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Frequently asked questions: Residence permits in general

Application conditions

I wish to move to Finland. May a foreigner who is not an EU citizen or equivalent move to Finland?

To be allowed to move to Finland for longer than 90 days, you need a residence permit. A residence permit may be granted on certain grounds.

If you are not sure what application form you should use, use the Application Finder to find out.

May I be granted a residence permit or a citizenship on the grounds of owning land in Finland?

No. Owning land, property, or shares in a housing company in Finland is not sufficient grounds for being granted a residence permit or a citizenship.

Application procedure

For how long a period may I be granted a Finnish residence permit?

The purpose of your residence in Finland has an effect on what type of residence permit you may be granted and for how long.

What does applying for a residence permit cost?

For the fees currently charged for the processing of residence permit applications, see Processing fees and payment methods.

The fee will not be refunded even if your application is rejected. The fee will also not be refunded if the application is withdrawn after the processing has begun.

May I wait for the decision on my resident permit application in Finland?

Usually, an application for a first residence permit must be submitted outside Finland and you must also wait for the decision abroad. If you are granted a residence permit, you can get your residence permit card from a Finnish embassy or consulate. In some cases, you can get your residence permit card in Finland if you are applying for a D visa or using the fast-track service. 

You can apply for a first residence permit in Finland in the following cases:

  • You are a family member of a Finnish citizen.
  • You are applying for a residence permit for a child born in Finland.
  • You apply for a residence permit for studies or you are a family member of a student.
  • You apply for a residence permit for a researcher or you are a family member of a researcher.
  • You are a victim of human trafficking.
  • You are a victim of labour exploitation.
  • You need a residence permit on a discretionary basis on humanitarian grounds.
  • You are applying for asylum or temporary protection.

I have applied for a residence permit in a Finnish embassy abroad. If I am granted a residence permit, can receive the decision and the residence permit card in Finland? Or in another Finnish embassy?

You cannot receive the decision and the residence permit card in Finland. You must wait for the decision abroad. If you wish to change your service point abroad, you must contact the embassies concerned, in order to do this.

For how long does my passport need to be valid?

In order to be granted a residence permit, you must have a valid passport issued by your country of nationality. The passport must be valid during the entire validity period of your residence permit. If your passport expires while the residence permit is valid, remember to renew it early enough.

My citizenship application is pending and my passport/residence permit is expiring soon. What should I do?

You have to renew your passport and residence permit normally. The expiration of a passport or of a residence permit is not a ground for expediting a citizenship application.

Income requirements

I’m applying for a residence permit. What does the income requirement mean? What are income thresholds?

The income requirement, or the requirement for sufficient financial resources, means that you and your family members must have enough money for living in Finland. If your main source of income is social assistance paid by Kela, your income is not sufficient. Getting a residence permit is usually possible only if you have enough money and income.

The amount of money that you must have at your disposal is referred to as the ‘income threshold’. The income thresholds are net income. Net income means the money that you get to keep after taxes and certain other payments. You have enough money, or 'sufficient financial resources', if your net income is at least as much as the income threshold is. The exact amount of money you must have depends on which residence permit you are applying for (on what grounds you apply for a permit). If you want to know what type of income requirement you must meet, please check the application page of the permit you are applying for.

Please note that there are separate salary requirements for most work-based residence permits. You will find the salary requirements on the page Income requirement for persons who apply for a residence permit on the basis of work.

How do I know how much money I need to get a residence permit?

The exact amount of money and income you must have depends on the grounds for your application. You will find the details about the required income on the application page of the permit that you are applying for. Links to the income requirements of different permits are available on the page Income requirement.

How does the Finnish Immigration Service determine the income thresholds? 

The basis of the income thresholds is the statistics from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) regarding the average expenses and income of beneficiaries of social assistance in 2023. The income thresholds are based on the basic social assistance and on the housing costs and healthcare expenses that are observed when granting social assistance. 

