These instructions are for you if

• you are not a citizen of an EU country or an equivalent country
• you do not have an EC residence permit

Apply for a residence permit

You should apply for a residence permit before entering into Finland. The application is delivered to a Finnish diplomatic mission (embassy). In Finland applications are submitted to a local police.

If you are going to work as an employee you should apply for a residence permit for an employed person.

If you are going to work as a self-employed entrepreneur you should apply for a residence permit for a self-employed person.

If you get a residence permit and you are going to stay in Finland for at least 12 months you should also enter into the Population Information System. Registration for this takes place at a Register Office.

Information for migrants coming outside of EU

• Finnish immigration service
  • Residence Permit for Finland
  • Residence permit for a self-employed person
  • Residence permit for an employee
  • Students
  • Working in Finland
  • Application forms
• Employment and Economic Development Office
  • Foreigners working in Finland
• Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
• infopankki.fi
  • Working in Finland
• Police
  • Licences and permits for foreigners
• Population registration centre
  • Population information system
  • Registration of foreign citizens
  • Registering in Finland
• Kela – The Social Insurance Institution of Finland
  • Moving to Finland
• Life in Finland  (Guide provided by the Ministry of the Interior)