Finland - Highly-qualified worker

Where and how to apply
(including information on fees)

Submit your application in the e-service Enter Finland. After you have submitted your application, you have to visit the Finnish diplomatic mission or consulate in your country of origin/residence to prove your identity and have your fingerprints taken. A paper application is submitted to the Finnish diplomatic mission or consulate in your country of origin/residence.

The Finnish Immigration Service will reject or grant the residence permit, taking into consideration:

• an evaluation of the requirements of the work on the basis of a work contract;
• whether your means of support are secure;
• other grounds for rejection (a threat to public policy, public security, public health and Finland's international relations).

Processing fee (EUR): online 350, paper application 550.

General attachments:

• Valid passport (you must present it when you submit the residence permit application)
• Passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop
• Color copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes
• Document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application
• Form MP_1 (if you already are in Finland and apply for your first residence permit)

Application-specific attachments:

• Certificate concerning the principal terms and conditions of employment; or
• Consultancy agreement
• Certificate of fringe benefits from the employer/client
• Commission agreement with a Finnish client (must be included if the employer is a third-country company that has no office in Finland)
• Job description
• Certificate of a higher education degree

A first fixed-term permit for a specialist is issued for two years and a renewed fixed term permit is issued for maximum of four years.

The residence permit will be withdrawn for the following reasons:

• fraud;
• the reasons for granting the permit cease to exist;
• you leave Finland permanently or remain in another country for an uninterrupted period of two years and do not apply to the Immigration Service not to withdraw your permit.

It is possible to appeal negative decisions made by the Finnish Immigration Service before an Administrative Court 30 days following the notification. The appeal procedures are indicated in the decision.

A rejection from the Administrative Court can be appealed as a last resort to the Supreme Administrative Court. You will need to apply for leave to appeal.

Your residence permit for specialist is granted for a particular professional sector and you can change jobs within this sector.

In exceptional cases, your permit may be limited to a particular employer and you will need to make new application to change employer.

You may apply to reunite in Finland with your spouse (and same sex registered partner) and your unmarried minor children.

Partners who have been living continuously in a marriage-like relationship within the same household for at least two years also benefit from family reunification. The two year period is not required if the relationship has resulted in any children.

The residence permit granted to your family member is valid for the same duration as your residence permit. It grants full access to employment and education.

After four years of continuous residence (permit A), you can apply for a permanent residence permit P if you still meet the requirements for a continuous residence permit. You must have spent at least half of the validity period of your permit in Finland and your permit must still be valid at the time you submit your application.

After five years of continuous and legal residence, you may obtain a long-term resident EC residence permit.