Indian specialists comprised around 34% of specialist-level talent relocating to Finland in 2025, with professionals in tech and engineering securing positions at companies like Nokia, Kone, Wärtsilä, HCL, Infosys, and TCS, as per a report. The Finnish government organization, Business Finland, disclosed that Finland granted approximately 300 first-time specialist residence permits to Indian professionals from January to November 2025, supplementing the existing 20,000 Indians residing in the country. Notably, Finland received 7,641 initial work-based positive residence permit applications between January and September 2025, with Indians constituting about 10% of the total.
The report highlighted the sustained interest from Indian professionals over the years, emphasizing the importance of specialist permits due to streamlined processes for IT talent and enhanced pathways for spouses and families. It also underscored that Finland’s thriving startup ecosystem and rapidly expanding technology sector are presenting significant opportunities for top English-speaking talent from India. Laura Lindeman, Senior Director at Business Finland, expressed the country’s commitment to advancing research, development, and innovation, aiming to increase RDI spending to 4% of GDP by 2030.
In support of tech professionals, Finland offers various measures such as waiving recruitment fees, ensuring fair wages, and simplifying digital relocation processes, including residence permits. Additionally, the report mentioned official initiatives like the EU co-funded Discover Finland Project (2024–2027), providing free e-learning, industry-specific coaching, and global outreach events. Professionals were advised to be cautious and avoid intermediary payments for securing employment, as there are no recruitment fees for applicants. It was recommended that applicants thoroughly research potential employers, closely review job openings, and align their experiences with role requirements. Aspiring talent can directly engage with Finnish representatives at the Great International Developer Summit (GIDS) 2026 in April, facilitating interactions and discussions with the Finland team.
