Finland residence permit types: A, B, P and P-EU
Finland has four residence permit types, and the letter on your residence permit card tells you which one you hold. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) defines them on its residence permit types page: A is a continuous fixed-term permit, B is a temporary fixed-term permit, P is a permanent residence permit and P-EU is the long-term resident's EU residence permit. The letter decides your route to permanent residence, because only time on an A permit (or a Brexit permit) counts towards a permanent residence permit.
Who needs a residence permit
The four types apply to citizens of countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland who live in Finland for longer than a visa allows.
- Citizens of EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland do not need a residence permit. They register their right of residence instead, and their non-EU family members apply for a residence card. Both cost 53 euros in 2026.
- People who have fled the war in Ukraine may have temporary protection, which comes with its own residence permit and its own rules.
- Everyone else holds one of the four types below.
The four permit types
A permit (jatkuva oleskelulupa). A continuous fixed-term permit for people moving to Finland for a longer period. Migri gives specialists and family members as examples. Years spent on an A permit count towards a permanent permit.
B permit (tilapäinen oleskelulupa). A temporary fixed-term permit for temporary stays, such as temporary work, internships or student exchanges. You can apply to extend a B permit, but time on a B permit does not count towards a permanent permit.
P permit (pysyvä oleskelulupa). A permanent residence permit, which Migri states is valid until further notice.
P-EU permit. The long-term resident's EU residence permit, based on an EU directive and also valid until further notice. It can make it easier to move to another EU country for certain purposes under that country's rules.
Permit length
Migri's residence permit types page states: "A first residence permit is usually granted for one year at the most." The length varies by purpose. A student's permit can cover the whole degree programme, and a seasonal worker's permit follows the length of the job. An extended permit can be granted for up to four years. P and P-EU permits have no end date. The same page gives this split:
| Permit type | Fixed term | Counts towards a permanent permit |
|---|---|---|
| A (continuous) | Yes | Yes |
| B (temporary) | Yes | No |
| P (permanent) | No, valid until further notice | Not applicable |
| P-EU (long-term resident) | No, valid until further notice | Not applicable |
Applying for the next permit before the current one runs out is covered in residence permit extension in Finland.
The residence permit card
Migri states that Finland "introduced biometric residence permit cards at the beginning of 2012". The card shows your citizenship, the permit type or grounds, the expiry date, your Migri customer number and a statement on your right to work. The chip stores a facial image and two fingerprints. The card proves your right to stay in Finland.
When you need a new card, see residence permit card renewal in Finland.
Paths to a permanent permit from 8 January 2026
For applications submitted on or after 8 January 2026, Migri's permanent residence permit page lists five paths. Before that date the main rule was four years of continuous residence on an A permit.
| Path | Residence on an A or Brexit permit | Work history in Finland | Finnish or Swedish skills | Other condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residence | 6 years | 2 years | B1, not required from age 65 | None |
| 2. Income | 4 years | Not listed | Not listed | At least 40,000 euros income in the latest completed tax assessment |
| 3. Finnish degree | Not listed | Not listed | A2, or 15 credits of Finnish or Swedish studies | Master's degree from a university or university of applied sciences, a licentiate or doctorate, or a bachelor's degree from a university, completed in Finland |
| 4. Foreign degree | 4 years | 2 years | Not listed | Master's, licentiate or doctoral degree recognised in Finland |
| 5. Language | 4 years | 3 years | C1 | None |
Unconditional imprisonment interrupts continuous residence, and Migri states that the calculation of your period of residence then starts over. Check Migri's page for the full conditions of each path before applying.
Permanent permit fees in 2026
Migri's processing fees page sets these fees, and processing starts only after payment:
| Application | Online (EUR) | Paper (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| P permit, adult | 380 | 600 |
| P permit, minor | 300 | 350 |
| P-EU permit, adult | 380 | 600 |
| P-EU permit, minor | 300 | 350 |
Language levels for a permanent permit
Migri's language skills page maps the required levels to the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) and the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate:
| Migri level | CEFR | YKI basic level |
|---|---|---|
| Developing | A2 | At least grade 2 in one oral and one written subtest |
| Satisfactory | B1 | At least grade 3 in one oral and one written subtest |
| Good | B2 | At least grade 4 in one oral and one written subtest |
| Particularly good | C1 | At least grade 5 in one oral and one written subtest |
Developing, satisfactory and good levels can also be shown with certain Finnish or Swedish studies completed in Finland, such as basic education, general upper secondary education or a vocational qualification. Particularly good skills (C1) can be proven only with a YKI or Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate. If you apply for a P-EU permit instead, the required level is good (B2). Attach the certificate when you submit the application.