The amount of money that you must have depends on where you live, since there is regional variation in housing costs. The income thresholds are now divided into 3 groups:

  1. Helsinki metropolitan area: Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen, Vantaa
  2. Other large municipalities: Hyvinkää, Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Järvenpää, Kajaani, Kerava, Kirkkonummi, Kouvola, Kuopio, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Lohja, Mikkeli, Nokia, Nurmijärvi, Oulu, Pori, Porvoo, Raisio, Riihimäki, Rovaniemi, Seinäjoki, Sipoo, Siuntio, Tampere, Turku, Tuusula, Vaasa, Vihti
  3. Other municipalities

The Finnish Immigration Service will review and update the income thresholds every year in the form of index increases, and we will take into account the Kela statistics on the average expenses and income of beneficiaries of social assistance.

Can I combine different income sources to meet the income requirement?

Yes, combining different income sources is possible. When we assess your financial resources, we will take into account your assets and all income sources. Kela benefits, for example, will be taken into account. However, your income cannot be based on social assistance paid by Kela, on labour market subsidy paid by Kela or on basic unemployment allowance paid by Kela.

If you apply for a residence permit for full-time employment, your salary must be at least as much as the salary specified in the collective agreement that applies to your employment relationship. You can read more about this on our website on the page Income requirement for persons who apply for a residence permit on the basis of work. 

Why did the Finnish Immigration Service increase the general income thresholds on 1 November 2024? 

The latest adjustments were made in 2013. The old thresholds did not correspond to the current costs of living. Raising the thresholds was deemed necessary so that applicants will have enough money to cover their living costs in Finland.

The old income thresholds were lower than the average income of beneficiaries of social assistance. The old income thresholds were not enough to guarantee that applicants would have sufficient financial resources. 

For which residence permits did the income thresholds change on 1 November 2024? 

The income thresholds concerning the following residence permits have changed:

See the application page of the permit that you are applying for to confirm what level of income is required in your case. 

I have submitted my application before the income requirements changed on 1 November 2024. Which income levels apply to me?

The new income thresholds do not affect applications that have been submitted before 1 November 2024 and that are waiting for processing or being processed. In your case, the old income thresholds that were in force before 1 November 2024 will be applied to you. You can see the old income thresholds in our customer bulletin: Increases in income required of residence permit applicants as of 1 November 2024

Can you make any exceptions? Can you derogate from the income thresholds?

We may derogate from the income thresholds on a case-by-case basis. For families with children, for example, we may deviate from the required sums on a case-by-case basis if the family’s income is slightly below the income threshold. 

Derogating from the income threshold is possible if there are exceptionally weighty reasons or if a derogation is in the best interest of a child.

Will Kela benefits affect the decision to accept or reject my residence permit application?

You can cover part of the required income with certain benefits paid by Kela. Such benefits include general housing allowance, child benefit, financial aid for students and parental allowances. However, your income cannot be based on social assistance paid by Kela, on labour market subsidy paid by Kela or on basic unemployment allowance paid by Kela. 

Please note that there are separate salary requirements for most work-based residence permits. You will find the salary requirements on the page Income requirement for persons who apply for a residence permit on the basis of work. 

Will getting social assistance from Kela affect my chances to extend my permit? What about other benefits?

Your income can be based on social assistance paid by Kela only if this is temporary and of short duration. Usually, this would be a period of less than 3 months. We will assess the social assistance paid to you on a case-by-case basis. We will take into account several factors, such as how long you have been residing in Finland, how often you have received social assistance from Kela, and for what reasons you have had for relying on social assistance. 

Apart from social assistance, other benefits do not affect your possibilities to be granted an extended permit. Many benefits can be counted towards your income, including general housing allowance, child benefit, earnings-related unemployment allowance and parental allowances. We will always make an individual assessment of your situation. 

I have a fixed-term employment contract and I’m applying for a residence permit on the basis of work. How will this affect the way you assess my income?

You must have sufficient financial resources for the entire validity period of your residence permit. For this reason, the duration of your employment relationship is of importance. If you have a fixed-term contract, we will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis. We will take into account the duration of your employment contract, the common practice in your field of work, your previous employment relationships and your previous income. You can apply for an extended permit even if you have a fixed-term employment relationship. A residence permit on the basis of work will usually be issued for the duration of the fixed-term employment relationship.

