Permanent residence permit application

1. You have resided in Finland for a continuous period of 4 years with a continuous residence permit (an A permit). Apply for an extended permit before the validity of your current residence permit expires.
2. You must meet the requirements for a continuous residence permit (an A permit). For more information on the grounds for a continuous residence permit, see the page Extended permit.
3. You must have enough money for living in Finland.

• The required income depends on the grounds for the continuous residence permit (the A permit) based on which you apply for a permanent residence permit. 
• In some situations, you are not required to have sufficient financial resources. See the page Income requirement to check if the requirement applies to you.

4. If you have committed crimes or are suspected of crimes, it may not be possible for you to get a permanent residence permit. For more information, see the page Impact of crimes on getting a permanent residence permit. 

See also the general requirements for entering the country on the page Permanent residence permits. 

The attachments must be legalised, unless they have been issued by authorities of a Nordic country or by authorities of an EU Member State. See the page Interpretation, translation and legalisation for instructions on how to have your documents legalised.

Attachments:

1. A copy of a valid passport issued by your country of nationality and a passport photo

• You must usually have a valid national passport. If you have been granted an alien’s passport for the purpose of obtaining a national passport, obtain a national passport as soon as possible.

If you have received international protection, you are not required to have a national passport. For more information on the passport requirement, see the page Passport and other travel documents.

• A passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police, or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop. Read more on the website of the Finnish police (poliisi.fi). 
  • The passport photo must be no more than 6 months old.

2. Proof of financial resources

• If you must meet the requirement for sufficient financial resources, submit proof of your financial resources. What documents you must provide depends on how you will secure sufficient financial resources for yourself in Finland.
  • Examples of acceptable income sources in Finland include:
    • your or your spouse’s or partner’s gainful employment or business activities
    • your or your spouse’s or partner’s pension, assets or other income (such as rental income or income from dividends).

1. You have resided in Finland under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit for at least 6 consecutive years.

Apply for a permanent residence permit before your current continuous residence permit expires.

If you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of refugee status or subsidiary protection status, your period of residence has started on the day on which you arrived in Finland.

For more information, see the page Period of residence requirement.

2. Your Finnish or Swedish language skills are at least at a satisfactory level (level B1). 

The level satisfactory corresponds to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (YKI intermediate level grade 3, or satisfactory oral and written skills in the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test). If you are 65 or over, the language skills requirement does not apply to you. 

You can prove your language skills by taking the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test, completing Finnish primary and lower secondary education, upper secondary education, initial vocational qualification, further vocational qualification or specialist vocational qualification, or by completing Finnish or Swedish language studies or a maturity test in a Finnish higher education institution as part of your degree. 

For further information on language tests and how to participate in them, see the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education (oph.fi).

In individual cases, derogation from the language skills requirement may be possible for reasons of health. Read more about the language skills requirement and derogation from it on the page Language skills requirement.

3. You have worked in Finland for at least 2 years by the time you apply for a permanent residence permit.  

If you are on old-age pension, the work history requirement must have been met before you retired on old-age pension.

In individual cases, derogation from the work history requirement may be possible for reasons of health. For further information on the work history requirement and derogating from it, see the page Work history requirement.

1. You still meet the requirements for a continuous residence permit (A permit). 

For more information on the accepted grounds for a continuous residence permit, see the page Permanent residence permit.

2. You have enough money to live in Finland. 

The required income depends on the grounds for the continuous residence permit (the A permit) based on which you apply for a permanent residence permit.

In some situations, you are not required to have sufficient financial resources. See the page Income requirement to check if the requirement applies to you.

3. You are not guilty of or suspected of such offences that may prevent getting a permanent residence permit.  

Even minor offences and suspected offences may prevent getting a permanent residence permit. For more information, see the page Impact of crimes on getting a permanent residence permit.

See also the general requirements for entering the country on the page Permanent residence permit.

Check the required attachments from the application form for a permanent residence permit and only submit the ones that apply to your situation. In addition to the required attachments listed below, you may be asked for attachments which relate to the grounds for the continuous residence permit (A permit) you have chosen. 

The attachments must be legalised, unless they have been issued by authorities of a Nordic country or by authorities of an EU Member State. See the page Interpretation, translation and legalisation for instructions on how to have your documents legalised.

When you visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service, bring with you the original documents.

