If you are a UK citizen, you must apply for the permanent right of residence referred to in the Brexit agreement even if you have a permanent right of residence for an EU citizen

2.11.2020 15.03

Press release

All UK citizens must apply for the new status under the Brexit agreement – also if you have a certificate of right of permanent residence for an EU citizen.

According to an earlier interpretation of the withdrawal agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU in Finland, applying for a new right of residence is not mandatory for those who have a certificate of right of permanent residence in Finland. The European Commission has now announced that the Finnish interpretation of the Brexit agreement is incorrect in this respect.

Even before this announcement, we recommended that you exchange your right of residence for the permanent right of residence referred to in the Brexit agreement, as this will make things easier for you in Finland and at the external borders of the Schengen area. However, in our earlier communications we told you that applying for an exchange of your right of residence is not mandatory for you. We apologise for the incorrect instructions we issued earlier.

Apply for exchanging your right of residence for a permanent right of residence under the withdrawal agreement by 30 September 2021.

You still have plenty of time to apply for exchanging your certificate for a permanent right of residence under the withdrawal agreement. You can lodge your application free of charge. For an application form, visit our website at migri.fi/changing-status-of-right-of-permanent-residence.

You can apply for changing your status regardless of whether you are in Finland or abroad. If you are in Finland, make an appointment in our appointment system. Select EU registration as the service category and Brexit as the service. If you are abroad, visit the website finlandabroad.fi to read the instructions and make an appointment.

If you do not apply for exchanging your right of residence by 30 September 2021

your residence in Finland may no longer be legal, and you may have to apply for a residence permit for a third-country national. The residence permit application is subject to a fee. For the fees charged for applications, visit our website at migri.fi/processing-fees-and-payment-methods.