Moving to Finland
4 routes for people from the US, Canada and the UK, each checked against official sources. Find the one that fits, then check it with the source before you apply.
Freelance or your own business Rules need confirming
Finland self-employed permit
Residence permit for an entrepreneur (self-employed person)
People who will run a profitable business registered in Finland and live mainly on its income.
- What you need
- Business registered in the Finnish Trade Register; the regional Economic Development Centre assesses profitability
- Net income from the business; 2026 figure reported by Migri (EUR 1,463 a month)
- Not for
- Remote workers or freelancers for foreign clients without a Finnish-registered business
- Businesses that will not yet support you
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Online via Enter Finland.
- How long it takes
- Not verified.
- First permit
- Not verified
- Renewal
- Extendable if the business stays profitable.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 4 years. Citizenship after about 8 years.
- Family
- Not verified.
Migri blocks direct fetch; EUR 1,463 net comes from a search snippet of a Migri page. Fee, length, family rules not verified.
Freelance or your own business Rules need confirming changing
Finland startup permit
Residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur
Founders of a recently founded, growth-oriented company who get a positive eligibility statement from Business Finland.
- What you need
- Positive Eligibility Statement from Business Finland before applying (applied for online in Enter Finland)
- Enough money for living costs for at least 1 year (2 years for a 2-year first permit); Migri's net-income figure reported as EUR 1,210 / 1,090 / 1,030 per month depending on where you live (EUR 1,210 a month)
- Not for
- Ordinary small businesses without growth plans (use the self-employed permit)
- Owning a company without working in Finland
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Business Finland statement, then Migri application via Enter Finland.
- How long it takes
- Not verified.
- First permit
- Up to 2 years
- Renewal
- Extendable on the same grounds if you continue as a start-up entrepreneur.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 4 years. Citizenship after about 8 years.
- Family
- Family can apply (income for family not verified).
Migri pages block direct fetch; requirements come from search snippets and secondary sources. Fee, processing time and exact funds figure not confirmed.
A job offer
Finland EU Blue Card
EU Blue Card
Graduates with a job contract of at least 6 months paying at least EUR 3,937 a month gross who want EU mobility rights.
- What you need
- Gross monthly salary (EUR 3,937 a month)
- Higher education degree (or equivalent per rules) and employment contract of at least 6 months
- Not for
- Contracts under 6 months
- Self-employed people
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Online via Enter Finland; identification abroad at a Finnish mission/VFS or in Finland.
- How long it takes
- Not verified.
- First permit
- Not verified
- Renewal
- Extendable.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 4 years. Citizenship after about 8 years.
- Family
- Family can accompany (details not verified).
A job offer
Finland specialist permit
Residence permit for a specialist (erityisasiantuntija)
Experts in demanding roles (usually with a degree) paid at least EUR 3,937 a month gross.
- What you need
- Gross monthly salary (fringe benefits do not count) (EUR 3,937 a month)
- Work requires special expertise, usually a higher education degree
- Not for
- Remote workers for foreign employers
- Jobs paying under the threshold (processed as an employed person permit, minimum EUR 1,600 gross)
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Online via Enter Finland, then identify at a Finnish mission/VFS abroad or a Migri service point in Finland. Finland is in the EU and Schengen.
- How long it takes
- Not verified (Migri runs a fast track for specialists; target not confirmed in this check).
- First permit
- Not verified (commonly up to 2 years for a first permit)
- Renewal
- Extendable (extended permit fee EUR 230 online).
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 4 years. Citizenship after about 8 years.
- Family
- Family can apply for residence permits based on family ties (income requirement for family not verified).