Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it has refused roughly 1,400 of the 1,600 seasonal work visa applications it has processed so far for this summer’s wild-berry harvest. In total, about 2,200 applications were submitted, the vast majority at Finland’s embassy in Bangkok. Applications also came in smaller numbers from Nepal, Vietnam, India, Kenya and Kazakhstan. The unusually high rejection rate follows tighter rules introduced in February 2025 that brought commercial berry picking under the Seasonal Workers Act. Under the amended law, pickers are employees rather than self-employed “entrepreneurs” and are therefore entitled to Finnish minimum pay, proper accommodation, occupational-safety oversight and trade-union protections. Officials say the 2026 visa vetting process drew heavily on labour-inspection reports from the 2025 season, which documented unpaid wages, 14-hour picking days and overcrowded housing. According to Katja Luopajärvi, Director of the MFA’s Visa Unit, most refusals stem from doubts about whether the Finnish berry companies named in the applications can meet their statutory obligations—especially guaranteed earnings, employment contracts in a language the worker understands, and evidence of paid social-security contributions. Ongoing criminal investigations into trafficking and aggravated extortion in the berry sector were also weighed against several employers. For growers and food-processors the timing is critical: Finland’s short berry season peaks in late July, and labour shortages could shrink harvest volumes just as global demand for Nordic bilberries and cloudberries is soaring. Importers warn that shortages may drive up raw-berry prices by 15-20 per cent, pushing costs onto juice, nutraceutical and cosmetics manufacturers that rely on Finnish forest berries as high-value ingredients. The government, however, argues that tougher scrutiny protects Finland’s reputation and helps companies that already follow the rules. Authorities will maintain joint field inspections by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), the Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) and police throughout the harvest. Officials say employers that can document fair-pay models, transparent piece-rate schemes and safe housing can still obtain residence permits for pickers even after an initial visa refusal. Meanwhile, trade unions urge buyers to favour brands that can prove their berries were picked under collectively bargained conditions. International recruiters have begun redirecting Thai and Nepalese seasonal workers to Sweden and Canada, raising the possibility that Finland will have to accelerate domestic mechanised harvesting trials in the coming years.
Source: Finnish Government
