Extended permit (new fixed-term residence permit)
If you wish to continue your stay in Finland but your residence permit is going to expire, apply for an extended permit. An extended permit is granted for up to four years. If you have lived in Finland long enough and also meet the other requirements, you may apply for a permanent residence permit or a long-term resident’s EU residence permit for third-country nationals.
If you still meet the same requirements you met when your previous residence permit was granted to you, the Finnish Immigration Service will grant you an extended permit.
Alternatively, you can apply for an extended permit on new grounds. Remember that you need to meet the requirements for the residence permit you apply for.
In most cases, you can apply for an extended permit using the same application you used for your previous residence permit. In some cases, you need to submit a different application. Apply for an extended permit on the main grounds of your residence in Finland. For example, if you study or work, or if you are married and work, select the most important reason why you are in Finland, and use it as the grounds for applying for an extended permit. If you are not sure what application form you should use, use the Application Finder to find out.
You may not have to visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service if you apply for an extended permit online in Enter Finland
If you apply for an extended permit in the online service Enter Finland and use, for example, online banking credentials to identify yourself, you may not have to visit a service point to prove your identity. Read more about identification.
After you have sent your application, Enter Finland will tell you whether you need to visit a service point or not. If you need to visit a service point, use our appointment system to book an appointment.
Remember to apply for an extended permit before your current permit expires
Apply for an extended permit before your existing residence permit expires. You may get a negative decision if you apply for a new permit after your permit already has expired. Your application is considered to have arrived in time if you submit it via the online service Enter Finland before your previous residence permit expires.
Your right of residence and your right to work will remain unchanged if you apply for an extended permit in time.
If you apply for an extended permit online via Enter Finland in time, you may avoid having to visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service to prove your identity. Read more about identification and proving your identity.
You should not apply for an extended permit earlier than 3 months before the expiry date of your residence permit. If you apply earlier, we may not necessarily be able to assess whether you meet the requirements for an extended permit.
- If you are applying for an extended permit on the basis of work, you should apply approximately 2 months before your current residence permit expires.
- If you have a residence permit for studies, do not apply for an extended permit before you have completed the necessary ECTS credits.
You may legally reside in Finland during the processing of your application and the possible appeal process. If you receive a negative extended permit decision and a decision on your removal from the country, you must leave Finland.
The Finnish Immigration Service receives information about your income from the Incomes Register
When you apply for an extended permit, the Finnish Immigration Service will get information about your salaries and benefits from the Incomes Register. Therefore, you do not need to attach certificates of salaries or benefits to your application. If we need further information, we will send you a request for additional information. Read more on the page Incomes Register.
Working while your application is being processed
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 an extended permit after your residence permit has expired, you are not allowed to continue working. Read more about the right to work while an application for an extended permit is being processed.
New residence permit card from a service point
If you already have a continuous residence permit that is still valid but your residence permit card is broken or gets lost, do not apply for a new continuous 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.
You can only apply for an extended permit in Finland
If you submit your application abroad, your application will be processed as an application for a first residence permit even if you have already had a residence permit in Finland. The application will be subject to a processing fee for a first permit.
Read more about the application process for an extended permit on the basis of:
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