Processing of applications
The Finnish Immigration Service grants several kinds of permits. Although the application process for each permit is slightly different, this is a broad outline of how we process applications.
Applications for residence permits, EU registration and citizenship can be submitted in the e-service Enter Finland or on paper.
If you have applied for a first residence permit, book an appointment to visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) to prove your identity.
If you have applied for an extended permit, book an appointment for a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service to prove your identity, if required. In some cases, visiting a service point is not required. Read more about identification and proving your identity.
The only way to apply for asylum is to do it personally by talking to a border control official or a police in Finland. There is no application form.
The application is put in the processing queue of the Finnish Immigration Service. The processing time of an application depends on the permit for which the application has been made. You may also use the Processing Time Checker to get an estimate on the remaining processing time of your application.
You can receive automated messages at the different processing stages of your application. Read more about automated messages.
Asylum seekers hear an estimate on their processing times during the asylum interview.
If the Finnish Immigration Service notices that something is missing from an application or if we need additional information in order to make a decision, we will contact the applicant.
Online applications:
- If you submitted your application via the online service Enter Finland, only send additional information through your Enter Finland user account.
Paper applications:
- If you submitted a paper application, only send additional information as a letter, or as encrypted email using the Securemail service of the Finnish Immigration Service.
- For more information, see the page Contact information.
An applicant may cancel his or her application at any time during its processing.
If an applicant has submitted his or her application through the e-service, he or she will get an email or a text message when a decision has been made. The decision is also visible in the applicant’s account when it is ready.
If an applicant has submitted his or her application on paper or it is an asylum application, he or she will get a letter or an invitation to come and hear the decision.
The decisions of the Finnish Immigration Service may be appealed to an Administrative Court. Instructions on how to appeal are attached to each decision.
For first-time residence permit applicants:
- As a rule, you must submit your application for a first residence permit abroad and visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) to prove your identity. Applications for a first residence permit can be submitted in Finland only in certain exceptional situations. Read more about how to apply for a first residence permit.
- If you visit Finland while your residence permit application is still pending, you must travel back to your home country when your visa-free period ends or when your visa expires.