- Residence permit
- EU citizen
- Finnish citizenship
- Asylum in Finland
- Travel documents
- Income requirement
- Processing of applications
- Notify us of changes
- Requests and certificates
- Legislation
- Informing of the decision
- Appealing a decision
- Cancellation of a permit
- Refusal of entry and deportation
- Right to work
- For employers
- Travelling
- Visiting Finland
Permanent residence permit
A permanent residence permit is valid until further notice. In other words, its period of validity is not limited. You may get a permanent residence permit if:
- you have lived in Finland continuously for four years with a continuous residence permit (the A permit); and
- the requirements for granting a continuous residence permit still exist.
The time period of four years begins:
- on the day of your entry into Finland if you had a continuous residence permit when you came to Finland; or
- on the first day of your first continuous residence permit if you applied for the permit in Finland; or
- on the day of your entry into Finland if you have been granted a continuous residence permit on the basis of refugee status or subsidiary protection.
If you have not yet been in Finland for four years, you may apply for a new fixed-term residence permit (extended permit).
In order to get a permanent residence permit, you need to be able to get a continuous residence permit
The Finnish Immigration Service can only grant you a permanent residence permit if you have the grounds and meet the requirements for a continuous residence permit (the A permit). In most cases, your grounds for a permanent residence permit are the same as they were for your previous, continuous residence permit.
Alternatively, you can apply for permanent residence permit on new grounds. Remember that you need to meet the requirements for the residence permit for which you apply. You may for example get a permanent residence permit on the grounds of family or work.
A permanent residence permit can be refused if you have committed crimes. Read more about the effect of crime on getting a permanent residence permit.
You can only apply for a permanent residence permit in Finland
If you submit your application abroad, your application will be processed as an application for a first residence permit. The application will be subject to a processing fee for a first permit.
Your continuous residence permit must still be valid when you apply for a permanent residence permit
Apply for a permanent residence permit before your previous residence permit expires. Please reserve some time for the processing of your application and your visit to a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service. However, we do not recommend that you apply for a permanent residence permit earlier than three months before completing your four-year period of residence. If you apply earlier, we may not necessarily be able to assess whether you meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit and may be unable to grant the permit.
If you only apply for a permanent residence permit after your previous residence permit has expired, you cannot get a permanent residence permit. In such a case, you may however apply for a new extended permit.
You may legally reside in Finland during the processing of your application and the possible appeal process. If the Finnish Immigration Service does not grant you a permanent residence permit due to, for example, crimes or insufficient period of residence but you meet the requirements for a continuous (A) residence permit, we will nonetheless consider whether we could grant you a new extended permit.
Right to work
Whether you are allowed to work while your application is being processed depends on the grounds on which your previous residence permit was granted to you. If you only apply for a permanent residence permit after your previous residence permit has expired, you are not allowed to continue working. Read more about the right to work while your permanent residence permit application is being processed.
After you get a permanent residence permit, you have an unrestricted right to work.
EU residence permit
A long-term resident’s EU residence permit issued to a third-country national is also a permanent permit that is valid until further notice.
You may get an EU residence permit after you have lived in Finland for five years without interruption. You must have secure means of support regardless of the grounds on which you apply for an EU residence permit. Read more about the requirements and application for an EU residence permit.
Right of permanent residence of EU citizens and their family members
An EU citizen has the right of permanent residence in Finland after he or she has legally resided in Finland for an uninterrupted period of five years. A family member of an EU citizen has the right of permanent residence in Finland after he or she has legally resided in Finland with the EU citizen in question for an uninterrupted period of five years.
New residence permit card from a service point
If you already have a permanent residence permit but your residence permit card expires, is broken or gets lost, do not apply for a new permanent residence permit. Instead, you need a new residence permit card. Read the instructions for applying for a new card before you visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
Application process when you are applying for a permanent residence permit
Submit the application in the e-service Enter Finland or on paper.
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.
You can find the expected processing times on the page Processing times. You may also use the Processing Time Checker to get an estimate on the remaining processing time 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.
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 or an office 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 Processing of applications.
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.
Some decisions will be sent by post with an advice of delivery. Read more about collecting your letter on the Advice of delivery page.
If you get a positive decision, you will get a residence permit card.
If you receive a negative residence permit decision and a decision on your removal from the country, you must leave Finland.
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.