Here’s how Vantaa would turn efficiency into Finland’s superpower — The world’s best ecosystem attracts international talent
Vantaa aims to attract more of the world’s top international professionals and experts. Vantaa is now working with leading technology organizations to explore ways to increase the appeal of both Finland and Vantaa. A key goal is to speed up the permit processes for professionals coming to Finland and make dealing with government agencies more efficient.
Suvi Lindén, Head of International Client Services, and Federico Ferrara, Senior Specialist, view providing support to international experts arriving in Vantaa as a key priority. Development work is being carried out in collaboration with employers to further streamline the settlement processes for incoming professionals and their families.
Finland’s economic growth and vitality are built on international expertise, high technology, and the global scalability of companies. Currently, however, slow residence permit processes, recruitment bureaucracy, and inflexible government practices are becoming the most critical bottlenecks to growth.
To succeed in the global competition for talent, permit processes must support companies’ need to respond quickly to market changes. We need more predictable processing times and a shift in mindset, where the government is seen as an enabler of growth rather than an obstacle.
Technology companies, in particular, recruit international professionals globally, which is why they are familiar with the processing of work permits for employees. The City of Vantaa and MDI invited four high-tech pioneers — Murata, Canatu, Okmetic, and Vaisala — to a roundtable discussion on how to make Finland and Vantaa more attractive destinations for the world’s top talent.
Vantaa is a partner in the broader “Shapers of Finland’s Future” (Suomen tulevaisuuden tekijät) project, which addresses the streamlining of interactions with government agencies and the recruitment of experts in critical fields at the national level.
A company’s size should not be a barrier to efficiency
Many large organizations are able to move licensing matters forward smoothly with the help of their partner networks. However, experts noted that there is still room for improvement in the system. For Finland to be truly attractive, the service must be accessible and seamless regardless of a company’s size.
Currently, handling permit processes in-house poses significant challenges for companies. For growth-stage companies in particular, every available resource is needed for business development, and complex forms and unclear procedures take time away from actual innovation within organizations.
Clarity is a competitive advantage. Current regulatory pathways require a level of expertise that growth companies simply do not have time to acquire alongside their core work. When permit processes for new employees stall, an organization’s business operations suffer. This means investments are put on hold and equipment sits idle when experts cannot begin their work. Vantaa aims to be the partner for organizations that clears these obstacles from companies’ paths by, among other things:
- Through advocacy: We convey companies’ messages to ensure that permitting processes meet today’s requirements.
- By strengthening networks: We bring together experts, companies, and public sector actors to facilitate the flow of information.
The City of Vantaa and representatives from leading technology companies met to discuss ways to streamline the permit processes for international professionals and the importance of this for businesses. The city is prepared to support these organizations’ recruitment efforts and is committed to continuing this collaborative development work.
“Welcome to Finland” is a matter for the whole family
Successful settlement in Finland and in one’s new hometown is not just a matter for the employee, but for the entire family. An employment contract and a residence permit alone are not enough to keep top talent in Finland if, for example, the employee’s spouse has no path into the workforce or the family’s daily life is not running smoothly. Moving to a new country is often driven by work, but true integration into a new living environment is built on personal relationships and everyday life.
Vantaa, too, has recognized the need for comprehensive services for international professionals and their loved ones, services that take into account the entire family and various life situations. At the same time, we must dare to ask whether language is seen as a barrier or an opportunity. Strengthening the role of English as a language of service is essential.
A cultural shift that benefits organizations, government processes, and international professionals alike will only accelerate once international professionals have a voice in decision-making and corporate leadership.
Vantaa: a company’s best partner and a platform for growth
In discussions with pioneering technology organizations, we explored an operating model that would support Finland’s interest in attracting skilled immigration significantly more effectively than before. Development work continues on an ongoing basis, but our goal in Vantaa is clear: we will strengthen the operating conditions for businesses and remove barriers to growth through even closer cooperation.
In Vantaa, we don’t just talk the talk — as a city, we offer businesses concrete solutions in the areas of employment and services for international clients: practical support for language-assisted recruitment, coaching on diversity management, and expert assistance with international and local recruitment.
Learn more about our free services here.
