A Positive Decision in Just Three Weeks

This was one of those cases where timing, pressure, and legal strategy all collided at once.

Our client received a negative decision from the Finnish Immigration Service regarding a residence permit application based on employment. The decision was not only a refusal. It also included a deportation order, meaning the client was expected to leave Finland within thirty days. The basis for the refusal was technical but devastating in practice: the Finnish Immigration Service concluded that the income requirement was not met, as the calculated salary remained slightly below the statutory threshold of 1,600 euros per month, and the employer had not provided the requested clarifications in time.

This is exactly the kind of situation where many people freeze. A person is suddenly facing removal from Finland, even though they are working, paying taxes, and doing everything they can to stay compliant. And what makes it even more frustrating is that the difference was minimal, only a few euros, yet the consequences were extreme.

We immediately appealed the negative decision to the Administrative Court. In the appeal, we argued that the case should not have resulted in deportation over a minor income shortfall, especially when the employment was genuine, ongoing, and capable of being adjusted.

At the same time, we took decisive action to secure our client’s stay in Finland without waiting for the court process, which usually takes 10-12 months in the Administrative Court of Helsinki. We submitted a new residence permit application based on employment grounds. The goal was simple: get a residence permit and regulate the stay of the client in Finland as soon as possible.

The result was outstanding.

On 5 February 2026, the Finnish Immigration Service issued a positive decision granting our client a continuous residence permit based on employment, valid until May 2029. The permit was granted as an A permit, including the right to work in the relevant professional field and in labour shortage sectors.

What makes this case remarkable is not only the outcome, but the speed. The positive decision was issued in exactly three weeks from the moment the new residence permit application was submitted. That is an exceptionally fast result in a system where applicants often wait months, even in straightforward cases.

This case shows a reality that many people learn too late. When a negative decision arrives, especially one involving deportation, the situation is serious, but it is not the end. The law provides remedies, but remedies must be used correctly and quickly. An appeal protects the legal position, but a parallel application can often protect the client’s daily life, their work, and their future.

Our client can now remain in Finland lawfully, continue working, and move forward with stability, without living under the shadow of a deportation decision.