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Residence permit application for other grounds

Apply for a residence permit with this application if you are applying for a residence permit for a reason which is not one of the reasons for which a separate application form exists. Such reasons are an established dating relationship, an intention to get married with a Finnish citizen or becoming a victim of human trafficking. Tourism is not a valid reason.

Note that an application form does exist for the following: adoption, au pair status, entrepreneur, former Finnish citizenship, employment as a specialist, studies, remigration, scientific research, internship, employment, sports or coaching and family ties.

  • Expected processing time

    First permit 8–10 months / extended permit 9–12 months

  • Paper application fee

    First permit 520 € / child 270 €

  • Paper application fee

    Extended permit 430 € / child 250 €

If you have special grounds for applying for a residence permit in Finland, describe these grounds in your application in close detail.

Apply for a first residence permit abroad. You can submit this application form in Finland if you are a victim of human trafficking.

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. The processing time may be longer if you have not filled in your application sufficiently.

3

Fill in your application.

4

Pay for your application 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.

The income thresholds will increase as of 1 November 2024. The new income thresholds will be applied to applications submitted on or after 1 November 2024. For more information, see our customer bulletin: Increases in income required of residence permit applicants as of 1 November 2024 

Income requirement

You must have sufficient financial resources.

  • You must have sufficient funds for living in Finland during the entire period of validity of your residence permit.
  • You must have at least EUR 1,210 / 1,090 / 1,030 per month at your disposal, depending on which city or town you live in. For a one-year residence permit, you must have sufficient financial resources for 12 months.
  • You must have the necessary funds in your own bank account that is in your personal use only.
  • Sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are generally not accepted. The funds must be in your own bank account.
  • You cannot secure your means of support with benefits paid by the society.
  • Your means of support may for example be secured by income from employment or business activities.
  • Attach a document on means of support to your application. 

Right to work

Your right to work is restricted. This means that you are only allowed do certain kinds of work. You cannot start working before you get a residence permit.

You have the right to work in the following positions:

  1. In expert duties that require special expertise. Your salary must be at least the same as the average wage-earner’s gross earnings in Finland (EUR 3,473 per month in 2023).

  2. In the top or middle management of a company.

  3. In an international organisation or in duties concerning official cooperation between states.

  4. As a professional athlete, coach, or sports referee.

  5. Professionally in the field of culture or the arts.

  6. In the service of a religious community in a position that involves practising the religion.

If you apply for an extended permit, check if you have the right to work while your application is being processed.

General attachments

  • A valid passport accepted by Finland (um.fi). Present your passport when you submit your residence permit application
  • A passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police (poliisi.fi), or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop
    • The passport photo must be no more than 6 months old.
  • 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 (pdf) (if you already are in Finland and apply for your first residence permit)

Application-specific attachments

The necessary attachments depend on your application. See the page of each application for a list of required attachments:

Residence permit application on other grounds, OLE_MUU

Fill in a paper application
You cannot apply for this permit in the e-service