Read more on the page Income requirement for persons who apply for a residence permit on the basis of work.

Will the salary requirements for employees change?

The changes in the income thresholds do not affect the residence permit for an employed person (the ‘TTOL’ permit). The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is preparing changes to the minimum salary level required for the residence permit for an employed person. You can read more about this on the website of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: Income limit for residence permit for an employed person (tem.fi).

We will inform of the changing minimum salary level for employed persons once the laws have been passed. The income thresholds that are in force as of 1 November 2024 concern several permits, including the following work-based residence permits: 

  • Residence permit on the basis of a degree, qualification or research completed in Finland 
  • Residence permit for startup entrepreneurs 
  • Residence permit for researchers with own funding

I’m applying for a permanent residence permit. What’s the income requirement for a permanent residence permit?

The required income depends on the grounds for the continuous residence permit (the A permit) based on which you apply for a permanent residence permit. For example: If you hold an extended permit on the basis of work and apply for a permanent residence permit on the basis of work, you must meet the salary requirement for employees.  

To confirm what level of income is required in your case, see the page of the application grounds on the basis of which you are applying for a permanent residence permit. 

Why is the income requirement lower for students than for other applicants?

The income threshold for students is lower because students have lower living costs. They have access to subsidised housing and meal allowance through their school or university, and students can get certain student discounts as well. Students are required to have their own health insurance, which compensates for medical expenses. The income threshold is lower also for the residence permit issued to students and researchers for looking for work or starting a business.

Legislative amendments of 1 September 2024: Stricter requirements for issuing residence permits and for identification of applicants

I have travelled to Finland. Can I apply for a residence permit while I’m in Finland?

Apply for your first residence permit outside Finland. You can apply for a first residence permit in Finland only in the following cases: 

  • You are a family member of a Finnish citizen.
  • You are applying for a residence permit for a child born in Finland.
  • You are a victim of human trafficking.
  • You are a victim of labour exploitation.
  • You need a residence permit on a discretionary basis on humanitarian grounds.
  • You are applying for a residence permit for studies or as a family member of a student.
  • You are applying for a residence permit for a researcher or as a family member of a researcher.
  • You are applying for asylum or temporary protection.

If you apply for a residence permit on some other grounds while in Finland, you will usually get a negative decision. When making the decision, we will nevertheless assess whether a negative decision would be unreasonable in your case. We will also take into account the protection of family life and the best interest of the child.

I have travelled to Finland and applied for a first residence permit here before the Aliens Act was amended on 1 September 2024. Will I get a negative decision?

The amendments to the Aliens Act that entered into force on 1 September 2024 introduced stricter requirements for issuing residence permits. As of 1 September 2024, an application for a first residence permit must be submitted outside Finland. You can submit an application for a first residence permit in Finland only in the following cases: 

  • You are a family member of a Finnish citizen.
  • You are applying for a residence permit for a child born in Finland.
  • You are applying for a residence permit for studies or as a family member of a student.
  • You are applying for a residence permit for a researcher or as a family member of a researcher.
  • You are a victim of human trafficking.
  • You are a victim of labour exploitation.
  • You need a residence permit on a discretionary basis on humanitarian grounds.
  • You are applying for asylum or temporary protection.

If you apply for a residence permit on some other grounds while in Finland, you will usually get a negative decision. When making the decision, we will nevertheless assess whether a negative decision would be unreasonable in your case.

I’m going to apply for a residence permit in Finland, but I don’t have a passport issued by my country of nationality. Instead, I have an alien’s passport issued by another country. Can I get a residence permit?

When you apply for a residence permit, you must have a valid passport issued by your country of nationality. For example, if you have an alien’s passport or a refugee travel document, you cannot usually get a residence permit in Finland.   

However, we will not reject your residence permit application because you do not have a passport in the following cases: 

  • You are applying for a first residence permit for a child born in Finland.
    • We will issue the child with an alien’s passport so that the child can obtain a national passport.
    • If the child’s country of nationality has an embassy or a consulate in Finland, the child must primarily obtain a passport issued by his or her country of nationality.
  • You need a residence permit on a discretionary basis on humanitarian grounds.
  • You are a victim of human trafficking.
  • You are applying for asylum or temporary protection.
  • You are applying for a residence permit as a family member of a person who has received international protection and are granted international protection.