1. A copy of a valid passport issued by your country of nationality and a passport photo

• You must usually have a valid national passport. If you have been granted an alien’s passport for the purpose of obtaining a national passport, obtain a national passport as soon as possible.
• If you have received international protection, you are not required to have a national passport. For more information on the passport requirement, see the page Passport and other travel documents.
• You must have a passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police, or a photograph retrieval code from a photo shop. Read more on the website of the Finnish police (poliisi.fi).
  • The passport photo must be no more than 6 months old.

2. A certificate with which you prove your satisfactory Finnish or Swedish language skills and relevant documents if you request derogation from the language skills requirement.

We usually obtain information about the completion of language tests and studies directly from the study registers. If you have completed a language test or studies less than a month ago, provide a copy of your certificate. You can view your registered study records in My Studyinfo (opintopolku.fi).

• If you are 65 or over, you do not have to provide a certificate of your language skills. 
• If you are requesting derogation from the language skills requirement, attach an up-to-date doctor’s certificate, for example. The certificate must state how your illness, disability or disorder affects your ability to learn a language in the long term. 

3. Document on possible absences during your work history

Attach a written document of your absence if: 

• you have been absent from work for over 3 months, and  
• the reason for your absence has been other than an annual holiday, parental leave or short absence due to illness during your employment relationship or entrepreneurship.

If you request derogation from the work history requirement, attach an up-to-date doctor’s certificate of your incapacity for work, for example. The attachment must state why you have been unable to work in the long term due to your illness, disability or disorder.

4. Proof of sufficient financial resources in Finland

If the requirement for sufficient financial resources applies to you, submit proof of your financial resources. See the application form for information on what documents you must provide on your financial resources. What documents you must provide depends on how you will secure sufficient financial resources for yourself in Finland.

• Examples of acceptable income sources in Finland include:
  • your or your spouse’s or partner’s gainful employment or business activities
  • your or your spouse’s or partner’s pension, assets or other income (such as rental income or income from dividends).

1. You have resided in Finland under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit for at least 4 consecutive years.

Apply for a permanent residence permit before your current continuous residence permit expires.

If you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of refugee status or subsidiary protection status, your period of residence has started on the day on which you arrived in Finland.

For more information, see the page Period of residence requirement.

2. You have an annual income of at least EUR 40,000 

Your income subject to income tax, meaning your earned income and capital income before taxes, must be at least EUR 40,000 in the most recently completed tax assessment process.

• You can check your income in the tax decision in the MyTax (vero.fi) online service. Make sure that you get the details from the tax decision for the most recently completed tax assessment process. Everyone has their own end date for the tax assessment process, meaning that the end date is different for every individual.
• Add up the earned income and capital income from the most recently completed tax assessment process. Subtract from this sum any social benefits that are subject to tax (for example unemployment allowance and sickness allowance).
  • Earned income includes, for example, salaries and pensions. Capital income includes, for example, dividend income, rental income and capital gains.

1. You still meet the requirements for a continuous residence permit (A permit). 

For more information on the accepted grounds for a continuous residence permit, see the page Permanent residence permit.

2. You have enough money to live in Finland. 

The required income depends on the grounds for the continuous residence permit (the A permit) based on which you apply for a permanent residence permit.

In some situations, you are not required to have sufficient financial resources. See the page Income requirement to check if the requirement applies to you.

3. You are not guilty of or suspected of such offences that may prevent getting a permanent residence permit.  

Even minor offences and suspected offences may prevent getting a permanent residence permit. For more information, see the page Impact of crimes on getting a permanent residence permit.

See also the general requirements for entering the country on the page Permanent residence permit.

Check the required attachments from the application form for a permanent residence permit and only submit the ones that apply to your situation. In addition to the required attachments listed below, you may be asked for attachments which relate to the grounds for the continuous residence permit (A permit) you have chosen. 

The attachments must be legalised, unless they have been issued by authorities of a Nordic country or by authorities of an EU Member State. See the page Interpretation, translation and legalisation for instructions on how to have your documents legalised.

When you visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service, bring with you the original documents.

1. A copy of a valid passport issued by your country of nationality and a passport photo

• You must usually have a valid national passport. If you have been granted an alien’s passport for the purpose of obtaining a national passport, obtain a national passport as soon as possible.
• If you have received international protection, you are not required to have a national passport. For more information on the passport requirement, see the page Passport and other travel documents.
• You must have a passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police, or a photograph retrieval code from a photo shop. Read more on the website of the Finnish police (poliisi.fi).
  • The passport photo must be no more than 6 months old.

