Make sure you meet the requirements for the residence permit you are applying for.
2
Make sure you have all the attachments needed. If necessary, have them translated and legalised. The processing time may be longer if your application is incomplete.
3
Fill in your application.
4
Pay for your application at a Finnish mission or a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
5
If you are abroad, visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). If you are already in Finland, book an appointment at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
6
Wait for a decision. The Finnish Immigration Service will contact you if necessary.
You should wait for the residence permit in the same country or locality where you submitted your application and proved your identity.
General requirements for entry into Finland
Make sure you meet the general requirements for entry into Finland before you submit an application.
You can only get a residence permit if you are able to travel to Finland and stay in the country legally. To do this, you must have a passport that is valid throughout the time your residence permit is valid.
Requirements
You must also meet the following requirements:
You are coming to Finland to conduct scientific research but you have not completed a master’s degree.
Examples of what makes you a professional:
You have been educated in an educational institution or an institution of higher education.
You are a member of a learned society.
You have a professional work history supported by documents, such as employment contracts, certificates of employment or other proof of earlier work in the field.
You have scientific publications as a scientist.
You need to have an invitation from the research organisation or an agreement with the research organisation regarding your research.
General attachments
Valid passport (you must present it when you submit the residence permit application)
Passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop, OLEL_PK
Colour copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes
Document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application
Form MP_1 (if you already are in Finland and apply for your first residence permit)
Income requirement
You must have secure means of support.
If you are coming to Finland to conduct scientific research but you are not in an employment relationship with the research organisation, you must have at least EUR 1,000 per month at your disposal for your living costs in Finland. You can secure your income with your own funds or with a research scholarship.
Right to work
If you are in Finland when you are applying for a residence permit, you have the right to work as a professional scientist already before you get a residence permit. In this case, you must reside in Finland legally (you have a valid visa or you are allowed to stay in Finland without a visa). However, your right to work will end after three months at the latest, or even earlier, if your visa expires.
Your right to work gives you the right to perform the work for which you have been granted a residence permit.
If you apply for an extended permit, check if you have the right to work while your application is being processed.
Application-specific attachments
Invitation from the research organisation or an agreement with the research organisation
Degree certificate
Documentation of means of support
Residence permit application on other grounds, OLE_MUU