When making a decision on your application, the protection of family life and the best interest of the child are taken into account. The legislative amendments that introduced stricter passport requirements entered into force on 1 September 2024. The new requirements are also applied to applications submitted before 1 September 2024 that have not been decided yet.

After I had arrived in Finland, I applied for asylum. I was later granted a residence permit on the basis of work. I’m now applying for an extended permit. Will I get a residence permit?

If you have been granted a residence permit before, you can get an extended permit even though you have previously applied for asylum. To be issued with the permit, you must meet the requirements for obtaining the permit. For example, you must hold a passport issued by your country of nationality. When making the decision, we will take into account the protection of family life and the best interest of the child if they are affected by the decision.

I’m a citizen of Somalia applying for a residence permit in Finland on the basis of family reunification. I have a passport issued by Somalia. Can I get a residence permit?

You cannot prove your identity with a Somali passport, as Finland does not accept Somali passports. See the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs for more information about Somali passports (um.fi). When making a decision on your application, the protection of family life and the best interest of the child are taken into account. Despite the amendments to the Aliens Act that entered into force on 1 September 2024, the established practice based on the protection of family life will continue, and Somali citizens can be exempted from the travel document requirement in the case of family reunification.

I have an alien’s passport issued by Italy. Can I get a residence permit?

Residence permit applicants must prove their identity by showing a passport issued by their country of nationality. You cannot prove your identity with an alien’s passport.  

We will not reject your residence permit application because you do not have a passport if you apply for a residence permit as a family member of a person who has received international protection and you are granted international protection. When making a decision on your application, the protection of family life and the best interest of the child are taken into account.

My first residence permit expired on 2 August 2024. I applied for an extended permit on 2 September 2024. How does the gap between my permits affect the processing of my application?

You are required to apply for a new residence permit before your valid residence permit expires. If you do not apply for a new permit in time, you are staying in the country illegally during the gap between your permits, which can lead to a negative decision. When we process your application, the duration of your illegal stay will be of relevance. In such a case, we will assess whether there are acceptable reasons for applying for a permit late. Such reasons include, for example, a severe illness or accident that has prevented you from applying for a residence permit.

If you have applied for an extended permit too late, your right to work has ended. Read more about the right to work.

The gap between your permits will also be of relevance if you apply for a permanent residence permit or Finnish citizenship.

I need to apply for an extended permit. Can I submit my application even though my passport has expired?

You can submit an application even though your passport has expired, but we cannot grant you a residence permit before you hold a valid passport issued by your country of nationality.

I have a residence permit in Finland and I have previously proved my identity with an alien’s passport. I’m about to apply for an extended permit. Can I prove my identity with an alien’s passport?

No, you cannot. When you apply for a residence permit, you must have a valid passport issued by your country of nationality. The authorities must identify the applicant and verify the applicant’s identity on the basis of a valid passport issued by the applicant’s country of nationality.

However, we will not reject your residence permit application because you do not have a passport in the following cases: 

  • You are applying for a residence permit for a child born in Finland.
    • We will issue the child with an alien’s passport so that the child can obtain a national passport.
    • If the child’s country of nationality has an embassy or a consulate in Finland, the child must primarily obtain a passport issued by his or her country of nationality.
  • You need a residence permit on a discretionary basis on humanitarian grounds.
  • You are a victim of human trafficking.
  • You are applying for asylum or temporary protection.
  • You have applied for international protection and are applying for an extended permit or a permanent residence permit on the basis of international protection.
  • You are applying for a residence permit as a family member of a person who has received international protection and are granted international protection.

Due to the legislative amendments that entered into force on 1 September 2024, residence permit applicants must have a passport issued by their country of nationality to prove their identity. Can I be exempted from the passport requirement if I’m applying for a first residence permit or an extended permit? 

