Finnish visa resources
Eligibility for a Finland long-stay visa
The general principles that decide who needs, and who qualifies for, a Finnish national residence permit for stays over 90 days.
Important
If you come to Finland from outside the EU for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit; the national long-stay route is the residence permit (with a D visa available to bridge travel while the permit card is produced). Every permit is granted on a specific ground, and you must meet the requirements set for that ground.
You must apply for your residence permit personally - you cannot, for example, apply on behalf of your spouse or employee. Across routes, applicants are expected to demonstrate a secure means of subsistence for the duration of their stay.
Grounds for a residence permit
- Work - employment, specialists, seasonal work and other professional categories.
- Study - degree programmes and exchange studies.
- Family ties - joining a spouse, child, guardian or other close family member in Finland.
- Business - entrepreneurs, start-up entrepreneurs and intra-company transfers.
- Other grounds - researchers, and certain humanitarian and remigration situations.
Permit types (the three tiers)
- First residence permit - your initial permit, usually applied for while abroad at a Finnish mission.
- Extended residence permit - a renewal applied for before your current permit expires.
- Permanent residence permit - granted after meeting the required period of continuous residence and other conditions.
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.