Skip to content

Long-stay visas (Type D)

Finnish Permanent residence permit (P) and long-term resident's EU residence permit

Open-ended settlement status for people who have lived in Finland continuously on a continuous (A) permit, giving long-term security to settle.

Expert reviewed Official guidance referenced
Book a consultation

Under review — check current rules

Permanent-residence criteria changed for applications submitted from 8 January 2026; the specific pathway thresholds cited here (e.g. the EUR 40,000 income path, six-year/B1 language and four-year work-history pathways) should be re-verified against the current Migri permanent-residence page before publishing as fact.

Important information

Immigration rules and fees can change. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the latest requirements on the official Finland government website before you apply.
On this page
Issued by
Finnish Immigration Service (Migri)
Validity
Valid until further notice (open-ended)
Base residence (pre-8 Jan 2026 rule)
4 years' continuous residence on an A permit
From 8 Jan 2026
One of several pathways combining residence, work history, income and language
e.g. 6 years + work + B1 language, or 4 years + high income
Not available on
The basis of studies alone

Who it's for

Non-EU nationals who have lived in Finland continuously on a continuous (A) permit on a qualifying basis (such as work or family ties) and want open-ended settlement status; the long-term resident's EU permit additionally provides EU-wide long-term resident status.

Requirements

  • Continuous residence in Finland on a continuous (A) permit
  • Still meeting the conditions of the underlying A permit
  • Meeting one of the qualifying pathways in force (e.g. residence length plus work history, income and/or language level for applications from 8 January 2026)
  • Grounds other than studies alone (work, family ties, protection, etc.)
  • Applying while legally resident in Finland

What you can do

  • Live in Finland with an open-ended (until-further-notice) permit
  • Work freely without a fresh work-based permit
  • With the long-term resident's EU permit, exercise EU long-term resident mobility rights
  • Move toward Finnish citizenship where eligible

How to apply

Apply while legally residing in Finland, in the Enter Finland online service or on paper, and pay the fee. Verify your identity at a Migri service point.

Because the qualifying criteria changed for applications from 8 January 2026, check the current pathway that applies to you on Migri before submitting.

Documents

  • Valid passport
  • Permanent / long-term-resident EU residence-permit application
  • Evidence of continuous residence on a continuous (A) permit
  • Evidence for the relevant pathway (e.g. work history, income, or language certificate)

Frequently asked questions

  • Under the pre-8 January 2026 rule, four years of continuous residence on a continuous (A) permit. From 8 January 2026 there are several pathways — for example six years with work history and B1 language, or four years with a high annual income.

Official sources

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.

Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.

Related Finnish visas

Book a consultation