Residence permit for a victim of human trafficking
If you have become a victim of human trafficking, or if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that you have become a victim, you may get a residence permit in Finland.
What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is a serious crime against an individual’s personal freedom. If you are a victim of human trafficking, someone forces you to stay in a situation where you are exploited and you cannot leave. A human trafficker may keep you in his or her control for example by threatening you or your loved ones with violence, or with a loss of your residence permit. He or she may also demand that you should pay back an unreasonably high debt.
If you are for example forced into sex work or heavy work without proper pay or days off, you may be a victim of human trafficking.
Human trafficking is often linked to organised crime. However, your human trafficker may also be someone you know personally.
Are you a victim of human trafficking?
If you are a victim of human trafficking, please contact the Assistance system for victims of human trafficking.
You can call us at +358 2954 63177 (24 h)
or email us at ihmiskauppa.auttamisjarjestelma@migri.fi
We will help you even if you are in Finland illegally.
If you already have a residence permit in Finland and your employer has exploited you,
you can apply for an extended permit or a certificate of expanded right to work due to exploitation by employer.
Residence permit for a victim of human trafficking
If you are a victim of human trafficking, you may get a temporary residence permit.
In order to get a temporary residence permit, you need to meet the following requirements:
- You need to stay in Finland because of a pre-trial investigation or court proceedings related to human trafficking.
- You cooperate with the authorities to help them catch the persons who are suspected of human trafficking.
- You are no longer in contact with the persons suspected of human trafficking.
If you are in a particularly vulnerable position, you may get a continuous residence permit. In this case, you do not need to cooperate with the authorities, and a pre-trial investigation or court proceedings do not need to be the reason why you stay in Finland.
Applying for a residence permit
You need to be in Finland to be able to apply for a residence permit for a victim of human trafficking. You may get a residence permit even if you do not have a valid passport. You do not need to have secure means of support.
Family members
If you have been granted a continuous residence permit for a victim of human trafficking, your family may apply for a residence permit on the basis of family ties. If you have been granted a temporary residence permit for a victim of human trafficking, your family will not be granted a residence permit on the basis of family ties.
You are allowed to work if you have a residence permit for a victim of human trafficking
If you have been granted a residence permit for a victim of human trafficking, there are no limits on your right to work and study in Finland. Read more on the page Right to work.
Application process when you are applying for a residence permit for a victim of human trafficking
Apply for a residence permit by submitting a paper application.
After you have filled in the application, you must visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
Bring the application with you. Have your fingerprints taken, prove your identity and show the originals of the documents that you have attached to your application. Pay for your application at the service point or the Finnish mission.
You can find the expected processing times on the page Processing times. You may also use the Processing Time Checker to get an estimate on the remaining processing time of your application.
If we notice that something is missing from your application or if we need additional information from you, we will contact you.
You may legally reside in Finland during the processing of your application and the possible appeal process.
If you need to supplement your application, you can do so in one of the following ways:
- by post
- by email
- by bringing your additional documents to a service point or an office of the Finnish Immigration Service during their opening hours. There is a postbox meant for additional documents in all of our service points. Put your documents in the box.
Read more on the page Supplementing your application.
You may cancel your application at any time during its processing. Read more on the page Cancelling an application.
You will be informed about the decision by the police, or the Finnish Immigration Service will inform you about it by post.
Some decisions will be sent by post with an advice of delivery. Read more about collecting your letter on the Advice of delivery page.
If you are granted a residence permit, you will receive a residence permit card.
If you get a negative decision, you may be deported.
If you are not satisfied with the decision, you have the right to appeal against the decision to an Administrative Court. Instructions on how to appeal will be attached to the decision.
The majority of decisions made by the Administrative Courts are subject to a fee. Contact an Administrative Court to find out more about court fees.