Parliament to soon discuss stricter permanent residency requirements

[NansDrivel]

I believe the next session of parliament starts on 6 February. Stricter permanent residence requirements are on the docket.

https://intermin.fi/-/pysyvan-oleskelul ... -tiukentaa

Is anyone here concerned? Do you think this is a done deal?

[jperickson]

I assume it's a done deal as long as it follows what is in the government program. Only a question of when it's in law and what the effective date is. Also if it affects those who have alraedy applied but are waiting for it to be processed.

My general questions are:

1. What does "particularly good" mean in the case of Finnish or Swedish skills? (It is level 4 of the subgroups instead of level 3, for example?)
2. Is it going to be like citizenship is now where the requirements sound stronger, but after you read the details, as long as you have a good job and some language skills, it ends just being more-or-less the same as the status quo?
3. Are requirements for the EU version of the PR changing? At what point does the local PR become irrelevant if the EU PR becomes easier to acquire (and with some added benefits of its own)?
4. If the length of residency is increased and language skills requirement added, what is the difference between PR and citizenship? Why would anyone apply for PR if the requirements are nearly the same.
5. If/when the "citizenship exam" is created (also mentioned in the government program as a new requirement for citizenship), will it also be a requirement for the PR?

[Artemiy]

If the length of residency is increased and language skills requirement added, what is the difference between PR and citizenship? Why would anyone apply for PR if the requirements are nearly the same.

I assume the fact that getting a permanent residence usually takes a few weeks (with unfortunate exceptions, of course), while getting a citizenship can take anywhere from 9 months to 3 years, during which time you still need to have a valid residence permit.

[jperickson]

If the length of residency is increased and language skills requirement added, what is the difference between PR and citizenship? Why would anyone apply for PR if the requirements are nearly the same.

I assume the fact that getting a permanent residence usually takes a few weeks (with unfortunate exceptions, of course), while getting a citizenship can take anywhere from 9 months to 3 years, during which time you still need to have a valid residence permit.

Fair enough, though current estimated times are 5-10 months for the PR. I myself am in the queue at the moment.

[browndude]

I assume it's a done deal as long as it follows what is in the government program. Only a question of when it's in law and what the effective date is. Also if it affects those who have alraedy applied but are waiting for it to be processed.

My general questions are:

1. What does "particularly good" mean in the case of Finnish or Swedish skills? (It is level 4 of the subgroups instead of level 3, for example?)
2. Is it going to be like citizenship is now where the requirements sound stronger, but after you read the details, as long as you have a good job and some language skills, it ends just being more-or-less the same as the status quo?
3. Are requirements for the EU version of the PR changing? At what point does the local PR become irrelevant if the EU PR becomes easier to acquire (and with some added benefits of its own)?
4. If the length of residency is increased and language skills requirement added, what is the difference between PR and citizenship? Why would anyone apply for PR if the requirements are nearly the same.
5. If/when the "citizenship exam" is created (also mentioned in the government program as a new requirement for citizenship), will it also be a requirement for the PR?

With reference to why would anyone apply for PR vs. citizenship, there are cases where they want to keep their original citizenship and getting Finnish citizenship would lead to loss of their original citizenship. Some might also want to avoid the obligations (military service, tax, etc..) that getting FInnish citizenship entails.

[jperickson]

Posted today: https://intermin.fi/en/-/conditions-for ... ightened-1

And the related news article: https://yle.fi/a/74-20139629