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Sri Lanka → Finland

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Sri Lanka
To
Finland
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
3,260
Change since 2018
+4624.6%
Share of all arrivals in Finland, 2023
5.06%
Inflow 20233,260OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Sri Lanka to Finland

Inflows of nationals of Sri Lanka recorded by Finland; stock of nationals of Sri Lanka living there; and acquisitions of Finland's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

1,6303,260200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,6303,2602000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200031
200125
200237
200319
200430
200531
200617
200730
200874
200994
201043
201189
201296
201364
201460
201548
201658
201743
201869
201975
202052
2021143
20221,142
20233,260
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—5,243—
20233,2602,01739
20221,14289728
202114378536
20205275829
20197571138
20186967838
20174371988
20165870857
20154871152
20146065919
20136461924
20129655334
20118948019
20104345322
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Sri Lanka who live in Finland: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

6761,35119901995200020052010201520202024
6761,35119902000201020202024
Data table
1990159
1995232
2000304
2005511
2010649
2015908
20201,148
20241,351
Estimate, 2024
1,351
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
0.26%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
48
Counted by
country of birth
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Finland

First residence permits issued by Finland to citizens of Sri Lanka (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family1,918
  2. Education849
  3. Work62
  4. Other reasons16
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20252,845600
20242,7488501,738
20233,438239661
20221,319428239
2021226036137
20208002972
201912003864
201811403843
20177808842
20168105734
20157705235
201412401938
201318702433
20121710340
20111280190
2010760220
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities47
  2. Researchers11
  3. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)3
  4. EU Blue Card1
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
11,063
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
76
Changed status into work, 2025
322
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
15
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Finland: national statistics office

Immigration of citizens of Sri Lanka to Finland and their emigration from Finland (Statistics Finland).

YearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
20252,466532,413
20242,715262,689
20233,260203,240
20221,14261,136
20211432141
202052646
2019751065
201869960
2017431132
201658949
201548642
201460951
201364361
201296690
201189584
201043538

Immigration by year

1,6303,2602002200420062008201020122014201620182020202220242025
1,6303,2602002200620102014201820222025
Data table
200237
200319
200430
200531
200617
200730
200874
200994
201043
201189
201296
201364
201460
201548
201658
201743
201869
201975
202052
2021143
20221,142
20233,260
20242,715
20252,466
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Finland, 2023; Sri Lanka ranks 4.

Inflows to Finland, 2023
  1. Ukraine19,917
  2. Russia4,397
  3. Philippines3,537
  4. Sri Lanka3,260
  5. India3,065
  6. Bangladesh2,503
  7. China2,060
  8. Afghanistan1,456
  9. Pakistan1,433
  10. Vietnam1,406
  11. Estonia1,401
  12. Nepal1,319
Other destinations for people from Sri Lanka, 2023
  1. Japan11,328
  2. South Korea8,576
  3. New Zealand7,044
  4. Australia6,055
  5. Italy2,877
  6. Canada2,710
  7. United States2,280
  8. Germany2,058
  9. France1,883
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more