2. Proof of sufficient financial resources in Finland

If the requirement for sufficient financial resources applies to you, submit proof of your financial resources. See the application form for information on what documents you must provide on your financial resources. What documents you must provide depends on how you will secure sufficient financial resources for yourself in Finland.

• Examples of acceptable income sources in Finland include:
  • your or your spouse’s or partner’s gainful employment or business activities
  • your or your spouse’s or partner’s pension, assets or other income (such as rental income or income from dividends).

You do not need to attach your tax decision to your application because we receive the information directly from the tax authorities.

1. You have completed a master’s degree, a bachelor’s degree at a university or a licentiate or doctoral degree in Finland. 
   You must have completed one of the following degrees in Finland:

• a master’s degree at a university or a university of applied sciences or
• a bachelor’s degree at a university or 
• a licentiate or doctoral degree.

2. Your Finnish or Swedish language skills are at least at a developing level (level A2). 

The level developing corresponds to level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (YKI intermediate level grade 2, or satisfactory oral and written skills in the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test).

You can prove your language skills by taking the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test, completing Finnish primary and lower secondary education, upper secondary education, initial vocational qualification, further vocational qualification or specialist vocational qualification, or by Finnish or Swedish language studies or a maturity test completed in a Finnish higher education institution as part of your degree. In addition, you can prove that you have developing language skills with 15 credits of Finnish or Swedish studies completed at a higher education institution.

For further information on the type of certificates with which you can prove your language skills, see the page Language skills requirement. For further information on language tests and how to participate in them, see the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education (oph.fi).

3. You have only been outside Finland for a short time after completing your higher education degree.

When assessing this requirement, we will consider the journeys you have made outside Finland after completing your higher education degree. You cannot be granted a permanent residence permit if you have been outside Finland for a long time after completing your degree and your residence permit has not been valid at that time. 

You can travel outside Finland while completing your degree, even if your residence permit for Finland is not valid. This refers, for example, to living abroad due to exchange studies.

1. You still meet the requirements for a continuous residence permit (A permit). 

Please note that you cannot choose studies as your basis for a continuous residence permit (A permit). For more information on the accepted grounds for a continuous residence permit, see the page Permanent residence permit.

2. You have enough money to live in Finland. 

The required income depends on the grounds for the continuous residence permit (the A permit) based on which you apply for a permanent residence permit.

In some situations, you are not required to have sufficient financial resources. See the page Income requirement to check if the requirement applies to you.

3. You are not guilty of or suspected of such offences that may prevent getting a permanent residence permit.  

Even minor offences and suspected offences may prevent getting a permanent residence permit. For more information, see the page Impact of crimes on getting a permanent residence permit.

See also the general requirements for entering the country on the page Permanent residence permit.

Check the required attachments from the application form for a permanent residence permit and only submit the ones that apply to your situation. In addition to the required attachments listed below, you may be asked for attachments which relate to the grounds for the continuous residence permit (A permit) you have chosen. 

The attachments must be legalised, unless they have been issued by authorities of a Nordic country or by authorities of an EU Member State. See the page Interpretation, translation and legalisation for instructions on how to have your documents legalised.

When you visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service, bring with you the original documents.

1. A copy of a valid passport issued by your country of nationality and a passport photo

• You must usually have a valid national passport. If you have been granted an alien’s passport for the purpose of obtaining a national passport, obtain a national passport as soon as possible.
• If you have received international protection, you are not required to have a national passport. For more information on the passport requirement, see the page Passport and other travel documents.
• You must have a passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police, or a photograph retrieval code from a photo shop. Read more on the website of the Finnish police (poliisi.fi).
  • The passport photo must be no more than 6 months old.

2. A certificate with which you prove your developing Finnish or Swedish language skills

We usually obtain information about the completion of language tests and studies directly from the study registers. If you have completed a language test or studies less than a month ago, provide a copy of your certificate. You can view your registered study records in My Studyinfo (opintopolku.fi).

3. A certificate of a completed master’s degree, bachelor’s degree at a university or licentiate or doctoral degree 

If the completed degree can be viewed in the register, you do not need to submit a degree certificate. You can view your registered study records in My Studyinfo (opintopolku.fi). 

4. Proof of sufficient financial resources in Finland

If the requirement for sufficient financial resources applies to you, submit proof of your financial resources. See the application form for information on what documents you must provide on your financial resources. What documents you must provide depends on how you will secure sufficient financial resources for yourself in Finland.

• Examples of acceptable income sources in Finland include:
  • your or your spouse’s or partner’s gainful employment or business activities
  • your or your spouse’s or partner’s pension, assets or other income (such as rental income or income from dividends).

You do not need to attach your tax decision to your application because we receive the information directly from the tax authorities.

1. You have resided in Finland under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit for at least 4 consecutive years.

Apply for a permanent residence permit before your current continuous residence permit expires.

If you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of refugee status or subsidiary protection status, your period of residence has started on the day on which you arrived in Finland.

For more information, see the page Period of residence requirement.

2. You have completed abroad a master’s degree or a licentiate or doctoral degree recognised in Finland.

Recognition of a degree refers to a decision by the Finnish National Agency for Education or other authority that the degree you have completed outside Finland entitles you to work in certain occupations or to study in Finland. 

The degree may also have been recognised in such a way that a Finnish university has granted you the right to study for a licentiate or doctoral degree or employed you to perform teaching or research duties.

For more information about the recognition of degrees, see the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education (oph.fi).

3. You have worked in Finland for at least 2 years by the time you apply for a permanent residence permit.  

If you are on old-age pension, the work history requirement must have been met before you retired on old-age pension.

1. You still meet the requirements for a continuous residence permit (A permit). 

For more information on the accepted grounds for a continuous residence permit, see the page Permanent residence permit.

2. You have enough money to live in Finland. 

The required income depends on the grounds for the continuous residence permit (the A permit) based on which you apply for a permanent residence permit.

In some situations, you are not required to have sufficient financial resources. See the page Income requirement to check if the requirement applies to you.

3. You are not guilty of or suspected of such offences that may prevent getting a permanent residence permit.  

Even minor offences and suspected offences may prevent getting a permanent residence permit. For more information, see the page Impact of crimes on getting a permanent residence permit.

See also the general requirements for entering the country on the page Permanent residence permit.

Check the required attachments from the application form for a permanent residence permit and only submit the ones that apply to your situation. In addition to the required attachments listed below, you may be asked for attachments which relate to the grounds for the continuous residence permit (A permit) you have chosen. 

The attachments must be legalised, unless they have been issued by authorities of a Nordic country or by authorities of an EU Member State. See the page Interpretation, translation and legalisation for instructions on how to have your documents legalised.

When you visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service, bring with you the original documents.

1. A copy of a valid passport issued by your country of nationality and a passport photo

• You must usually have a valid national passport. If you have been granted an alien’s passport for the purpose of obtaining a national passport, obtain a national passport as soon as possible.
• If you have received international protection, you are not required to have a national passport. For more information on the passport requirement, see the page Passport and other travel documents.
• You must have a passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police, or a photograph retrieval code from a photo shop. Read more on the website of the Finnish police (poliisi.fi).
  • The passport photo must be no more than 6 months old.

2. Decision on recognition of a degree or other document

Attach one of the following: 

• decision on recognition of a degree or
• admission letter from a Finnish university concerning doctoral studies or 
• employment contract with a Finnish university or 
• agreement between a researcher and a research organisation (Hosting agreement). You can use the Hosting agreement form on our website or attach a document containing the same information as the Hosting agreement.

3. Document on possible absences during your work history

Attach a written document of your absence if: 

• you have been absent from work for over 3 months, and 
• the reason for your absence has been other than an annual holiday, parental leave or short absence due to illness during your employment relationship or entrepreneurship.
  • Attach, for example, a decision concerning your sick leave or incapacity for work or some other document concerning your absence.

4. Proof of sufficient financial resources in Finland

If the requirement for sufficient financial resources applies to you, submit proof of your financial resources. See the application form for information on what documents you must provide on your financial resources. What documents you must provide depends on how you will secure sufficient financial resources for yourself in Finland.

• Examples of acceptable income sources in Finland include:
  • your or your spouse’s or partner’s gainful employment or business activities
  • your or your spouse’s or partner’s pension, assets or other income (such as rental income or income from dividends).