If you are applying for a first residence permit or an extended permit, you can be exempted from the passport requirement in the following cases:  

  • You are applying for a residence permit for a child born in Finland.
    • We will issue the child with an alien’s passport so that the child can obtain a passport issued by his or her country of nationality.
    • If the child’s country of nationality has an embassy or a consulate in Finland, the child must primarily obtain a passport issued by his or her country of nationality.
  • You need a residence permit on a discretionary basis on humanitarian grounds.
  • You are a victim of human trafficking.
  • You are applying for asylum or temporary protection. 
  • You are applying for a residence permit as a family member of a person who has received international protection and are granted international protection.

You can also be exempted from the passport requirement if you are granted a fixed-term residence permit:

  • due to obstacles to leaving the country 
  • on a discretionary basis on humanitarian grounds 
  • as a third-country national who has resided and worked in the country illegally 
  • as a foreign national in a witness protection programme 
  • when exclusion clauses are being applied.

Can I be exempted from the passport requirement if I’m applying for a permanent residence permit?

If you apply for a permanent residence permit, you are not required to hold a passport issued by your country of nationality if you previously have been granted:

  • international protection or temporary protection
  • a residence permit when exclusion clauses have been applied.

You are not required to hold a passport issued by your country of nationality if you can prove that you have tried to obtain such a passport, you have presented reliable proof of your identity and you have previously received a residence permit despite not having a passport on one of the following grounds:

  • due to obstacles to leaving the country 
  • on a discretionary basis on humanitarian grounds 
  • as a victim of human trafficking
  • as a third-country national who has resided and worked in the country illegally
  • as a foreign national in a witness protection programme.

Additionally, you still need to meet the requirements for the permit. 

A permanent residence permit can also be granted when the applicant does not have a passport if there are exceptionally serious grounds for it or if it is in the best interest of the child.

I do not have a passport issued by my country of nationality. Can I still apply for a residence permit?

You can always submit an application, if you like. The amendments that introduced stricter passport requirements entered into force on 1 September 2024. You are required to hold a valid passport issued by your country of nationality in order to be granted a residence permit. In some cases, it is possible to exempt the applicant from the passport requirement.

Processing time

How can I expedite the processing of my residence permit application?

Fill in all the required information on the application form carefully and append any required appendices. Providing insufficient information slows the processing of your application because additional clarification is required from you. Giving insufficient information may also lead to an unfavourable decision.

Telephone enquiries and visits to any of the service points do no expedite the processing of your case. We will contact you if additional information is required. The average processing times can be found on the Processing times page.

I have applied for a permanent residence permit but I have heard that it would go faster to get an extended permit. Can I apply for an extended permit (an A permit) even if I already have applied for a permanent permit?

The processing times of applications for permanent permits and extended permits are different. You can apply for an extended permit even if you already have applied for a permanent permit. In that case, you do not need to cancel your application for a permanent permit. Cancelling your application for a permanent permit may result in a gap between your residence permits. That is why it is advisable to wait until decisions on both applications are ready. If a permanent residence permit is then granted, you can cancel your application for an extended permit after that.

Changing the grounds for application

I have applied for a residence permit on the grounds of work and I have not yet received a decision. I just got married. Do I need to fill in a new application?

You do not need to fill in a new application, unless you wish to change the grounds for your residence permit application. You must, however, inform the Finnish Immigration Service of your marriage. This is especially important if you are changing your name

Send a certified copy of your marriage certificate to the Finnish Immigration Service, either directly or via a Finnish embassy. Certificates issued by authorities of countries other than Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark or Iceland must be legalised. If the certificate is not in Finnish, Swedish, or English, please also send a translation of the certificate in one of these languages, certified by an authorised translator.

I have applied for a residence permit on the grounds of work and I just got married. May I change the grounds for my application?

No, you may not. If you wish to change the grounds for your application, you must submit a new application on the basis of marriage. Read more about issuing a residence permit on the basis of marriage.

If you apply for a permit on new grounds, you must pay the processing fee for the application and visit a Finnish mission abroad or a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service in Finland to prove your identity. When you apply for a permit on new grounds, the processing time starts to run again from the beginning. The processing time depends on the type of your application.

Remember to cancel your previous application if you wish to apply for a permit only on your new grounds.

