British citizen – find out how the ending of the transition period on 31 December 2020 will affect you

The transition period under the withdrawal agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU will end on 31 December 2020. If you move to Finland after this date, you must apply for a residence permit. If you have been living in Finland before 31 December 2020, you need to apply for a right of residence under the withdrawal agreement by 30 September 2021.

If you are moving to Finland for the first time after 31 December 2020

Read the instructions for applying for a residence permit at migri.fi/residence-permit. To find the correct residence permit application, you can use our Application Finder. 

If you have lived permanently in Finland before 31 December 2020

Depending on your situation, you should apply for 

• a right of residence under the withdrawal agreement
• a right of permanent residence under the withdrawal agreement
• exchanging your right of permanent residence for a right of permanent residence under the withdrawal agreement.

Submit your application before 30 September 2021. If you are unsure about which of the options listed above is the right one for you, use the Application Finder on our website. Your family members can also use the Application Finder to find a suitable application form.

If you have a family member who lives abroad, they can still apply for a right of residence under the withdrawal agreement after 30 September 2021. 

If you are other relative 

you must have lived in Finland permanently before 31 December 2020 to meet the requirements.

You must also have applied for some of the following options: 

• registration of the right of residence of a citizen of the European Union
• residence card for family members, or
• right of permanent residence under the withdrawal agreement.

If you have not applied for registration of an EU citizen or a residence card for a family member by 31 December 2020, you can also not apply for a right of residence under the withdrawal agreement after this date. 

You will receive your residence card after 1 January 2021

If you have already been issued with a decision on right of residence, your permit will enter into force on 1 January 2021. If you are living in Finland, the residence permit card will be mailed to you in early January. If you have submitted your application for a right of residence at a Finnish mission abroad, your residence permit card will be mailed to the mission in question.

Read more

To read detailed instructions related to the changes to right of residence which concern United Kingdom citizens and their family members, visit migri.fi/brexit/en. 

If you are a family member or other relative of a British citizen, read the instructions for applying at migri.fi/application-for-family-member.

See FAQs about right of residence at migri.fi/frequently-asked-questions.