You do not need to attach your tax decision to your application because we receive the information directly from the tax authorities.

1. You have resided in Finland under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit for at least 4 consecutive years.

Apply for a permanent residence permit before your current continuous residence permit expires.

If you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of refugee status or subsidiary protection status, your period of residence has started on the day on which you arrived in Finland.

For more information, see the page Period of residence requirement.

2. Your Finnish or Swedish language skills are at least at a particurarly good level (level C1). 

The level particurarly good corresponds to level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (YKI intermediate level grade 5, or excellent oral and written skills in the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test).

You can prove your language skills by taking the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test (YKI) or the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test. 

For more information, see the page Language skills requirement. For further information on language tests and how to participate in them, see the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education (oph.fi).

3. You have worked in Finland for at least 3 years by the time you apply for a permanent residence permit.  

If you are on old-age pension, the work history requirement must have been met before you retired on old-age pension.

1. You still meet the requirements for a continuous residence permit (A permit). 

For more information on the accepted grounds for a continuous residence permit, see the page Permanent residence permit.

2. You have enough money to live in Finland. 

The required income depends on the grounds for the continuous residence permit (the A permit) based on which you apply for a permanent residence permit.

In some situations, you are not required to have sufficient financial resources. See the page Income requirement to check if the requirement applies to you.

3. You are not guilty of or suspected of such offences that may prevent getting a permanent residence permit.  

Even minor offences and suspected offences may prevent getting a permanent residence permit. For more information, see the page Impact of crimes on getting a permanent residence permit.

See also the general requirements for entering the country on the page Permanent residence permit.

Check the required attachments from the application form for a permanent residence permit and only submit the ones that apply to your situation. In addition to the required attachments listed below, you may be asked for attachments which relate to the grounds for the continuous residence permit (A permit) you have chosen. 

The attachments must be legalised, unless they have been issued by authorities of a Nordic country or by authorities of an EU Member State. See the page Interpretation, translation and legalisation for instructions on how to have your documents legalised.

When you visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service, bring with you the original documents.

1. A copy of a valid passport issued by your country of nationality and a passport photo.

• You must usually have a valid national passport. If you have been granted an alien’s passport for the purpose of obtaining a national passport, obtain a national passport as soon as possible.
• If you have received international protection, you are not required to have a national passport. For more information on the passport requirement, see the page Passport and other travel documents.
• You must have a passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police, or a photograph retrieval code from a photo shop. Read more on the website of the Finnish police (poliisi.fi).
  • The passport photo must be no more than 6 months old.

2. A certificate with which you prove your particurarly good Finnish or Swedish language skills and relevant documents if you request derogation from the language skills requirement.

• We usually obtain information about the completion of language tests and studies directly from the study registers. If you have completed a language test or studies less than a month ago, provide a copy of your certificate. If you have taken a language test less than a month ago, provide your certificate for taking the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test (YKI) or the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test.

3. Document on possible absences during your work history.

Attach a written document of your absence if: 

• you have been absent from work for over 3 months, and  
• the reason for your absence has been other than an annual holiday, parental leave or short absence due to illness during your employment relationship or entrepreneurship.

4. Proof of sufficient financial resources in Finland.

If the requirement for sufficient financial resources applies to you, submit proof of your financial resources. See the application form for information on what documents you must provide on your financial resources. What documents you must provide depends on how you will secure sufficient financial resources for yourself in Finland.

• Examples of acceptable income sources in Finland include:
  • your or your spouse’s or partner’s gainful employment or business activities
  • your or your spouse’s or partner’s pension, assets or other income (such as rental income or income from dividends).

Fill in the application form in the online service Enter Finland. Online applications are more affordable than paper applications, and you may be able to avoid having to visit a service point. 

If you cannot use Enter Finland, fill in a paper application. You will find a link to the application at the bottom of this page.

If you apply online, pay the processing fee with a credit card or with Finnish online banking credentials when you submit the application via Enter Finland.

If you apply with a paper form, pay the processing fee when you visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service to prove your identity.

Varaa aika palvelupisteeseen ajanvarauspalvelussa (migri.vihta.com).

If you submitted the application on Enter Finland, you will receive notifications of your application's progress and of any requests for additional information by email and text message.

If you applied on paper, you will receive notifications of your application's progress and of any requests for additional information by email.