Finland Residence Permit

What does the Finnish residence permit provide? First of all, it allows you to work freely in the entire European Union territory, use quality medicine, and get free education. In this article, you will learn how to get a residence permit in Finland and what documentation to provide.

Table of contents

• Rights of Finnish residence permit holders
• Types of residence permits in Finland
• Who is eligible for a Finnish residence permit?
• Documents required for a Finnish residence permit application
• Finland residence permit photo requirements
• Get a Finland residence permit photo online!
• Links

Rights of Finnish residence permit holders

Finland is a country that allows dual citizenship. Today it is one of the most progressive and prosperous places worldwide. The holder of a Finnish residence permit has the right to stay in the European Union for an unlimited amount of time, get a permanent residence permit, or become a citizen of Finland in just 4 years.

If you plan to move your spouse, there will be a support program for him or her as well as free language courses. For children, there is preferential daycare and a monthly allowance. It is all worth it to apply for a residence permit in Finland!

Types of residence permits in Finland

Finnish residence permits are of the following categories:

• Temporary Oleskelulupa "B".
• Continuous Oleskelulupa "A".
• Permanent Oleskelulupa "P". In this case, it is a permanent residence permit.

To receive a temporary residence permit, the applicant must be studying or working in Finland. The permit will be valid for one year if the applicant can prove that he or she has studied or worked in Finland. It can be extended or changed for a different type of residence permit.

A continuous Finnish residence permit (type "A") is valid for the period of the grounds on which it is issued. The main conditions for obtaining it are a permanent employment contract or marriage to a Finnish citizen.

As for permanent residence, it is obtained only if you have lived in Finland for more than 4 years.

Who is eligible for a Finnish residence permit?

A residence permit in Finland can be obtained under several circumstances. In particular, it is granted to:

• Individual entrepreneurs;
• Professionals who work remotely (freelancers);
• Entrepreneurs. Business in Finland for a residence permit is a good reason;
• When buying property;
• When performing labor activities;
• With the condition of family ties. Residence permit is issued to the applicant in the case of family reunification.

Documents required for a Finnish residence permit application

As for obtaining a residence permit for any country, a standard list of documents is required in this case:

• A valid passport with photocopies of all its pages;
• Residence permit application form. It can be downloaded from the embassy's website https://finlandabroad.fi;
• 2 passport-sized photos;
• Documents confirming the purpose of your visit;
• Receipt of payment of the consular fee.

Given the type of residence permit you are applying for, you may need an additional list of documents, for example:

• Employment contract;
• Certificate of enrollment in an educational institution;
• Certificate confirming business registration;
• Marriage certificate;
• Land registry certificate that you have a home in Finland or a rental agreement;
• Criminal records and debts certificate;
• Bank statements (you do not need them if you are coming to Finland for family reunification).

You can apply for a residence permit either online through the EnterFinland.fi service or in paper form by making an appointment through the Migri.fi portal. The services contain all the information you need about the application process.

Finland residence permit photo requirements

A photograph for a residence permit in Finland must meet the following criteria:

• The required size of the Finland residence permit photo is 36 x 47 mm;
• The face must occupy from 70 to 80% of the size of the photo;
• Height of the face must be 25 to 35 mm, width - 18 to 22 mm;
• The size of the upper margin above the head must be 4-6 mm.
• The photo must be taken against a light background. The white color is not obligatory. It is preferable to use a gray one;
• The photo must be in color;
• The residence permit picture must not be more than six months old;
• Applicant must be shown clearly, look straight into the camera, keep a neutral facial expression;
• Headwear is not allowed, except for religious items;
• According to the requirements for a photo for a residence permit in Finland, a person must not be photographed wearing glasses, even if he/she wears them all the time.

Here's an example of the photo:

Get a Finland residence permit photo online!

Visafoto service is developed for easy processing of photos for different types of documents, including residence permits, passports, medical records, and more. The editor contains all current photo requirements for all types of documents.

All you have to do is take your own selfies or have someone else take your picture, upload the photo to an editor, and download the processed image!

An example of a source photo:

You will receive 2 versions of your Finnish residence permit photo: for printing and for the online application

You can take an urgent photo for your residence permit application 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! This is a great solution for those who value their time and do not want to spend it searching for a proven photo studio.

Good luck in obtaining a residence permit for Finland!

Links

• Getting Finnish ID card