Immigration
On this page:
- Permits and documents for entering the country
- Residence permits
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Living in Finland
- Working and studying in Finland
- Immigration matters
Different permits may be needed for entering Finland and staying in the country, depending on the nationality of the
individual and the reasons for entering the country.
Nordic citizens are free to work in all Nordic countries. Other Nordic citizens working in Finland must, however,
register at a Local Register Office if their residence exceeds six months. Citizens of EU Member States can freely
work, study and reside in Finland, if they can take care of themselves financially. A stay exceeding three months must
be registered with local police.
A person of Finnish extraction or with some other close connection with Finland can obtain a residence permit on
that basis and return to Finland. A Finnish citizen who has lived abroad for a long time can come back without any
restrictions. People from other countries who come to work or study in Finland need a permit.
Finland provides international protection for asylum seekers. Each asylum seeker’s application is processed on a
case-by-case basis. The Finnish Immigration Service settles individual residence permit cases and applications for
asylum. It also makes decisions on granting Finnish nationality and on repatriation and deportation.
The Ministry of the Interior directs the Finnish Immigration Service and the Employment and Economic Development
Offices, which carry regional responsibility for immigration and integration matters.
Permits and documents for entering the country
A foreigner entering Finland requires a passport or other travel document approved by Finland. Citizens of EU Member
States need only an identity card to enter Finland.
The citizens of certain countries require a visa for Finland. Permits to enter Finland should be applied for at the
Finnish diplomatic representation in the applicant's home country or the diplomatic representation of a Schengen State
representing Finland.
- Immigration requirements
Requirements for qualifying for a visa or residence permit. The web site presents a series of questions to the user, and then informs the user about his chances of qualifying.
http://www.migri.fi/migratingtofinland/eng/index.html
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
- Glossary of immigration terms
Terms relating to immigration, residence permits and citizenship and their definitions in Finnish, Swedish and English.
http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?article=1998&language=EN
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
- Permits and licences issued by local police
Information about permits and licences issued by local police departments, e.g. first residence permits for foreign family members of Finnish nationals, fixed-term extended residence permits, extended residence permits for employed persons.
http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/pages/CCCAC60A96939016C2256EF4002D9058?OpenDocument
Finnish Police
- Registration of a foreigner
Information on place of domicile and population data and registration of foreigners (a pdf file).
http://www.maistraatti.fi/en/frameset/fset_kotik_ja_vaestotiedot.htm
Local register offices
Residence permits
A permit is required for residence which lasts for longer than three months. A residence permit should be applied
for at the Finnish diplomatic representation in applicant's home country; the diplomatic representation will provide
the necessary documents and further information. Decisions regarding residence permits are made by the Finnish
Immigration Service. The first residence permit is always temporary.
A foreigner who intends to take on paid employment in Finland must have a residence permit for an employed person. A
person engaged in independent business or a profession in Finland must have a residence permit for a self-employed
person. Citizens of Nordic Countries or EU or EEA Member States do not require a residence permit.
- Residence permits for family members
Information about the right of family members of EU and non-EU citizens to obtain residence permits.
http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2472&language=EN
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
- Residence permits for returnees
Information about residence permits granted to persons of Finnish ancestry, types of permits and appeal procedure.
http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2475&language=EN
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
- Residence permits for employed and self-employed persons
Information about residence permits (work permits) and application procedure.
http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2473&language=EN
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
- Residence permits for foreign students
Information about permits required of students who are EU or non-EU citizens.
http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2474&language=EN
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
- EC residence permit
Information on the free movement of EU citizens and on EC residence permits for citizens of third countries who are long-term residents in the European Union.
http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2664,2665&language=EN
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
- Finnish Immigration Service fees
Processing fees for applications charged by the Finnish Immigration Service: citizenship and permit decisions, travel documents.
http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?article=1943&language=EN
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
- Police's service charges
Police's service charges for different licences.
http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/pages/82F7A7A172FC41B0C2256BB800474124?OpenDocument
Finnish Police
Refugees and asylum seekers
The police or the frontier guard investigates the asylum seeker's identity and travel route. In Finland, application
for asylum is submitted to the police or the border control authorities immediately after arriving in the country.
The Finnish Immigration Service issues decisions on asylum matters. A person who has received a favourable decision
is normally granted refugee status or asylum due to the need for protection.
In addition to the authorities, non-governmental organisations also provide help and advice for asylum seekers.