I have applied for a residence permit on the basis of an established intimate relationship. After submitting the application, I have married my partner. Can I change the grounds for my application?

You can change the grounds for your application if you have applied for a residence permit on the basis of an established intimate relationship and 

  • you have married the same partner
  • you have lived together for at least two years or 
  • you live together and have a child in your joint custody. 

Send your marriage certificate, evidence on living together or evidence on the custody of your child to the Finnish Immigration Service. We will then assess whether you meet the requirements for a permit on the basis of marriage or cohabitation.

Submitting the application

 Who can submit the residence permit application?

If you are an adult (over 18)

You must complete and submit your application yourself in the online service Enter Finland. If you wish to use a paper application, fill in the application form and submit it at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service or at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) abroad. 

If you are a minor (child under 18)

When a child is applying for a permit, the child’s application must be completed and submitted by the child’s parent, the person who has custody of the child, or other legal representative of the child. Alternatively, the parent or the person who has custody of the child can give someone a power of attorney that authorises the person to complete and submit an application on behalf of the child. In such a case, a power of attorney with signature must be attached to the application.

If you are aged 15–17, you can complete and submit your application yourself. Attach to the application consent by your parent or the person who has custody of you or by other legal representative of yours. 

You must bring the child with you when you visit a Finnish mission abroad or a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service in Finland to submit the application. This requirement applies to all children under the age of 18, including babies. 

If you have a legal guardian

A guardian who has been appointed to represent you can complete the application on your behalf only if he or she has been authorised to manage your residence permit matters. In addition, you must be present when the application is submitted at a Finnish mission abroad or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service in Finland.

Can I submit my application by post?

No, you cannot. The application must be submitted in person. Submit your application at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) abroad before coming to Finland. If you are already in Finland, submit your application at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service. It is possible to submit an online application through the online service Enter Finland.

How do I book an appointment for a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service?

Book an appointment for a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service in advance using our appointment system (vihta.com). If you apply online, you must complete and submit the application on Enter Finland before you visit the service point. If you apply on paper, fill in an application form and bring it with you to the service point.

Travelling / residence abroad

Can I travel with a Finnish residence permit in Europe (Schengen area) before entering Finland for the first time?

Yes, you are allowed to stay a maximum of 90 days at a time in the Schengen area using a residence permit granted by Finland, including before you enter Finland for the first time. You will not need a separate visa. The ninety days time limit concerns the total time spent in the Schengen area, not an individual country

I have a continuous residence permit that will expire during a holiday trip I am planning. Will this cause me problems?

You should apply for an extended permit before the validity of your previous residence permit expires. Please submit your application in good time, so that you can make arrangements for your trip and make sure that your permit does not expire while you are away.

You can only apply for an extended permit in Finland. If you submit your residence permit application abroad at a Finnish mission, it will be processed as a new application for a first residence permit. If you are required to have a visa, it is possible that you will not be issued a visa to return to Finland. The Finnish mission makes the decision to grant a visa.

I would like to travel in Finland for a short time after the expiry of my residence permit. Should I apply for a new permit or what should I do?

If you are a foreign national free of visa you may stay in Finland and Schengen area for a maximum period of 90 days. Other foreign nationals must leave Finland when the residence permit expires. Residence permits cannot be granted for holiday travel.

I have applied for a residence permit but I have not yet received a decision. I will soon be travelling abroad for a holiday. Can I speed up the processing of my application?

No. A trip or a family visit abroad is not a well-founded reason for expediting an application. Read more about expedited processing. 

End of employment

I have been granted a residence permit for employment but have become unemployed. How will this affect my residence permit?

You have been granted a permit to reside in Finland on the basis of employment. If you no longer are employed, such grounds no longer exist. It is advisable to look for a new job. For more information, see the page Changing jobs.

Even though your employment ends, there may be some other grounds for your residence in Finland, such as family ties or studies. You can use our Application Finder to find the right residence permit for you: I want a residence permit.

If there are no longer grounds for your residence in Finland, your permit can be withdrawn. We may initiate a process for withdrawing your residence permit after you have been unemployed for 3 months. For more information, see the page Withdrawal of residence permits.

