Immigration

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 instructs the Finnish Immigration Service and the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. These centres have regional responsibility for immigration and integration. The local authority makes arrangements and delivers services to promote and support the integration of immigrants.

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.

• 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

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
• 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/citizens/index_en.htm
  European Commission
• 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

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.

• Check list of obligatory immigration matters
  A concise list of obligatory immigration documents, procedures and authorities.
  
  http://www.infopankki.fi/en-GB/Into/English/Checklist/
  Social Insurance Institution of Finland Kela, Tax Administration
• Authorities responsible for immigration issues
  Functions and responsibilities of different authorities in immigration matters.
  
  http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2470,2481&language=EN
  Finnish Immigration Service Migri
• Migration affairs under the Ministry of the Interior
  The organisation, functions and main focuses of operation.
  
  http://www.intermin.fi/intermin/home.nsf/pages/2FF6FE098BF08BC0C2257386003E3008?opendocument
  Ministry of the Interior

Printer-friendly version

Send Suomi.fi link

X

• Send Suomi.fi link
• Send e-mail
• Help

 

Bookmark	Facebook	Digg	Delicious	MySpace	Google	Yahoo!
StumbleUpon	Technorati	Reddit	Ask	Live	Blinklist	Twitter

 

Your name:

Your e-mail : Check your email address!

Recipient e-mail: Check your email address!

Your message (voluntary): Your friend has sent you a link to the Suomi.fi portal: Immigration http://www.suomi.fi/suomifi/english/subjects/migration/immigration/index.html

 

The “Send Suomi.fi link” functionality lets you add Suomi.fi pages to your bookmarks and send Suomi.fi pages by e-mail to the recipients of your choice. You can also share Suomi.fi content with your network in social networking services. Using these services is usually free of charge, but they require user registration.