Renewal of residence permit card
A residence permit card is valid for up to five years. This is due to the fact that the card’s chip contains biometric identifiers.
To ensure the data security of the chip, the card has to be renewed every five years.
If you have a fixed-term residence permit, the period of validity of your right of residence, or your residence permit, is printed on the residence permit card. Apply for an extended permit before your residence permit expires.
If you have a permanent residence permit, the period of validity of your residence permit card is printed on the card. Apply for the renewal of your residence permit card before it expires.
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.
You can only renew your residence permit card in Finland.
This is what you should do
If you apply for a card through Enter Finland, complete the application “Renewal of residence permit card or residence card for a family member of an EU citizen”. You can pay for your application through Enter Finland or later at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service. Submit your application through Enter Finland and book an appointment for identification at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service in our appointment system.
If you are unable to use Enter Finland, please book an appointment directly in our appointment system. The only way to complete the application form in advance is on Enter Finland.
At the service point, your fingerprints will be taken and a processing fee will be charged, unless you have already paid for your application through Enter Finland. You can hand over your previous residence permit card at the service point or later after the validity of the card has expired.
- Renewal of a residence permit card 54 euros.
- New residence permit card to replace a lost one 120 euros.
- a valid passport
- a passport photo that is no more than six months old or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop
- a copy of your passport page containing personal data and copies of all your passport pages with notes
- a written consent of a guardian when you are applying for a residence permit card for a child and not all guardians are coming with the child to the service point
- the report you filed with the police, if your card is lost or stolen
- When applying for a residence permit card for a child, you have to bring the child with you to the service point.
Once a decision has been issued, the card will be sent to your nearest Matkahuolto service point within two weeks. You will receive a notification of arrival by email and text message, containing the Matkahuolto consignment number, the address of the Matkahuolto service point and the last day when the card is still available for collection. If you do not have a phone number or an email address, the Matkahuolto notification of arrival will be sent to you by post.
When collecting your card, bring with you:
- the message from Matkahuolto containing the consignment number, and
- a certificate of a pending residence permit application containing the PIN code required for collection (The PIN code is the bar code of the certificate).
- You can log in to your Enter Finland account and print out a new certificate of a pending application.
- If you have submitted a paper application, a new certificate of a pending application will be posted to you to your home address once a decision has been issued.
Apply for an extended permit. The period of validity of your right of residence, or your residence permit, is printed on the residence permit card.
Only apply for a new card in the following situations:
- You can check the validity on the back of the card.
- Your right to work will not end even if you submit your residence permit card application late. However, if you do not renew your residence permit card within the given time limit, you may be punished with a fine.
- If your card is lost or stolen, report it to the police.
- If your card is lost or stolen outside Finland, report it to the authorities in the country in question and to the police in Finland.