Residence permit application for an entrepreneur

Apply with this application for a residence permit if you intend to come to Finland to become an entrepreneur. Before a permit can be issued, entrepreneurs usually need to enter their business in the Trade Register maintained by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office. Start-up entrepreneurs must get a positive statement from Business Finland before they apply for a residence permit. A start-up entrepreneur cannot get a residence permit without a positive statement from Business Finland.

You are an entrepreneur if you are

a start-up entrepreneur
a private trader who has a so called individually-owned business (toiminimi),
a partner in a general partnership
a general partner in a limited partnership (not a silent partner)
a member of a cooperative who has an unlimited liability for refinancing. The unlimited obligation to contribute has to be registered in the trade register.
a shareholder in a managerial position in a limited-liability company (Managing Director or member of the Board of Directors) or a person working in another type of company in a managerial position if you personally own at least 30 per cent of the company’s share capital or personally have at least 30 per cent of the number of votes produced by the company’s shares, or if you are a person in a managerial position in another type of company with similar authority in the company concerned.

Expected processing time

First permit 2–5 month / extended permit 1 month
Electronic application fee

First permit 350 € / extended permit 190 €
Paper application fee

First permit 480 € / extended permit 190 €

Start-up entrepreneur

This is what you should do

1

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.

3

Fill in your application.

4

Pay for your application in the e-service Enter Finland, at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) or at 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.

7

Read what happens after you have applied. Check the estimated processing time of your application here.

8

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.

Requirements

You must also meet the following requirements:

1

You are a start-up entrepreneur.

2

You have gotten a positive Eligibility Statement from Business Finland.

3

You have secure means of support. You must have sufficient financial resources (at least EUR 1,000 per month) for your living costs in Finland.

Right to work

With a Finnish Startup Permit you can work for another employer without a separate residence permit for an employed person. The main purpose of your stay in the country must, however, be entrepreneurship.
If you apply for an extended permit, check if you have the right to work while your application is being processed.

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
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)

Application-specific attachments

Eligibility Statement from Business Finland (no more than two months old) (if you are applying for your first Finnish Startup Permit)
Statement on income (e.g. bank statement or statement on other assets that can be transferred to Finland)
The most recent financial statements and the latest updated accounts (income statement and balance sheet) from the beginning of the accounting period (if you are applying for an extended permit as a start-up entrepreneur)