Changes in income requirements for residence permits as of 1 November 2024
New income thresholds for residence permit applicants will affect applications that are submitted on or after 1 November 2024.
The new income thresholds that are presented in the tables below concern the following residence permits:
- Residence permits for family members
- Residence permit on the basis of established relationship
- Residence permit for a person who has completed a degree or qualification or conducted research in Finland (for working or to start a business)
- Residence permit for startup entrepreneurs
- Residence permit for researchers with own funding
At the end of this customer bulletin, you will also find separate income thresholds for the following permits:
- Residence permit for studies
- Residence permit for a student who has graduated or for a researcher, for the purpose of looking for work or to start a business
- Residence permit for au pairs
- Residence permit for working holiday
What is an income threshold?
Usually, we can grant you a residence permit only if you have enough money ('sufficient financial resources') for living in Finland.
Under the Aliens Act, a person who applies for a residence permit is considered to have sufficient financial resources if he or she cannot be expected to become dependent on social assistance. The Finnish Immigration Service has determined how much money a residence permit applicant must have. These sums are referred to as 'income thresholds'. The income thresholds are based on statistics by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela).
You are considered to have sufficient financial resources if your net earnings meet the required level, which is the income threshold in euros determined by the Finnish Immigration Service.
Why have the income thresholds been raised?
We have raised the income thresholds because the latest adjustments were made in 2013, and the old thresholds did not correspond to the current costs of living. The old income thresholds were lower than the average income of beneficiaries of social assistance.
Moving forward, we will review and update the income thresholds every year in the form of index increases, taking into account the Kela statistics on the average expenses and income of beneficiaries of social assistance.
How do we determine the income thresholds?
The income thresholds are based on the basic social assistance granted to beneficiaries of social assistance and on the housing costs and healthcare expenses that are observed when granting social assistance.
The amount of money that is required depends on where you live, since there is regional variation in housing costs. The income thresholds are now divided into 3 groups:
- Helsinki metropolitan area: Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen, Vantaa
- Other large municipalities: Hyvinkää, Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Järvenpää, Kajaani, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Kouvola, Kuopio, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Lohja, Mikkeli, Nokia, Nurmijärvi, Oulu, Pori, Porvoo, Raisio, Riihimäki, Rovaniemi, Seinäjoki, Sipoo, Siuntio, Tampere, Turku, Tuusula, Vaasa, Vihti
- Other municipalities
Income thresholds as of 1 November 2024
1. Helsinki metropolitan area:
| Person | €/month (net) | €/year (net) |
| 1 adult | 1,210 | 14,520 |
| 2nd adult living in the same household | 610 | 7,320 |
| 1st child | 610 | 7,320 |
| 2nd child | 480 | 5,760 |
| 3rd child | 360 | 4,320 |
| 4th child | 360 | 4,320 |
| 5th child | 360 | 4,320 |
The income threshold for a family increases by 360 euros per each child starting from the third child.
2. Other large municipalities:
| Person | €/month (net) | €/year (net) |
| 1 adult | 1,090 | 13,080 |
| 2nd adult living in the same household | 550 | 6,600 |
| 1st child | 550 | 6,600 |
| 2nd child | 430 | 5,760 |
| 3rd child | 320 | 3,840 |
| 4th child | 320 | 3,840 |
| 5th child | 320 | 3,840 |
The income threshold for a family increases by 320 euros per each child starting from the third child.
3. Other municipalities:
| Person | €/month (net) | €/year (net) |
| 1 adult | 1,030 | 12,360 |
| 2nd adult living in the same household | 520 | 6,240 |
| 1st child | 520 | 6,240 |
| 2nd child | 410 | 4,920 |
| 3rd child | 310 | 3,720 |
| 4th child | 310 | 3,720 |
| 5th child | 310 | 3,720 |
The income threshold for a family increases by 310 euros per each child starting from the third child.
If your income is slightly lower than the income threshold, we may deviate from the required sums on a case-by-case basis if you have a family and children. We may make an exception to the income thresholds if there are exceptionally weighty reasons to do so or if it is in the best interest of a child.
Examples of income thresholds for families
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For a family consisting of 1 adult and 1 child who live in Helsinki (group 1), the income threshold is EUR 1,210 + EUR 610 = EUR 1,820 per month.
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For a family consisting of 2 adults and 2 children who live in Tampere (group 2), the income threshold is EUR 1,090 + EUR 550 + EUR 550 + EUR 430 = EUR 2,620 per month.
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For a family consisting of 2 adults and 4 children who live in a municipality that belongs to group 3, the income threshold is EUR 1,030 + EUR 520 + EUR 520 + EUR 410 + EUR 310 + EUR 310 = EUR 3,100 per month.
Income thresholds for permits for studies, au pairing and working holiday as of 1 November 2024
For the residence permit for studies, the income threshold is 800 euros per month. When establishing the income threshold for students, we have considered several factors, including the lower cost of housing in student accommodation, the subsidised meals, and the possible student discounts. The income threshold of 800 euros also concerns the residence permit issued to students who have graduated or to researchers for the purpose of looking for work or starting a business. Family members of students must meet the income thresholds listed in the tables.
The required income for a residence permit for au pairs (the amount of pocket money) is 340 euros per month.
The income threshold for a residence permit for working holiday is usually 2,450 euros for the first 3 months.
More information:
- Income requirement
- Income requirement for persons who apply for a residence permit on the basis of work
- Income requirement for family members of a person who has been granted a residence permit in Finland
- Income requirement for family members of a person who has been granted international protection
- Income requirement for students
- Income requirement for persons who apply for a residence permit on other grounds
- Earlier income thresholds in the customer bulletin of 28 August 2024: Increases in income required of residence permit applicants as of 1 November 2024
- Frequently asked questions: Residence permits in general
