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Residence permit application for an employee of a religious community

Apply for a residence permit with this application if you are going to work in the service of a religious community.

  • Your work must involve practising the religion.
  • To get a residence permit on the basis of work, you must be paid a salary.

If you will not be paid a salary, you can apply for a residence permit on other grounds.

You must have confirmed employment before you apply.

If your employer has obtained employer certification, you can apply for a D visa at the same time as you apply for a residence permit. The D visa allows you to travel to Finland immediately after you have been issued with a residence permit and a D visa sticker has been attached to your passport. Read more about the D visa.

Your spouse and children can apply for a D visa if they are applying for a residence permit on the basis of family ties.

  • Expected processing time for electronic application

    First permit 1–2 months / extended permit 2 months

  • Expected processing time for paper application

    First permit 2 months / extended permit 2 months

  • Electronic application fee

    First permit  380 € / extended permit 170 €

  • Paper application fee

    First permit 480€ / extended permit 430 €

This is what you should do

Prepare:

Fill in the application:

Right to work

  • You cannot start working before you get a residence permit.
  • Your right to work gives you the right to perform the work for which you have been granted a residence permit.
  • If you apply for an extended permit, check if you have the right to work while your application is being processed.

Prepare for your life in Finland

Prepare for your life in Finland