I have a residence permit on the basis of family ties but have become unemployed. How will this affect my residence permit?

Your permit has been granted on the basis of family ties, so the grounds for your residence in Finland still exist. Becoming unemployed does not affect your residence permit.

I have been laid off temporarily. Will my residence permit be withdrawn?

If the lay-off is temporary, we will not start considering whether your permit should be withdrawn. In other words, we will not withdraw your permit if you have been laid off temporarily and the end date of your lay-off is known.
If you have been laid off until further notice, and the end date of your lay-off is unknown, we may consider withdrawing your permit. 

What should I do to prevent my residence permit from being cancelled while I am away from Finland?

Your fixed-period or temporary residence permit will be cancelled if

  • you move from Finland permanently
  • you otherwise reside outside Finland for a permanent purpose for two years uninterrupted.

Working abroad for at least two years is not considered a continuous residence that leads to the cancellation of your residence permit if you were sent there by a Finnish employer and are working for this employer on secondment while you are abroad.

If you are planning to move from Finland, for example, to work or study abroad for at least two years, you should send an application to the Finnish Immigration Service to prevent the cancellation of your residence permit. You must submit the application before you have stayed abroad for two years.

Fill in the form OLE_PER. You can find more information on the subject on page Cancellation of a permit.

Extended permits

I am abroad, and cannot come to Finland to apply for an extended permit. What should I do?

You can only apply for an extended permit if you are in Finland.

If you submit your application for a residence permit abroad and visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) to prove your identity, your application will be processed as a first residence permit application. The fee charged is the processing fee for a first residence permit application.

You will find more information about applying for an extended permit on the page migri.fi/extended-permit.

I have submitted an application for an extended permit in the online service Enter Finland before my current residence permit has expired. I am not able to book an appointment at a service point before my current residence permit expires. Can I wait for the decision in Finland?

You can wait for your decision in Finland. 

You have submitted your application in Enter Finland before the expiration of your current residence permit, which means that you have applied for an extended permit in time. 

You still need to prove your identity in order for us to be able to start processing your application for an extended permit. 

Book an appointment at one of our service points in our appointment system as soon as there are available appointment times. You are required to visit a service point to prove your identity within three months of the date when you submitted your application.

We cannot start processing your application before you have proved your identity.

Changes in the Alien act 23.2.2023

I submitted my application before the legislative amendments entered into force, and the application is still waiting to be processed. How do the amendments affect the processing of my application?

The amendments to the Aliens Act are not subject to a transition period, which means that your application will be processed in accordance with the new rules as soon as they enter into force. See the web pages concerning the type of application you submitted for information about how the requirements for granting the permit have changed. 

If you notice that important information is missing, you can supplement your application with additional information. If you submitted your application using the Enter Finland online service, you can add information and attachments by selecting ‘send additional information’. If you applied for a residence permit using a paper form, you can send us additional information by email to migri@migri.fi. If more information is needed for your application, we will also send you a request for additional information. This will extend the processing time of your application.

If you have applied for a residence permit using the application for an employed person, specialist, the EU Blue Card, athlete, person with a degree or research completed in Finland, or other employment, and meet the requirements for the residence permit based on your application documents, the Finnish Immigration Service will grant you the permit without additional steps. In other cases, we will contact you or your employer.

What happens if my application, which is already pending, does not meet the requirements set in the new law?

If you have, for example, 

  • applied for a  residence permit for a specialist, but your salary no longer meets the criteria set for specialists, or 
  • applied for a residence permit on the basis of other employment as the employee of an association, but do not work in the service of a religious community in a position that involves practising the religion, 

it is possible that you cannot be granted the residence permit for which you have applied. 

In such cases, the Finnish Immigration Service will contact you asking you to change your application and apply instead for a residence permit for an employed person (TTOL), for example. You will also receive instructions on how to pay the difference in the processing fees for the permits. If you do not agree to change your application or pay the difference in the processing fees, we may not be able to grant you a residence permit.

The legal provision printed on my residence permit card regarding the grounds for my right to work does not match the provision in the new law. Do I need to apply for a new residence permit card?

