Are you applying for a residence permit for a student or a researcher or is your employer certified? With a D visa, you can travel to Finland immediately after you have been issued with a residence permit

From 1 April 2023, you can apply for a D visa if you are applying for a residence permit for a student or a researcher. With a D visa, you can enter Finland approximately 1–2 weeks faster than normally. You do not need to wait for the delivery of your residence permit card, as it will be delivered to you in Finland.

You can travel to Finland immediately after 

• you have received a positive decision on your residence permit application and D visa application, and 
• the D visa sticker has been affixed to your passport at the Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). 

You can also be issued with a D visa if

• you will be working for a certified employer and you are applying for a specific residence permit
• you are abroad and your residence permit card has, for example, expired or been lost, stolen, or damaged.

Your spouse and children can also apply for a D visa if they apply for a family member’s residence permit.

The D visa has previously been available to managers, specialists and start-up entrepreneurs

The D visa can be applied for by

• specialists
• persons applying for an EU Blue Card
• managers and specialists on the basis of intra-corporate transfer  (ICT residence permit)
• start-up entrepreneurs
• top or middle management
• family members who apply for a residence permit. 

In addition to a D visa, managers, specialists and start-up entrepreneurs can also apply for a residence permit using the fast-track service.

Make your D visa application easy via the Enter Finland service

You can apply for a D visa at the same time with your residence permit application using the Enter Finland service. The D visa will be affixed to your passport at the Finnish mission on as soon as the Finnish Immigration Service approves your residence permit application. 

Read more about the D visa

• D visa
• Here’s what you should take into account when applying for a D visa
• D visa when applying for a permit using the fast-track service