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British citizen: The application period for Brexit permits has ended

Publication date 1.10.2021 8.15
Press release

The United Kingdom has left the European Union. The period of applications for Brexit permits has ended 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, if you have reasonable grounds to submit your application late.

Give the reasons why you did not submit your application within the given time limit in the field ‘Additional information’. Add attachments to the application, also any documents on why you have reasonable grounds for late application. Such a document can be a doctor’s certificate, for example.

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

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

Extended permit is a fixed-term residence permit, which is often granted on the same grounds as your first permit or right of residence. Alternatively, you can apply for an extended permit on new grounds. Remember that you need to meet the requirements for the residence permit for which you apply. The Application Finder at Migri.fi helps you find 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

Please wait patiently for the decision. We will contact you if necessary. If you submitted your application within the given time limit, your right of residence in Finland is valid during the processing of your application. You can continue to work and study as usual. 

The processing of Brexit applications usually takes six months. The processing time can be longer for some of the applications, as there are backlogs in the processing of applications. If the processing of your application has taken longer than six months, it can take 10 to 14 months at the most. 

If you submitted your application in the online service Enter Finland, you can prove your identity at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service after 30 September. Book a Brexit appointment for a visit at a service point in our appointment system.

If you are moving to Finland

Apply for a residence permit. After 31 December 2020, British citizens who move to Finland from abroad apply for a residence permit on the basis of work or studies, for example, in the same manner as other persons from non-EU countries.  

Family members of British citizens have the right to apply for a right of residence under the withdrawal agreement (a Brexit permit) even after 30 September 2021, if the family ties have been formed prior to 30 December 2020. Also, their children born and adopted after 30 December 2020 have the right to apply for a Brexit permit after 30 September 2021.

If you are not sure which grounds for applying you should choose, use the Application Finder to find out.