How to get a a permanent residence permit 

There are several ways in which you can meet the conditions for a permanent residence permit. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) refers to these options as application path. 

You can obtain a permanent residence permit in the following ways: 

You have lived in Finland for a long time and have been working 

You have lived in Finland for at least 6 years under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit You have at least 2 years of work history in Finland and a command of Finnish or Swedish at B1 level. If you are aged 65 or over, no language skills are required. 

Your earnings are high enough 

You have lived in Finland for at least 4 years under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit and your annual income is more than EUR 40,000. 

You have completed a higher education degree in Finland 

You have completed a higher education degree in Finland. Your command of Finnish or Swedish is at least at level A2 or you have completed at least 15 credits of language studies. 

You have completed a higher education degree outside Finland 

You have lived in Finland for at least 4 years under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit Your degree, obtained abroad, has been recognised in Finland, and you have at least 2 years of work history in Finland. 

Your language skills are excellent 

You have lived in Finland for at least 4 years under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit You have at least 3 years of work history in Finland and a command of Finnish or Swedish at C1 level. 

You must also always meet the general requirements for a residence permit. For example, you must have a valid travel document and, in most cases, sufficient means of support. 

You must also meet the conditions for the continuous residence permit (A permit) on the basis of which you are applying for a permanent residence permit. 

When does residency start? 

If you had an A permit when you came to Finland, the residency is considered to begin on the day of your arrival in Finland. If you have received an A permit in Finland, the residency is considered to begin on the day the first A permit came into effect. If you have received international protection in Finland, the residency is considered to begin on the day of your arrival in Finland. 

A child’s permanent residence permit 

A child under the age of 18 living in Finland may be granted a permanent residence permit without having to meet the required period of residence if their guardian living in Finland meets one of the following criteria: 

• Permanent residence permit 
• P-EU permit or  
• Finnish citizenship. 

Learn more about residence permits for children under the “Residence permit for a child” section on the InfoFinland website. 

Criminal offences may prevent you from obtaining a permanent residence permit 

A permanent residence permit can be denied in the following cases:

• You have committed an offence for which you can be sentenced to prison
• You are suspected of committing an offence for which you can be sentenced to imprisonment
• You have committed two or more offences
• You are suspected of two or more offences

An unconditional sentence of imprisonment, whether served in Finland or abroad, interrupts the calculation of the period of residence. The period of residence begins, at the earliest, once the unconditional sentence of imprisonment has been served in full.  

Important information before applying 

Apply for a permanent residence permit before your current residence permit expires. If you apply for a permanent residence permit only after your previous residence permit has expired, you may get a negative decision.

The permanent residence permit is valid until further notice. However, the permit can be cancelled if you move permanently away from Finland or live continuously abroad for more than two years, or if you submitted false information when applying for the permit.

A third-country national is a citizen of a country other than one of the Nordic or EU countries, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.

You can receive a third-country national’s EU residence permit (P-EU) if:

• you have lived in Finland at least five years with an A permit,
• you have not lived abroad for longer than ten months during this time, and
• the grounds for the previous permits are still valid.

Apply for a P-EU permit in the same way as a permanent residence permit.

The P-EU permit is valid until further notice.

P-EU permits can be denied for the same reasons as in the case of permanent residence permits.

Apply for a permanent residence permit in the Enter Finland service:

1. Log in. Confirm your identity using your online banking credentials, Citizen Certificate or Mobile ID.
2. Fill in the application form and include the required enclosures. Information on the necessary enclosures can be found on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service. Also pay the residence permit processing fee.
3. You should visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service within three months. Book an appointment in advance from the appointment booking service on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.
4. Check your Enter Finland account regularly. If further clarifications are needed, you will be informed via your account. You will also be notified of the decision via your account.

If you are unable or do not know how to apply for a permanent residence permit online:

1. Apply for a permanent residence permit with a paper application.
2. Print out an appropriate form from the Finnish Immigration Service website and fill it in with care. An incorrectly filled application will not be accepted.
3. Book an appointment in advance from the appointment booking service on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.
4. Take your filled-in application form, the enclosures and copies of the enclosures, your passport and a passport photo with you to the service point.
5. When submitting your application, you must pay a processing fee.