Residence and work permits in Åland

The same rules apply in Åland as in Finland on applying for residence and work permits. If you are a citizen of a Nordic country, you do not need a residence or work permit. If you plan to stay in Åland for more than three months, you need to register with the Local Register Office at the State Department of Åland. Read more on the page Population registration in Åland. If you are staying temporarily or only working in Åland, you do not need to report your move to the Local Register Office.

If you are a citizen of a non-Nordic EU/EEA country or a country outside the EU, certain conditions apply to residence and work permits. These matters are handled by the Finnish Immigration Service. You can read more about residence and work permits in Åland on the page Residence and work permits in Finland.

At the Finnish Immigration Service's service point, you can verify your identity after you have submitted an application for a residence permit, Finnish citizenship, EU registration, travel document or residence permit card.

The Finnish Immigration Service does not have a permanent presence in Åland. They receive booked customers and applications approximately every six to seven weeks at the State Department of Åland in Mariehamn. Persons who are in Åland can also handle matters concerning residence and work permits at any of the Finnish Immigration Service’s service points in Finland. To book an appointment, you can use the Finnish Immigration Service's appointment booking service. You can find more information on the Finnish Immigration Service's service points webpage.

It is not possible to apply for asylum at the Finnish Immigration Service's service point in Åland. For more information, contact the Finnish Embassy in your home country or the Finnish Immigration Service.

On the Info Norden website you can find information on residence and work permits in the other Nordic countries and what authorities to contact if you have questions.