No, you do not. See our work in Finland page for a table of all old legal provisions regarding the right to work. No changes have been made to the actual right to work, and only the legal provisions of the Aliens Act regarding the right to work have changed. You or your employer can use the table to check the new legal provision on the right to work.  

You will receive a new card with the new legal provision printed on it when you apply for 

  • an extended permit, or 
  • a new card after your card expires or goes missing, for example. 

My employer is unable to use the Enter Finland for Employers service. How can the terms of employment be added to my application?

Your employer can complete the ‘Terms of Employment’ paper form (pdf), which you can then attach to your application.

How do I know if there have been changes to my residence permit application?

If you are applying for a residence permit on the basis of work, there may have been certain changes to your application. See the application page of the residence permit for which you are applying to check 

  • the requirements for the residence permit, and
  • the necessary attachments to the application.

Please note that your employer must supplement your application by filling in the terms of employment.

If you have already submitted your residence permit application and notice that information such as the terms of employment is missing, you can add this information to your application. If you submitted your application using the Enter Finland online service, add the missing information by selecting ‘send additional information’. If you applied for the residence permit on paper, you can send us additional information by email to migri@migri.fi.  

I have applied for a residence permit for studies before the changes to the Aliens Act, and my application has not yet been processed. My passport is valid for another two years. Can I be granted a residence permit for the entire duration of my studies, or until the expiry date of my passport?

You can be granted a residence permit for the entire duration of your studies. Make sure that you renew your passport early enough before it expires, and that you have a valid passport while you are in Finland. 

I have completed a degree in Finland and started a company. Which permit should I apply for?

You should apply for the residence permit for persons with a degree completed in Finland.

I sent my residence permit application on the basis of work before the law was amended on 23 February 2023. According to the new law, the processing time is two months. Will my application be processed within two months in accordance with the new law?

If your application was sent before 23 February 2023 and it included all the necessary information and attachments, the decision must be made within four months by law. If your application, including all the necessary information and attachments, was sent on 23 February 2023 or later, the decision must be made within two months by law. 

However, the expected processing times for applications may vary, as applications are not comparable. The processing time depends, among other things, on how much time examining the matter requires, whether other authorities take part in the decision-making and whether additional information must be requested for processing the application.

Note also that your employer must add the terms of employment to your application and you must prove your identity.

For more information, see the pages Processing times and What affects the processing time of your application?

Post-decision monitoring of residence permits

 

How does the Finnish Immigration Service know how I earn my income?

We may conduct register checks in different national registers. Information on the salaries and benefits paid to you comes from, among other sources, the Incomes Register. You can read more about the Incomes Register on the website of the Finnish Tax Administration: Incomes Register (vero.fi).

How does the Finnish Immigration Service know if I have committed crimes in Finland?

We may conduct register checks in different national registers. Information on fines and prison sentences in Finland comes from the Legal Register Centre. You can read more about the register on the website of the Legal Register Centre: www.oikeusrekisterikeskus.fi.

I have a residence permit for studies. How does the Finnish Immigration Service know the status of my studies?

We can, for instance, check the status of your studies using the Koski register (oph.fi). 

I have a residence permit for a startup entrepreneur. Setting up a company has taken longer than expected, and my business is not in operation yet. Will I lose my residence permit?

If you have moved to Finland but your company is not in operation, we will ask you about it. In your reply, you can explain your situation and your plans. We will then make an overall assessment of your situation.

I have a residence permit for a specialist. How does the Finnish Immigration Service know if I have received benefits or whether or not my salary has been on the level required for the permit?

We may conduct register checks in different national registers. Information on the salaries and benefits paid to you comes from, among other sources, the Incomes Register. Your salary must meet the salary requirement of the year during which your residence permit was issued. You can read more about the Incomes Register on the website of the Finnish Tax Administration: Incomes Register (vero.fi). 

I have a permanent residence permit in Finland but I had to travel to my home country and stay there a long time for personal reasons. Will I lose my residence permit?

If you are temporarily residing outside Finland for special and exceptional reasons, there is an application that you can file to prevent the withdrawal of your residence permit. Please read more here: Withdrawal of residence permits