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Registering an EU citizen's right of residence

Applying for a Brexit permit

The United Kingdom has left the European Union. The application period for the right of residence under the withdrawal agreement, or the ‘Brexit permit’, ended on 30 September 2021.  

If you are staying in Finland without a right of residence, you do not have the right to work or study. You may be punished with a fine or even be removed from the country.  

If you have been living in Finland since before 1 January 2021 but did not apply for a Brexit permit by 30 September 2021,

you can apply for a Brexit permit after the closing date of the application period, 30 September 2021. However, you must explain why you are submitting your application late.  

  • When you fill in the field ‘Additional information’ in the application form, explain why you did not submit your application by 30 September 2021. 
  • Add attachments to the application, including documents on why you have reasonable grounds for late application. Such a document can be, for instance, a doctor’s certificate.  

The Application Finder at Migri.fi helps you find the right application. Even though you submit your application for a Brexit permit late, your right to work or study will continue while your application is being processed.

Family members moving to Finland can apply for a Brexit permit 

If your family member is a British citizen who lives in Finland, you can come to Finland at any point and apply for a Brexit permit, if:

  • the family member who lives in Finland has a Brexit permit.

If you have children together, they can come to Finland at any point and apply for a Brexit permit as well.

If you do not have reasonable grounds to apply for a Brexit permit late, you must apply for an extended permit

You can apply for an extended permit on the basis of family ties, studies or work, for example. The Application Finder will help you choose the right application. 

An extended permit is issued according to national law, which means that when you apply for a residence permit you will not be granted a right of residence under the withdrawal agreement.

If you applied for a Brexit permit by 30 September 2021,

your right of residence in Finland is valid during the processing of your application. You can continue to work and study as usual.

Did you apply in the online service Enter Finland?

If you submitted your application online in Enter Finland, you can visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service to prove your identity after 30 September 2021. Book a Brexit appointment for a visit at a service point in our appointment system. Select ‘EU registration’ as category and ‘Brexit appointments’ as service.

If you are moving to Finland

Apply for a residence permit. 

The Application Finder helps you find the right application. 

Check here which Brexit permit you need

If you are unsure about which of the options listed above is the right one for you, use the Application Finder on our website. 

Applying for right of residence abroad

In certain situations, you can also apply for a Brexit permit or a document certifying your rights as a frontier worker from abroad.  Submit your application at a Finnish mission or at an application centre of an external service provider.

Residence permit card

If you are granted a right of residence or right of permanent residence under the withdrawal agreement, you will be given a residence permit card showing your right of residence in Finland. The residence permit card will be valid for up to five years. This means that the residence permit card needs to be renewed every five years. 

Right to work in Finland 

If you have applied for a right of residence under the withdrawal agreement, your right to work is valid until you receive a decision on your application.

  • If the decision is positive, you will have the right to work in Finland without restrictions. This means that you may work in any field of your choice.
  • If the decision is negative, you have the right to work in Finland until the decision becomes final.

If you have not applied for a right of residence under the withdrawal agreement, your right to work has ended on 1 October 2021. 

  • However, if you have submitted your application after 30 September 2021, your right to work or study will continue while the application is being processed.
  • In addition, you have the right to work if you perform tasks that allow you to work without a residence permit. 

You can read more about Brexit on the websites of other authorities:

Frequently Asked Questions

Read more on the page Frequently Asked Questions.