- Seeking asylum
Legal aid and advice to asylum seekers, refugees and other foreigners, information about asylum procedures and social conditions for asylum seekers in Finland.
http://www.pakolaisneuvonta.fi/?lang=eng
Finnish Refugee Advice Centre
- Refugee status
Information about the grounds for granting, withdrawing and cancelling refugee status.
http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2476,2540&language=EN
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
- Refugee travel document and alien's passport
Information about the grounds for granting and revoking refugee travel documents and aliens passports.
http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2476,2539&language=EN
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
Living in Finland
Assistance with integration, particularly language classes, help immigrants to get started in Finland. Foreigners
are covered by Finnish social security on certain conditions. Everyone living in Finland must have a personal identity
number issued by the local register office. In working life, foreigners have the same rights and duties as Finns.
Advice on living in Finland, the social security system, language classes and housing is available from the
authorities and relevant organisations.
- Immigrants' info bank
Basic information for immigrants in several languages about the functioning of society and opportunities in Finland. The links take you to information on the services of authorities and organisations.
http://www.infopankki.fi/en-gb/home/
Produced by several organisations
- Interpretation and translation services
Information about the interpretation and translation services for immigrants and the community interpretation centres.
http://www.intermin.fi/intermin/home.nsf/pages/B0B716872BDB96D5C22573B5002D60DE?opendocument
Ministry of the Interior
- Language skills required for Finnish citizenship
National Certificate of Language Proficiency as provided in the Nationality Act to acquire Finnish citizenship, test fees and test centres.
http://www.oph.fi/english/mobility/testing_language_skills
Finnish National Board of Education
- Virtual Finland
Information and news in English about Finland and Finnish people.
http://virtual.finland.fi/
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- International friendship societies and immigrant organizations in Finland
Listing of organizations with contact information and home pages links.
http://www.infopankki.fi/en-GB/Associations_in_Finland/
Produced by several organisations
- Central Multilingual Library Service
The multilingual library seeks to purchase materials in rare languages; they are available through the interlibrary loan system to language minorities.
http://pandora.lib.hel.fi/ulkomaalaiskirjasto/english/index.html
Helsinki City Library
- Legislation relating to foreigners
Acts and decrees relating to the entry into and stay in Finland of foreign nationals, e.g. Aliens Act, Nationality Act, Integration Act.
http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?article=1903&language=EN
Finnish Immigration Service Migri
- Rights of EU citizens
Practical information about the rights and opportunities available to EU citizens. Topics include e.g. residence, employment and studying in another EU Member State.
http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/nav/en/citizens/index.html
European Commission
Working and studying in Finland
A foreigner must have a special residence permit for an employed person which must be applied for at the Finnish
diplomatic representation in the applicant's home country. EU citizens can work in Finland without a residence permit
for an employed person.
Students must have a residence permit if they aim to stay in Finland for a longer period of time. Citizens of EU
Member States and Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein do not need a permit.
- Finnwork - Finnish working life information for foreigners
Information about Finnish working life for foreign workers and their employers. Employment contracts, employment relationships and the Finnish work culture. Contains the Working in Finland? guide as a pdf file.
http://www.mol.fi/finnwork
Employment and Economic Development Office, Ministry of Employment and the Economy
- Foreigner working in Finland
Information about earnings-related pension and the residence-based national pension.
http://www.tyoelake.fi/Page.aspx?Section=45206
Finnish Centre for Pensions
- Foreigners working in Finland
Information about gainful employment of citizens of EU Member States and other nations, examples of right to gainful employment in various situations, Employment and Economic Development Offices dealing with licenses.
http://www.mol.fi/mol/en/02_working/index.jsp
Employment and Economic Development Office, Ministry of Employment and the Economy
- Study opportunities in Finland for foreigners
When you are planning studies or practical training in Finland, Discover Finland will give you all the information you need.
http://finland.cimo.fi
CIMO Centre for International Mobility
- Immigrant education in Finland
Information about the Finnish education system and how to obtain education.
http://www.oph.fi/english/education/language_and_cultural_minorities/education_for_immigrants
Finnish National Board of Education
- Residence-based social security
Information about the effect of residence in Finland on benefits provided by KELA and about eligibility for these benefits.
http://www.kela.fi/in/internet/english.nsf/NET/161001091511EH?openDocument
Social Insurance Institution of Finland Kela
Immigration matters
The Ministry of the Interior is in charge of immigration, residence, deportation and international protection. The
Finnish Immigration Service grants residence permits, issues decisions on asylum applications and is responsible for
decisions on Finnish nationality. The Ministry of the Interior is also in charge of the integration of foreigners into
society, promoting their employment, reception of asylum seekers and using the foreign labour force.
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