Frequently asked questions: The residence permit card

Where can I give my fingerprints?

Your fingerprints will be taken when you submit your residence permit application. Abroad this takes place at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate), and in Finland at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

Who needs to give fingerprints?

All persons over the age of 6 submitting an application for a residence permit must give their fingerprints while submitting the application. For instance long distances or economic reasons are not sufficient grounds for failing to give one's fingerprints.

I have lost my residence permit card or my residence permit card has been stolen. What should I do?

If you lose your card in Finland or your card is stolen in Finland, report this to the police. Apply for a new residence permit card in Enter Finland and add to your application a copy of the report that you filed with the police concerning your lost or stolen card. 

If you lose your card while abroad, or your card is stolen while abroad, report this to the authorities of the country you are visiting. If you are unable to travel to Finland without a visa, you can apply for a D visa so that you can return to Finland. In that case, fill in and submit the paper application for a D visa.

For more information on how to renew your residence permit card, please visit the page Renewal of a residence permit card.

I have received a residence permit card, but there is incorrect information on the card. What should I do?

Inform the Finnish Immigration Service in writing about the incorrect information. Specify what information should be corrected and in what way. Remember to also include your contact information.The Finnish Immigration Service will determine the cause of the incorrect information. After this, the Finnish Immigration Service will let you know if the information will be corrected without a new application or if you need to apply for a new card.

I have a permanent residence permit sticker in my passport. My passport is about to expire. What should I do?

You must apply for a new passport from the same authorities who issued your previous passport. Usually this means your own country's embassy in Finland. If you have an alien's passport or a refugee travel document issued by Finland, you must submit a re-application at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

The residence permit sticker will not be transferred to your new passport, instead you must apply for a residence permit card from the Finnish Immigration Service. The residence permit card is proof of your right to reside in Finland.

You can apply for a new residence permit card online in Enter Finland. For more information on how to renew your residence permit card, please visit the page Renewal of a residence permit card.

If the decision on my residence permit or asylum application is positive, when can I pick up my residence permit card?

It takes approximately two weeks to manufacture and post the residence permit card.

The cards are manufactured by a private company, and the Finnish Immigration Service has no influence over how soon the cards can be delivered. Please note that phone calls to the Finnish Immigration Service do not speed up the manufacturing of your card.

What kind of information is labelled on a residence permit card? How does the card look like?

Please, find the answer on the page Residence permit card.

I have a new passport. What do I do with my residence permit card?

Your residence permit card must have the same personal data as your passport. If your personal details in your new passport are the same as in your old passport and in your residence permit card, you do not need to do anything.

If your personal data, such as your name, has changed, you must apply for a new residence permit card.

You can apply for a new residence permit card online in Enter Finland. For more information on how to renew your residence permit card, please visit the page Renewal of a residence permit card.

My residence permit card is about to expire but my residence permit is still valid. What should I do?

You have to renew your card. You can apply for a new card online in Enter Finland. For more information on how to renew your residence permit card, please visit the page Renewal of a residence permit card. 

If your residence permit card expires while you are abroad but you still have a valid residence permit in Finland, you can apply for a D visa for returning to Finland by submitting an application at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). For more information, see the page D visa.

The validity of my residence permit card is about to expire, and I am unable to get an appointment at a service point. What should I do? 

Apply for the renewal of your residence permit card before it expires. In urgent matters, you can visit our service points with a waiting number. If you apply for the renewal of your card in Enter Finland, send your application before your old card expires. When you send your application in Enter Finland, you do not have to visit a service point to prove your identity before your card expires. Instead, you can visit the service point later.

If you have a permanent (P) residence permit and the validity of your residence permit card is about to expire:

• Your right to work will not be interrupted even if you submit your application for a residence permit card late. 

You can read more about renewing a residence permit card on the page Renewal of a residence permit card.

If your residence permit is about to expire:

• Apply for an extended permit using the online service Enter Finland before your current residence permit expires. If you apply for a new permit after your previous permit has expired, your right to work ends and you can get a negative decision. The gap between your permits can also affect your application later if you apply for a permanent residence permit or Finnish citizenship.

For more information about applying for an extended permit, see the page Extended permit.

Can I send the application to renew the residence permit card by post?

No, you cannot because new fingerprints are needed for the card and you have to prove your identity. 

How do I renew a child’s residence permit card?

A child’s card is renewed the same way as the card for an adult. The parent or guardian of the child must fill in the application on behalf of the child in Enter Finland. For more information on how to renew your residence permit card, please visit the page Renewal of a residence permit card.

All children over the age of six have to give their fingerprints.