Target processing times for certain types of residence permit applications

The Finnish Immigration Service has set target processing times for certain types of residence permit applications. This means that the Finnish Immigration Service aims to issue a decision on these applications within a given time limit.

Target processing times are first applied to a few types of applications, but they may be applied to other applications in the future. Information about such changes will follow, as for the time being, there is no schedule for setting additional target processing times.

A target processing time has been set for the following applications:

• Resident permit applications for study. The Finnish Immigration Service aims to issue a decision on these applications before the studies begin.
• Residence permit applications for employment. The aim is to issue a decision on these applications within four months. This time limit was set in an amendment to the Alien’s Act, which entered into force on 1 January 2014. The amendment did not have a major impact on the processing of these applications, as the majority of the applications have already been processed within four months.
• Applications for EU Blue Card. The aim is to notify a decision on an EU Blue Card application within 90 days after the application has been submitted.

The majority of the applications are processed within the time limit. The processing time may be longer in exceptional cases.

All other applications are processed without a given time limit. Information about processing times for these applications can be found in our bulletins which are updated automatically.

How is the target processing time calculated?

The calculation of the target processing time begins when you have submitted your application. If the application has been submitted electronically, the calculation of the target time will begin when you have visited a police service point or an embassy to verify your identity.

The calculation of the target processing time for residence permit applications for employment will stop if you are asked to provide further information for your application. The calculation will continue when the necessary information has been received. In the case of residence permit applications for studies, the aim is to issue a decision within the target processing time regardless of the potential need for supplementary information.

More information on target processing times, bulletins concerning the processing situation and the average processing times for applications can be found on the ‘Processing times’ page.