Finland’s government is actively courting highly skilled tech professionals from abroad, with particular attention on American engineers, AI researchers, and deep-tech specialists. As part of the effort, the Finnish government has brought together more than 30 Finnish tech companies and universities, including Oura Health, quantum computing startup QMill, and Aalto University, to recruit talent from outside the country.
The initiative known as Fast-Track Residence Permit is centred in Finland, a Nordic country of about 5.6 million people that is widely known for its strong education system, public services, and consistent ranking as one of the world’s happiest countries.
While the campaign also reaches out to talent from India, Brazil, and other parts of Europe, the United States remains a major focus because of its concentration of AI and advanced research expertise.
To make relocation easier, Finland is offering fast-track specialist visas that can be approved in as little as two weeks, alongside a work culture that places firm legal limits on working hours and prioritizes personal time. The goal, the government say, is to attract experienced professionals into sectors considered strategically important, particularly artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and health innovation.
Under the Fast Track program, approved applicants can receive a combined work and residence permit in about 10 days on average, according to Laura Lindeman, who leads the Work in Finland program. Spouses are allowed to work, and newcomers are offered state-supported integration programs to help them settle into Finnish society.
She also stated the country’s approach is based on the idea that rest and life outside work improve performance rather than limit it. “When the workday ends, people actually leave,” Lindeman said, adding that offices tend to empty out completely in the evenings, a sharp contrast to always-on tech cultures elsewhere.
The recruitment drive comes as global competition for AI talent continues to intensify. According to KPMG’s annual CEO survey, 70% of global executives say they are concerned about falling behind in the race for AI expertise. At the same time, many US tech workers are navigating layoffs, burnout, and ongoing visa uncertainty.
Finland’s approach is already producing measurable results, as immigration data shows the country issued 60 specialist permits to US citizens in 2024 and 85 in 2025, while permits granted to American researchers also increased year over year. At the same time, the Nordic country is positioning itself as an alternative to Silicon Valley’s high-pressure work culture, where Finnish labor law limits the average workweek to 40 hours.
While salaries in Finland are often lower than comparable roles in the US, the government and employers argue that the difference is offset by broader social benefits. These include universal healthcare, affordable education, subsidized childcare, and long vacation periods. Many workers take several weeks off during the summer, as well as extended breaks in winter.
For some Americans, this development already paid off. Jordan Blake Banks, who moved to Finland through a Fulbright scholarship in 2019, stayed after completing her degree and now works as a sustainability consultant in Helsinki commented that, “the country offers plenty of benefits, from its forests to its emphasis on work-life balance.”
She described a workplace culture where personal time is respected, and family responsibilities are openly accommodated. “If someone needs to step away during the day for their kids, it’s not questioned,” Banks said. “Taking long vacations is normal here, not something you have to justify.”
Banks also acknowledged that not speaking Finnish can feel isolating at first, even though English is widely used in professional settings. She later joined a city-run integration program, learned the language, and eventually qualified for Finnish citizenship. “Once I started learning Finnish, things opened up socially,” she said.
“It made a big difference.”
David Adubiina
