Residence permit application on the basis of research completed in Finland

You have carried out and completed research work in Finland, such as scientific research, a licentiate degree, or a doctoral dissertation.

• You can apply for the residence permit on these grounds regardless of which permit you held when conducting research.

You have a job, are an entrepreneur, or pursue a trade or business in Finland.

• If you have a job, your employer must supplement your application by filling in your terms of employment either online in Enter Finland for Employers or by using the ‘Terms of Employment’ paper form.

You must have a sufficient level of income in Finland during the entire period of validity of your residence permit.

• In 2026, your net income must be at least EUR 1,210 / 1,090 / 1,030 per month, depending on where you live. See the table on the page Income requirement. 
  • Your income can be earned from employment, entrepreneurial activities, pursuing a trade or business, or a combination of these. A part of the financial resources available to you may also come from other sources, such as savings.
• When you apply for an extended permit, the Finnish Immigration Service verifies that you have earned a sufficient amount in salaries and income.
• Read more on the page Income requirement.

In order to be granted a residence permit, you must also meet the general requirements for issuing residence permits. See also the general requirements for granting a residence permit.

If necessary, have the attachments translated and legalised. Read more on the page Interpretation, translation and legalisation.

You can fill in the application online in Enter Finland. The processing fee for an online application is lower than for a paper application. If you apply for your first residence permit in Enter Finland, you might not need to visit a service point when you apply for an extended permit. Read more on the page Identification and strong identification in Enter Finland.

If you cannot use Enter Finland, fill in a paper application. You will find a link to the application at the bottom of the page.

If you apply online via Enter Finland, pay the processing fee: 

• with a credit card or with Finnish online banking credentials when you submit the application, or
• when you visit a Finnish mission abroad to prove your identity.

If you apply with a paper application, pay the processing fee:

• when you visit a Finnish mission abroad to prove your identity.

Read more on the page Processing fees and payment methods.

After you have submitted your application in Enter Finland, your employer must add your terms of employment and other required documents to your application using Enter Finland for Employers. See the page Filling in the terms of employment to check what information your employer needs to fill in and which attachments are required.

An employer who is not able to use Enter Finland for Employers can fill in the ‘Terms of employment’ paper form (pdf). In that case, you need to attach the form to your application in Enter Finland.  

If you are submitting your residence permit application on paper, have your employer fill in the form ‘Terms of employment’ and attach the form to your application.   

If you pursue a trade or business and are not an employee, you do not need to fill in the terms of employment. 

If you applied for your residence permit abroad, book an appointment to visit a Finnish mission (finlandabroad.fi). Read more on the page Proving your identity abroad.

If you applied for your residence permit in Finland, book an appointment to a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service. Read more on the page Book an appointment at a service point.

• If you applied online in Enter Finland, you will receive notifications of your application's progress and of possible requests for additional information by email and text message.
• If you applied on paper, you will receive notifications of your application's progress and of possible requests for additional information by email.

Read more on the page Processing of applications. 

Among other things, the authorities may ask you for information about whether you have enough money to live in Finland.

If you were not issued a personal identity code together with your residence permit card, you must visit a service location of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency in person.

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency enters your personal details, information about your family relations and your address in the Population Information System. You can also apply for a municipality of residence at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

For more information, visit the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi).