Finland self-employed visa: residence permit for an entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are sole proprietors (toiminimi), partners in a general partnership, general partners in a limited partnership, cooperative members with unlimited liability and limited company entrepreneurs. A limited company shareholder must own at least 30% of the shares and sit on the board or work as managing director. Freelancers working through an invoicing service company cannot use this permit. You must personally work in the company in Finland; ownership alone is not enough.

Migri’s 2026 figure for applicants whose main income comes from their business is EUR 1,463 a month. The business must be profitable and provide your livelihood; if you use your own funds at the start, bank statements for the past three months are requested.

The company must be registered in the Trade Register of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office before you apply. The regional economic development centre (ELY Centre in InfoFinland’s guidance) then assesses profitability from the business plan, the two-year financial forecast and the financing. After its statement, Migri decides on the permit. If the company has no turnover yet, you must show other income for your living.

First residence permits are filed online in Enter Finland (or on a paper form) and then completed in person at a Finnish embassy or consulate, or at a VFS Global application centre that receives applications for Finland in some countries. Book an appointment and bring your passport and the original attachments; biometrics are taken at the visit, and a VFS Global centre charges its own service fee.

If you need a visa to enter Finland, you can request a D visa in the same Enter Finland application. It is placed in your passport at the mission once the permit is granted, is valid for 100 days and lets you travel before the residence permit card arrives. Under the 2026 fee decree a D visa costs EUR 95 online or EUR 120 on paper.

Migri normally gives you a Finnish personal identity code with the positive decision. After moving, book a visit to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) to register your address and, if you qualify, a municipality of residence, which opens access to municipal health, social and integration services. Bring your passport, the residence permit card and your employment contract or proof of studies.

An extended permit can only be applied for in Finland, before the current permit expires; if it expires while the application is pending you may stay and usually keep working. The 2026 fee for an extended permit is EUR 230 online or EUR 430 on paper. Migri checks your income in the national Incomes Register, so make sure your salary data is correct before applying.

A negative Migri decision comes with appeal instructions. The appeal goes to an Administrative Court, which can uphold the refusal or send the case back to Migri; further appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court needs leave to appeal. If you applied from abroad, you wait abroad while the appeal is pending.