Finland

Finland visa guide: all visa and residence permit types

18 visa types
checked 25 October 2026

How visas for Finland work

Finland is a Schengen state, so nationals of visa-required countries need a Schengen visa for trips of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Applications are lodged in person with the Finnish embassy or consulate responsible for the applicant's country of legal residence, in many countries through VFS Global visa application centres, and in some through another Schengen state that represents Finland; the standard visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12. Applicants must show EUR 50 of funds for every day in Finland, or a host who signs the official proof of sponsorship form.

Stays longer than 90 days require a residence permit from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). Almost every first permit is applied for online in Enter Finland, paid there, and then completed by proving your identity at a Finnish mission or at a VFS Global centre acting for it. Fees follow a decree issued each year: for 2026 a first work permit costs EUR 750 online, a specialist or EU Blue Card EUR 530, a student permit EUR 600 and an extended permit EUR 230.

Work migration is built around the residence permit for an employed person (minimum EUR 1,600 gross a month in 2026), the specialist permit and EU Blue Card (EUR 3,937 gross), the ICT permit for intra-group transfers, seasonal work permits and two entrepreneur routes. Specialists, start-up founders, Blue Card and ICT applicants and their families can use the fast track, with a decision targeted within two weeks. Since 8 January 2026, permanent residence normally requires six years of residence plus language skills and work history.

Which visa do I need?

Holiday, family visit or business trip up to 90 days: a Schengen visa, if your nationality needs one, from the Finnish mission for your country of residence or the visa centre it designates.

Job offer paying at least EUR 1,600 gross a month: residence permit for an employed person; EUR 3,937 or more in expert work: specialist permit or EU Blue Card, both eligible for the fast track.

Transfer within your company group: ICT permit; farm, forest or tourism season of 3 to 9 months: seasonal work permit.

Founding a growth company: start-up permit with a Business Finland statement; running your own registered business: entrepreneur’s permit.

Degree studies: student permit with EUR 800 a month (EUR 9,600 for a year); research with a hosting agreement: researcher permit.

Joining a spouse, parent or child in Finland: family-based permit, usually with an income requirement and an age limit of 21 for spouses.

Visa types for Finland

Visits and short stays

Tourist visa Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Nationals of visa-required countries need a Schengen visa to visit Finland as tourists for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.
Family and friends visit visa Schengen visa (type C) for visiting family or friends
Visiting relatives or friends in Finland for up to 90 days requires a Schengen visa for nationals of visa-required countries.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.

Business and self-employment

Business visa Schengen visa (type C) for business travel
Meetings, negotiations, trade fairs and short training visits to Finland need a Schengen business visa for nationals of visa-required countries.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.
Entrepreneur and start-up visa Residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur
Founders of innovative companies aiming at rapid international growth can apply for Finland’s start-up permit.
Validity: First permit up to two years if you have funds for two years, otherwise shorter; extensions up to four years for periods with proven continuous income.
Self-employed and freelancer visa Residence permit for an entrepreneur
Sole traders, partners and limited company owners who run and work in their own business in Finland can apply for the residence permit for an entrepreneur.

Study and training

Student visa Residence permit for studies
Studies in Finland longer than 90 days require a residence permit for studies, applied for from abroad once you have a study place.
Validity: Usually for the duration of studies. Degree students in higher education receive a continuous (A) permit; other students a temporary (B) permit.
Researcher visa Residence permit for scientific research
Researchers with a degree and a hosting agreement with a Finnish research organisation can obtain a residence permit for scientific research.
Validity: For the duration of the hosting agreement: B permit under two years, A permit for two years or more.

