Extended permit on the basis of employment

Apply for a residence permit by submitting an application that suits your situation. Submit the application in the e-service Enter Finland or on paper.

You need to submit the application yourself. Your employer cannot apply for a residence permit on your behalf. However, your employer may supplement your application. Read more on the page For employers.

After you have filled in the application, you must visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

• If you have applied through the e-service, visit the Finnish Immigration Service to prove your identity, have your fingerprints taken and show the originals of the documents that you have attached to your application. If you submit your application through the e-service, pay for it there or when you visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
• If you have filled in a paper application, bring the application with you. Have your fingerprints taken, prove your identity and show the originals of the documents that you have attached to your application. Pay for your application at the service point.

The processing time of your application depends on the grounds on which you applied. You may use the Processing Time Checker to get an estimate on the remaining processing time of your application. In addition, you will usually receive automated messages at the different processing stages of your application.

If we notice that something is missing from your application or if we need additional information from you, we will contact you. In some cases, we may ask you for additional information in writing or in an interview.

We use the same criteria for assessing applications for first and extended permits.

• If you are applying for a residence permit for an employed person, an Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office) will make a partial decision on your application.
• If you are applying for a residence permit for an entrepreneur, a Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) will make a partial decision on your application.

The Finnish Immigration Service will process your application only after this.

You may legally reside in Finland during the processing of your application and the possible appeal process.

If you need to supplement your application, you can do so in one of the following ways:

• Electronic application
  • Send the additional information in the e-service through the page "Send additional information". This is the only way you can supplement an electronic application.
• If you submitted a paper application:
  • by post
  • by email
  • by bringing your additional documents to a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service during their opening hours. There is a postbox meant for additional documents in all of our service points. Put your documents in the box.

Read more on the page Notify us of changes.

You may cancel your application at any time during its processing. Read more on the page Cancelling an application.

If you have applied for a residence permit through the e-service Enter Finland, you will get an e-mail or a text message when a decision has been made. You will also see it in your user account in the e-service.

If you applied for a residence permit by submitting a paper application, you will be informed about the decision by the police, or the Finnish Immigration Service will inform you about it by post.

You must be in Finland in order to receive a decision on your extended permit application.

Some decisions will be sent by post with an advice of delivery. Read more about collecting your letter on the page Advice of delivery.

If you are granted a residence permit, you will receive a residence permit card.

If you receive a negative extended permit decision, you may be deported.

If you are not satisfied with the decision, you have the right to appeal against the decision to an Administrative Court. Instructions on how to appeal will be attached to the decision.

The majority of decisions made by the Administrative Courts are subject to a fee. Contact an Administrative Court to find out more about court fees.