this is our reality.
According to the Canadian rules, to maintain a PR status, it is enough to live there for 2 years out of 5, and they do not have to be consecutive. In the US, for example, you can easily lose your green card if you leave even for a few months without proper permission. So to say we have sort of a social paradise (at least in these terms).
NOW I’D LIKE TO SPEAK OUT about “continuous residence”
CONTINUOUS RESIDENCE is a scary combination of words (in my personal opinion), which is heard more and more often in different immigration systems.
In France, Germany, Australia, and Finland you can get permanent residence only if you actually lived there year after year, without long absences.
‼Every trip, every vacation can “reset” your countdown. And you have to start over.
Fortunately, in Canada this is not the case yet. But the key word here is “yet”. We see where the world is heading. Therefore yes, you can still go stay at your grandma’s for a year or live in Mexico. But I do not advise abusing this freedom. The law can change in a heart beat and no one will compensate you anything.
Finland just simply confirmed the general global trend: it is becoming considerably difficult to become a resident or a citizen of any country. If you are already in Canada and have a chance to apply for PR, do not delay. Do not compare with neighbors whose “grass is greener”... perhaps it is just an artificial turf.
Oleksandra Melnykova, Immigration and Refugee Consultant in Canada
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