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The Brexit permit application period will end on 30 September 2021 – submit your application on time

Publication date 29.7.2021 9.37
Press release

When you submit your application by 30 September 2021,

  • you can reside legally in Finland.
    • If you are granted the right of residence under the withdrawal agreement, you can continue residence in Finland.
    • If you are not granted the right of residence under the withdrawal agreement and you receive a negative decision, you can reside legally in Finland until the decision is legally valid.
  • your right to work will continue until you receive a decision.
    • If you are granted the right of residence under the withdrawal agreement, your right to work in Finland will continue without restrictions.
    • If you are not granted the right of residence under the withdrawal agreement and you receive a negative decision, your right to work will continue until the decision is legally valid.
  • you can continue your studies in Finland in accordance with your right of residence until you receive a decision.
    • If you are granted the right of residence under the withdrawal agreement, you can continue your studies in Finland.
    • If you are not granted the right of residence under the withdrawal agreement and you receive a negative decision, your right to study will continue until the decision is legally valid. 

Delays in the processing of applications due to a backlog

By the end of June, we have received more than 3,400 Brexit applications. We have made about 1,800 decisions. Most of the decisions have been positive.

A large part of the applications are processed within six months. However, the processing time of many applications has unfortunately exceeded six months due to a backlog. The main reason for the backlog is a temporary shortage in application processing personnel. 

If we need to ask for further information regarding your application, the six-month processing time may be exceeded. When you submit your application, check that 

  • you have chosen the right application form. You can use the Brexit Application Finder to choose the right form.
  • you have provided all the attachments needed.

Processing the application is quicker if the application has all the necessary information. 

In our customer bulletin published on 12 May, we announced that if the processing of an application had taken more than six months, we would try to make a decision on the application within the next two months. Unfortunately, this schedule estimate has now changed due to the backlog in the processing of applications. If the processing of your application has taken more than six months, our estimate is that the processing may take at most 10–14 months.

We apologise for the delay in the processing time.