Work

Job seeker visa Residence permit to look for work or start a business after studies or research
Finland has no general job-seeker visa, but people who have completed a degree or research in Finland can get a residence permit to look for work or start a business for up to two years.
Validity: Up to two years in total, which can be split into parts.
Work visa Residence permit for an employed person (TTOL)
The residence permit for an employed person is Finland’s standard work permit for jobs such as cooks, cleaners or nurses that do not fall under a special category.
Validity: A fixed-term permit granted for the occupational field of your job.
Skilled worker visa Residence permit for a specialist
The specialist permit is for expert work that requires special skills, such as IT and other jobs filled by higher-education graduates.
Validity: First permit for up to two years, or for the length of the employment if shorter.
EU Blue Card EU Blue Card (Finland)
Finland issues the EU Blue Card for highly qualified employment lasting at least six months with a gross salary of at least EUR 3,937 a month in 2026.
Validity: Up to two years; if the job is shorter, the duration of employment plus three months.
Intra-company transfer visa ICT permit for intra-corporate transferees
Managers, specialists and trainees employed by a company group outside the EU can be posted to its Finnish unit with an ICT permit.
Maximum stay: Managers and specialists up to three years; trainees one year. Longer transfers require a permit for an employed person.
Seasonal work visa Seasonal work visa, certificate and residence permit
Seasonal work in agriculture, gardening, forestry or tourism can last up to nine months in any 12-month period.
Maximum stay: Nine months within any 12-month period, counted back from the permit’s end date.

Family

Family reunification visa Residence permit on the basis of family ties (children, guardians and other relatives)
Minor unmarried children, guardians of a minor child living in Finland and, in limited cases, other dependent relatives can get a residence permit on the basis of family ties.
Validity: Usually tied to the validity of the sponsor’s permit.
Spouse and partner visa Residence permit for a spouse on the basis of family ties
Spouses, registered partners and cohabiting partners who have lived together for at least two years can get a residence permit to live with a partner in Finland.
Validity: Usually aligned with the sponsor’s permit; spouses of Finnish citizens receive a continuous permit.

Residence

Permanent residence Permanent residence permit (P permit) and P-EU residence permit
For applications made on or after 8 January 2026, Finland’s permanent residence permit normally requires six years of continuous residence, B1 Finnish or Swedish and two years of work history, plus sufficient resources.
Maximum stay: Unlimited stay; the residence permit card itself is renewed periodically.

Fast-track and priority services

Fast-track and priority visa services Fast track service of the Finnish Immigration Service
Migri’s fast track is a priority procedure, not a separate permit, for specialists, start-up entrepreneurs, EU Blue Card holders, ICT transferees, top and middle managers and their families.
Processing time: Target about two weeks from a complete application.

Asylum and international protection

Asylum and international protection International protection (asylum) in Finland
Asylum can only be applied for in person in Finland, not at Finnish missions abroad.
Maximum stay: You may stay while the application is being processed; leaving the country can lead to the application being treated as abandoned.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply for a Finnish visa?

At the Finnish embassy or consulate responsible for your country of legal residence, in person and by appointment, or at the visa application centre it designates, usually run by VFS Global. Where Finland has no mission, another Schengen state may handle visas for it. The Finnish mission takes the decision.

Where do I prove my identity for a residence permit?

If you apply from abroad, at a Finnish embassy or consulate or at a VFS Global centre that receives applications for Finland, after submitting the application in Enter Finland. Applicants already in Finland use a Migri service point.

How much money do I need for a Schengen visa to Finland?

Finland requires EUR 50 for each day of the stay. A paid return ticket reduces the amount, and a host’s means can count if the host fills in the official proof of sponsorship form.

Is it cheaper to apply online?

Yes. Under the 2026 fee decree a first work permit costs EUR 750 online against EUR 950 on paper, and a student permit EUR 600 against EUR 750.

How fast can a Finnish work permit be decided?

Through the fast track, specialists, start-up entrepreneurs, EU Blue Card and ICT applicants can get a decision within about two weeks if they apply online and prove their identity within five working days. In September 2026 Migri reported an average of 21 days for positive decisions on first permits for employed persons.

Can I apply for asylum at a Finnish embassy?

No. Asylum can only be applied for in person inside Finland or at its border; Finnish missions abroad do not accept applications.