Number of residence permits issued to foreigners grows by one third
According to statistics made available by the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), increased levels of labor migration led to an increase of one third in the number of residence permits issued to foreigners in Estonia in 2015.
Liis Valk, chief specialist at the PPA’s Office of Identity and Statuses, noted that employers are increasingly hiring top specialists from abroad.
“Labor migration has increased substantially in recent years,” explained Valk. “Last year, for instance, one third more residence permits for employment in Estonia were issued than in 2014. In order for a foreigner to be able to legally work in Estonia, his or her hiring process must be carried out correctly, and that’s where employers and applicants for the permit alike often stumble.”
In recent years, several amendments have been made to the Aliens Act, which regulates the entry, stay, residence and employment of aliens in Estonia, to make it easier to hire top specialists and foreigners who have obtained higher education in Estonia.
“Often the hiring of foreigners gets caught in the complexity of regulations and finding one’s way among the laws,” noted Valk. “The aim of the PPA is to be a partner to businesses in hiring people on the international labor market and explain what opportunities can be used for doing so.”
Residence permits for employment were issued to a total of 1,659 foreigners in Estonia last year, with the greatest percentage of permits being issued to Ukrainian nationals.
Based on a risk analysis, the PPA conducts checks at companies and work sites to make sure that foreigners are not working or staying in Estonia illegally. Thanks to more effective cooperation with the Tax and Customs Board and the Labor Inspectorate, multiple cases of illegal employment have been detected.
The PPA will be hosting an informational event on the hiring and employment of foreigners on May 11; one such informational event also took place today.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik
Source: BNS