You may ask for cancellation of your residence permit by written notification
You may ask us to cancel your residence permit by writing to us in Finnish, Swedish or English. The form of this written notification is free.
- Explain briefly why you no longer need your residence permit.
- Also, tell us the address where you would like us to send the decision on the cancellation of your residence permit.
- If you intend to move abroad, inform us on your new address and the date of your move.
- Date the notification.
- Remember to sign the notification.
- Send your notification to the Finnish Immigration Service.
Authorities may also cancel permits
Giving false information
Your residence permit may be cancelled if, at the time you applied for a residence permit, you have knowingly given false information about your identity or other factors affecting the decision. Your residence permit will also be cancelled if you have concealed facts that could have prevented you from getting a residence permit.
Changes in the grounds for a residence permit
Your residence permit may be cancelled if the grounds on which it was granted no longer exist. This may for example happen if your residence permit was granted for working in Finland but your employment relationship has ended.
Your EU residence permit will be cancelled if you have lived outside the European Union for a continuous period of two years, or outside Finland for a continuous period of six years.
An EU Blue Card will be cancelled if you have been unemployed for three months without interruption.You must always return the card when the permit is cancelled and the card is voided.
Prohibition of entry into the Schengen area
Your residence permit may be cancelled if another Schengen country requests Finland to do so. This may happen if you have been prohibited from entering the Schengen area and ordered to be removed from it because of crime or because your conduct endangers safety.
Before your residence permit is cancelled, you will be given the opportunity to express your opinion on the matter.
If your residence permit is cancelled, you may at the same time be ordered to be removed from the country. You may appeal the decision to an Administrative Court.
Moving away from Finland and living abroad
If you move permanently away from Finland, your residence permit will be cancelled.
Your residence permit will also be cancelled if you have lived outside Finland for a continuous period of two years.
Application for preventing the cancellation of a residence permit
If you do not want your residence permit to be cancelled because you are living abroad, you should apply within two years of moving abroad to have the cancellation prevented. Apply by filling in the form OLE_PER in Finnish, Swedish or English.
If necessary, have your documents translated by an authorised translator into Finnish, Swedish or English.
Pay the processing fee in advance and send your application to the Finnish Immigration Service.
If your family members also apply to prevent the cancellation of their permits, every person must submit his or her own application and pay his or her own processing fee.
If the Finnish Immigration Service makes a positive decision on your application, the decision will include a time limit during which your permit will be not cancelled.