Residence permits for Finland, step by step
Apply from abroad in Enter Finland, pay the fee (750 EUR online for an employed person in 2026) and prove your identity at a Finnish mission.
You get a first residence permit for Finland by applying from abroad in Enter Finland, paying the processing fee and proving your identity at a Finnish embassy or consulate. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) states on its first residence permit page that a first permit is, as a rule, applied for abroad. For an employed person, the fee is 750 euros online in 2026, and Migri will not start processing your application until you have paid the fee. The reason you are moving, whether work, studies or family, decides which form you use, which documents you attach and which fee you pay.
Who this applies to
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not apply for a residence permit. They register their right of residence instead.
- Third-country nationals apply for a first residence permit from abroad, based on the reason for moving.
- Third-country nationals already in Finland can apply here only in the exceptions Migri lists, covered below.
- Holders of a Finnish permit whose permit is ending apply for an extended permit in Finland.
Grounds for the permit
Migri groups first permits by the reason for moving, such as work, studies, research, family ties and entrepreneurship. Each has its own application in Enter Finland, Migri's online service, and a paper form on the relevant permit page. Check the requirements for your permit type before you start, since the attachments differ. This site's overview of work permits in Finland covers the work-based options.
Every applicant must also meet general requirements, including holding a valid passport.
The application, step by step
Migri's first residence permit page sets out the process:
- Check the requirements for the permit type that matches your situation.
- Gather and translate your documents. Documents not in Finnish, Swedish or English may need a translation by an authorised translator, and official documents from many countries also need legalisation. Check the instructions on the permit page.
- Submit the application in Enter Finland or on a paper form. You must apply personally. Migri states that you cannot apply for a residence permit on behalf of, for example, your spouse or employee. For a work permit, the employer adds the terms of employment to your application through Enter Finland for Employers.
- Pay the processing fee. Processing does not start before payment.
- Prove your identity at a Finnish embassy or consulate abroad, or at a Migri service point if you apply in Finland. Fingerprints are taken for the residence permit card.
- Wait for the decision. Migri contacts you if something is missing.
If the decision is positive, you receive a residence permit card.
Fees in 2026
Migri's processing fees page lists these fees for a first residence permit:
| Application | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Employed person | 750 EUR | 950 EUR |
| Specialist, EU Blue Card, researcher | 530 EUR | 630 EUR |
| Start-up entrepreneur | 650 EUR | 800 EUR |
| Other entrepreneur | 750 EUR | 900 EUR |
| Studies | 600 EUR | 750 EUR |
| Family member, adult | 750 EUR | 800 EUR |
| Family member, minor | 400 EUR | 430 EUR |
Online applications cost less in every row. The residence permit cost guide lists the fees for every application type.
Processing times
Migri's processing times page lists statutory maximum processing times, including:
| Permit | Statutory maximum |
|---|---|
| Employed person, specialist, EU Blue Card | 2 months |
| Seasonal work, internship | 3 months |
| Studies, researcher | 3 months |
| Family member of a student or researcher | 3 months |
| Family member of an EU Blue Card holder | 2 months |
| Spouse or child of a residence permit holder | 9 months |
Processing time starts when you have proved your identity. For applications that need the employer's input, it starts when the employer has submitted the terms of employment. Migri says it takes about two weeks to make and post the card after the decision. Migri's employed person page reported that positive decisions on first permits for employed persons took 17 days on average in July 2026.
Salary and income requirements
For a residence permit for an employed person, Migri's employed person page states that the gross salary must be at least 1,600 euros per month in 2026, and that supplements such as evening or night work supplements are not counted. The requirement applies throughout the permit's validity.
Several other permits use Migri's income requirement, which for a single applicant is a net income of:
- 1,210 euros per month in Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa
- 1,090 euros per month in other large municipalities
- 1,030 euros per month elsewhere
Families need more for each additional family member. These amounts apply to permits such as family reunification, start-up entrepreneurs and researchers with their own funding.
For work-based permits, the employer describes the job in the terms of employment for a Migri work permit.
Applications from inside Finland
Migri's first residence permit page lists the cases where a first permit can be applied for in Finland:
- you are a family member of a Finnish citizen
- the application is for a child born in Finland
- you are a victim of human trafficking or labour exploitation
- you need a permit on humanitarian grounds
- you are applying for asylum or temporary protection
If you apply in Finland, you must be in the country legally, for example with a valid residence permit or within the 90 days in any 180-day period allowed by a visa or visa-free entry. Migri states that if you receive a negative decision you must leave Finland, and that you cannot extend your stay by submitting a new application.
The extended permit
Before your first permit expires, you apply for an extended permit from within Finland. Migri advises applying about three months before your current permit expires (about two months for work-based permits) and no later than its last day of validity. If you apply in time, your right of residence and right to work stay the same while the application is processed. The article on residence permit card renewal explains when you only need a new card.
What each permit letter means is explained in Finland residence permit types, and the next application in residence permit extension in Finland.
The law behind it
Residence permits are governed by the Aliens Act (ulkomaalaislaki 301/2004). The Finnish-language consolidated text is the current version, since English translations can lag behind amendments.
The date that matters falls on the last day of your permit's validity: if your extended permit application is not filed by that date, your right of residence and right to work are no longer protected while Migri decides.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a Finnish residence permit while visiting Finland on a tourist visa?
Only in the listed exceptions, such as being the family member of a Finnish citizen or seeking asylum. Everyone else applies from abroad, and Migri states that a negative decision received in Finland means you must leave.
Can my employer apply for my residence permit?
No. The application is yours to file, and Migri states that nobody can apply on behalf of an employee or spouse. Your employer's role is to add the terms of employment through Enter Finland for Employers.
How much does a Finnish work residence permit cost in 2026?
An employed person pays 750 euros online or 950 euros on paper. Specialists and EU Blue Card applicants pay 530 euros online or 630 euros on paper, according to Migri's fee list.
How long does it take to get a residence permit for Finland?
The legal maximum ranges from two months for work permits to nine months for spouses and children of permit holders. The clock starts at your identity check, and Migri adds about two weeks for the card.
What is the minimum salary for a Finnish employed person's residence permit?
The floor is 1,600 euros gross per month in 2026, and it applies for as long as the permit is valid. Migri excludes evening and night supplements from the count.
Sources
- Finnish Immigration Service, First residence permit, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Processing fees and payment methods, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Processing times, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Residence permit for an employed person, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Income requirement, checked 1 October 2026
- Finnish Immigration Service, Extended permit, checked 1 October 2026
- Finlex, Aliens Act 301/2004, checked 1 October 2026
Last updated: October 2026