EU citizens’ permits and notifications

If you are a citizen of an EU Member State, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, you do not need a residence permit when you move to Finland. However, you must register your right of residence at the Finnish Immigration Service within three months since moving to Finland. If you intend to stay in Finland for at least a year, you must also register at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

The process of establishing a company is similar as for Finnish citizens, but your place of residence may be relevant in certain situations. You can also take advantage of the Business start-up wizard. It is an easy-to-use tool which gives you a check-list of matters that are obligatory when you are setting up a business.

Submit your start-up notification of your company electronically in the Finnish Patent and Registration Office's Business Information System (YTJ).

If you are a citizen of an EU Member State, you can freely move from one country to another within the European Union territory for the purposes of establishing a company, applying for work, working, or studying. Therefore, you do not need an actual residence permit when moving to Finland.

However, you must register your right of residence. In this context, you must prove that your income is secured in Finland. For example, profitable business activities in Finland suffice as proof.

The rules concerning moving to Finland for the citizens of EU Member States also apply to the citizens of Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Register your right of residence with the Finnish Immigration Service within three months of moving to Finland. Your right of residence may only be registered if you have an active company, job, study place or family ties in Finland, or sufficient assets.

Fill out the application for the registration of your right of residence in advance electronically or on paper. Book an appointment at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service and, depending on your application criteria, take with you

the application form you have filled out
original copies of the appendices of your application
a personal identification document
your marriage certificate
the birth certificates of your underage children
a certificate of your employment relationship from your employer
a report of your business activities or self-employment

For more detailed instructions for EU citizens, go to the website of the Finnish Immigration ServiceOpens in a new window..

Remember to check in advance whether the documents must be legalised and whether official translations of them are required.

Pay for the processing charge when submitting your application. If you do not pay this charge, your application will not be processed.

Your right of residence is valid until further notice and you do not have to apply for continuation.

If you intend to reside in Finland for at least one year, you must also register at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, which will assign a municipality of residence for you. Getting a municipality of residence may make your life easier, as municipalities provide their residents with a wide range of important services. You may apply for a municipality of residence in Finland if you have registered your right of residence at the Finnish Immigration Service and are a permanent resident of Finland.

Register at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency in person. Take with you your passport or official identity card as well as the registration certificate for an EU citizen, which you have gotten from the police authority. Also take with you your marriage certificate and the birth certificates of your underage children if these apply to you.

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will store your basic information in the Finnish population information system, including your name, date of birth, nationality, family relations and address. In this context, you will get a Finnish personal identity code, which makes it easier to manage issues at banks and with the authorities.

If you are a citizen of another EU Member State, you can establish a company in Finland. The process of establishing a company is similar to the process for Finnish citizens. Submit your company's start-up notification in the Business Information System (YTJ) either by using a paper form or electronically. Currently, you can submit the start-up notification electronically for a private entrepreneur and, in most cases, a limited liability company. Other company forms require a notification on paper.

You can use the start-up notification on paper to submit your company’s information to the Trade Register of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office and to the customer, prepayment, employer and VAT registers of the Tax Administration. If you submit the start-up notification to the Trade Register electronically, you must submit you company’s information to the registers of the Tax Administration in a separate notification of change. To submit an electronic notification, you need a Finnish personal identity code.

A permit from the authorities is required for engaging in certain trades, such as goods transport and the sales of alcoholic beverages. Check if engaging in your trade requires a permit. Apply for the permit before starting your business from the government agency whose field of operations covers the issue.

Even if engaging in your trade is not subject to a permit, it may require filing a separate notification with a supervisory authority. Such trades include real estate and package tour services. Check if engaging in your trade requires a separate notification.

Please also note that some professions are subject to regulation in Finland. For instance, if you intend to start a chimney sweeping company and work as a chimney sweep, you must first apply for the recognition of your professional qualifications from the competent authority. Check whether your own profession is regulated in Finland and which authority recognises the professional qualification.

Text edited by: Suomi.fi editorial team

Updated: 6/4/2023

EU citizens’ permits and notifications

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