Income requirements
Migri sets income requirements for most permits. For work-based permits, your total gross salary must be at least 1,600 euros per month in 2026 for a residence permit for an employed person, and Migri excludes salary supplements such as evening and night work supplements from the total. For full-time work, Migri's guidance on filling in the terms of employment states that the salary must be at least the minimum salary in the applicable collective agreement, and your employer fills in your terms of employment as part of the application.
For family members of residence permit holders, the requirement is a monthly net income that depends on the municipality and family size. For one adult it is 1,210 euros in the Helsinki metropolitan area, 1,090 euros in other large municipalities and 1,030 euros elsewhere, with added amounts for each further family member. The extended family-ties permit guide has the full table.
Family members of Finnish citizens and people granted international protection are among the groups exempt from the income requirement.
B permit to A permit
A B permit holder does not convert the existing permit. If your situation changes, you apply for an extended permit on new grounds, and only time on the resulting A permit counts towards a permanent permit. Migri lets you submit several applications on different grounds and gives a separate decision on each.
The law behind it
All four permit types, the grounds for granting them and the rules on income and the right to work are in the Aliens Act (ulkomaalaislaki 301/2004), available in English translation on Finlex. For an overview of permits for work, see the work permits guide, and for fees and the application process see residence permit costs and how to get a residence permit for Finland.
The date that matters falls on the expiry date printed on your current A permit card: Migri states that an extension applied for after that date may get a negative decision, and without a new A permit your years towards a permanent permit stop adding up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an A and a B residence permit in Finland?
An A permit is for a longer move, such as a specialist's job or family reunification, and its years count towards permanent residence. A B permit covers temporary stays such as temporary work, internships or student exchanges, and its time does not count (Migri, residence permit types).
Does time on a B permit count towards permanent residence in Finland?
B permit time is excluded. Each of Migri's five paths counts residence on an A permit or a Brexit permit only, so a B holder has to move to an A permit first (Migri, permanent residence permit).
How many years do I need for a permanent residence permit in Finland?
From 8 January 2026 the main path asks for six years on an A permit, two years of work in Finland and B1 Finnish or Swedish. Four-year paths exist for income of 40,000 euros, a recognised foreign higher degree or C1 language skills, and the Finnish degree path lists no residence period (Migri, permanent residence permit).
How much does a first residence permit cost in Finland in 2026?
An employed person pays 750 euros online or 950 euros on paper, and a student pays 600 or 750 euros. A first family-ties permit costs 750 euros online or 800 euros on paper (Migri, processing fees).
How long is a first residence permit valid in Finland?
Migri states that a first permit "is usually granted for one year at the most", with longer permits for full degree programmes. Extended permits can run up to four years (Migri, residence permit types).
Sources
- Finnish Immigration Service, Residence permit types, https://migri.fi/en/residence-permit-types, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Permanent residence permit, https://migri.fi/en/permanent-residence-permit, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Processing fees and payment methods, https://migri.fi/en/processing-fees-and-payment-methods, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Residence permit for an employed person, https://migri.fi/en/residence-permit-for-an-employed-person, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Income requirement for family members of a person who has been granted a residence permit in Finland, https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement-for-family-members-of-a-person-who-has-been-granted-a-residence-permit-in-finland, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Income requirement, https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Extended permit, https://migri.fi/en/extended-permit, checked 1 October 2026
- Finlex, Aliens Act 301/2004 (English translation), https://www.finlex.fi/en/legislation/translations/2004/eng/301, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Filling in the terms of employment, https://migri.fi/en/filling-in-the-terms-of-employment, checked 1 October 2026
Last updated: October 2026