Apply for a first residence permit
On this page, you can apply for a first residence permit. You need a residence permit if you are coming to Finland for over 90 days.
Usually, an application for a first residence permit must be submitted outside Finland. If you submit your application for a first residence permit in Finland, you may get a negative decision. Read more about applying for a first residence permit (migri.fi).
Please begin by selecting the reason why you are coming to Finland: for work, for studies, or to join a family member.
If you are
- a citizen of an EU Member State, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, register your right of residence
- a citizen of a Nordic country (Denmark, Iceland, Norway or Sweden), notify the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of your move to Finland on their website (dvv.fi)
- a family member of a citizen of an EU Member State, a Nordic country, Liechtenstein or Switzerland but you yourself are not a citizen of any of these countries, apply for a residence card for a family member of an EU citizen.
If you have previously applied for asylum, you cannot get a first residence permit on the basis of studies, work or pursuing a trade.
When you apply for a residence permit, you must have a valid passport issued by your country of nationality. Read more about the passport requirement (migri.fi).