Right of residence and right to work in Finland

If you are a citizen of a Nordic country, you can move to Finland without a residence permit. Citizens of EU and EEA countries must register their right of residence for stays of more than three months. Citizens of other countries must apply for a residence permit.

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency is responsible for the population registration of Nordic citizens, while the Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for the residence permits of citizens of other countries.

Citizens of the Nordic countries have the right to live and work in another Nordic country without a residence or work permit. If you intend to stay in Finland for a maximum of six months, you do not need to notify the Finnish authorities. If you plan to stay in Finland for more than six months, you must visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency in person so that you can be registered. Read more on the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. 

You can find more information on population registration in Finland on the page Population registration in Finland. 

If you are a citizen of a Nordic country and are moving with a family member who is not a citizen of a Nordic country, you will find instructions concerning your family member further down this page. 

Citizens of other EU countries, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein do not need a residence permit or work permit in Finland, but their right of residence must be registered if their stay exceeds three months. You should apply for registration on the Finnish Immigration Service's Enter Finland online service. Read more on the Finnish Immigration Service website. 

A family member of an EU, Swiss or Liechtenstein citizen who is not an EU citizen must apply for a residence card for family members of EU citizens. Read more below under Residence card for family members of EU citizens.

If you are a citizen of a country other than those mentioned above and wish to move to Finland or work in Finland, you must apply for a residence permit. 

If you are a family member of an EU citizen and are moving to Finland with him or her, you must apply for a residence card for family members of EU citizens.  

Residence permit

Residence permits are granted for a number of reasons, the most common being employment, studies and family ties Most residence permits include the right to work.  

A residence permit is only valid in the country where it was issued. This means that you cannot use a residence permit granted in Finland to work in another Nordic country. 

As a rule, you apply for your first residence permit abroad. You must visit a Finnish diplomatic mission to prove your identity. In some cases, you can also apply for a residence permit in Finland. Read more about residence permits on the Finnish Immigration Service website.

You can find Finnish diplomatic missions abroad on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.  

Residence card for family members of EU citizens

You can apply for an EU family member residence card if you are not an EU citizen yourself but are a family member of a citizen of the EU or Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. Minors who are dependents must also apply for a family member residence card. Your family member who is an EU citizen must reside in Finland. 

You can apply for a residence card for a family member of an EU citizen by filling out an electronic application on the Finnish Immigration Service's Enter Finland service and visiting a Finnish Immigration Service service point to verify your identity. You can also apply for a residence card using a paper application form, in which case you must submit the application in person at a Finnish Immigration Service service point. You need a valid passport to apply. 

If you are a family member of an EU citizen and your family member lives in Finland, you can start working as soon as you arrive in Finland.  

Read more on the Finnish Immigration Service website.

Travelling outside Finland 

If you have a Finnish residence permit or an EU citizen's family member residence card, you can travel within the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

If you have been granted a residence permit in Finland, you can travel without a visa only within the Schengen countries. If you travel to countries outside the Schengen area, you may need a visa. Read more on the Finnish Immigration Service website. 

If you are moving to Finland, also read our guides Moving to Finland and Working in Finland. Further information on foreigners coming to Finland can be found on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and on your right to work in Finland on the Suomi.fi service.