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Expected processing time for electronic application
First permit 1-3 months / extended permit 2 months
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Expected processing time for paper application
First permit 2-4 months / extended permit 3 months
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Electronic application fee
First permit 350 € / extended permit 190 €
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Paper application fee
First permit 550 € / extended permit 190 €
Athlete, coach or trainer
This is what you should do
1
Make sure you meet the requirements for the residence permit you are applying for.
Make sure you meet the requirements for the residence permit you are applying for.
2
Make sure you have all the attachments needed. If necessary, have them translated and legalised. The processing time may be longer if you have not filled in your application sufficiently.
Make sure you have all the attachments needed. If necessary, have them translated and legalised. The processing time may be longer if you have not filled in your application sufficiently.
3
Fill in your application.
Fill in your application.
4
Pay for your application in the e-service Enter Finland, at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
Pay for your application in the e-service Enter Finland, at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
5
If you are abroad, visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). If you are already in Finland, book an appointment at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
If you are abroad, visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). If you are already in Finland, book an appointment at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
6
Wait for a decision. The Finnish Immigration Service will contact you if necessary.
Wait for a decision. The Finnish Immigration Service will contact you if necessary.
7
Read what happens after you have applied. Check the estimated processing time of your application here.
Read what happens after you have applied. Check the estimated processing time of your application here.
8
You should wait for the residence permit in the same country or locality where you submitted your application and proved your identity.
You should wait for the residence permit in the same country or locality where you submitted your application and proved your identity.
General requirements for entry into Finland
Make sure you meet the general requirements for entry into Finland before you submit an application.
Requirements
You must also meet the following requirements:
Income requirement
You must have secure means of support
- If you apply for a residence permit in order to work in Finland, you need to be able to earn your living in Finland through gainful employment throughout the time your residence permit is valid. The minimum salary from gainful employment is reviewed annually. Specialists and EU Blue Card holders are required to earn a higher salary. If your work is other than gainful employment (au pair, volunteering, Working holiday), your income requirement is defined separately.
Read more on the page Income requirement.
Right to work
- If you are in Finland when you are applying for a residence permit, you have the right to work as a coach, referee or player already before you are granted a residence permit. In this case, you must reside in Finland legally (you have a valid visa or you are allowed to stay in Finland without a visa). However, your right to work will end after three months at the latest, or even earlier if your visa expires. Your right to work only applies to playing, coaching and working as a referee.
- Your right to work gives you the right to perform only the work for which you have been granted a residence permit.
- If you apply for an extended permit, check if you have the right to work while your application is being processed.
General attachments
- Valid passport (you must present it when you submit the residence permit application)
- Passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop, OLEL_PK
- Colour copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes
- Document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application
- Form MP_1 (if you already are in Finland and apply for your first residence permit)
Application-specific attachments
- Your employment contract or player contract with a sports club or a corresponding employer
- Certificates from your previous employers/sports clubs
- Certificate of sports club membership
- Degree certificate or a corresponding document