Fast track for specialists

Create an account in the online service Enter Finland.

Enter your name in the application without special characters (for example á, ç, ñ, ô, é, ı). You can use the same spelling as in the machine readable zone (MRZ) in your passport. 

• If you have previously created an account in Enter Finland and there are special characters in your name, you can make changes to your name when you select ‘My account’. If you make changes to your name, you can go back to an application that you have started to fill in by selecting ‘My applications’ - ‘Draft applications’.

The mobile phone number should be written in the international format without punctuation marks: +358501234567.

The requirements and the attachments are listed on the application page.

The attachments must be in Finnish, Swedish or English. If necessary, have your documents translated. If a family member of yours is applying together with you, even his or her attachments must be in Finnish, Swedish or English. In addition, all documents concerning your family relations must be legalised.

Fill in the application Residence permit for a specialist

• On the first page of the application, choose the option: I want to fast-track the processing of my application.
  • If you intend to apply for a D visa, remember to fill in the D visa section on the first page of the application
• Let us know where you want your residence permit card to be delivered
  • If you apply for a D visa at the same time or if you come from a visa-free country, you may travel to Finland without your residence permit card. In that case, state your address in Finland in the application. Your residence permit card will be delivered to your nearest pick-up point in Finland.
  • Otherwise, your residence permit card will be delivered to the service point where you prove your identity. You may travel to Finland after you have received your residence permit card.
• Give your employer permission to supplement your application in the section ‘Employment details’. Your employer will add the terms of employment to your application after you have submitted the application. The terms of employment must be added within two (2) working days.
  • Let your employer know when you have submitted your application.
• Remember to attach all the required documents to your application. The attachments must be in Finnish, Swedish or English. If necessary, have the attachments translated.
  • See the application page on our website to check which attachments are needed for your application.
• Let us know if your family members are applying together with you using the fast track service.
  • Fill in your child’s application during the same session.
  • Your spouse will receive a fast track ID number after you have submitted your application. After that, your spouse must submit his or her own application within two (2) days.
• Pay the processing fee on the last page of the application. If you are also applying for a D visa at the same time, pay the D visa as well.
• From the list, choose a service point that ends with the letters ‘VFS’. If there is no VFS Global application centre in your country, choose a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) as your service point.

After submitting the application, you will see instructions on proving your identity on your Enter Finland account. You will also receive your application’s diary number. You will need the diary number when you book an appointment for proving your identity.

• If your family members are applying together with you, book a family appointment.
• When booking an appointment, enter your fast track ID number.
  • If your family members are applying together with your, enter their fast track ID numbers as well.
• You must prove your identity within five (5) working days of submitting your application in Enter Finland.
• Bring with you to the appointment
  • Your diary number.
    • Your family members must bring their own diary numbers.
  • a valid passport.
    • If you are also applying for a D visa, the D visa will be affixed to your passport. 
  • a passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the Finnish police

• If you have also applied for a D visa, your residence permit card will be delivered to your nearest pick-up point in Finland.  
• If you come from a visa-free country and wished to receive your residence permit card in Finland, the card will be delivered to your nearest pick-up point. 
• If you stated that you want to receive your residence permit card abroad and proved your identity 
  • at a VFS Global application centre, the card will be delivered to the nearest Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). 
  • at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate), the card will be delivered to the mission that you visited to prove your identity.

Read more on the page Residence permit card.

If you proved your identity at a VFS application centre and are granted a residence permit, book an appointment for a visit at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will give you a personal identity code.

It is not always possible to expedite the processing of an application. The application cannot be fast-tracked if

• you fail to prove your identity within five (5) working days of submitting your application in Enter Finland
• your employer fails to add the terms of employment to your application within two (2) working days from the date you submitted your application in Enter Finland
• we need to ask you for further information for your application, or 
• your application does not meet the requirements for a residence permit for a specialist.

If fast-track processing is not available for your application, you can check the expected processing time of your application on the page Residence permit application for persons employed as a specialist.