Submit application to a Finnish embassy or the police in Finland

Submit your permit application to a Finnish mission before you come to Finland. Please note that you cannot submit your application to a honorary consulate. If you already are in Finland, leave your permit application to the police. Contact your local police department to find out which service point in the area provides licence services.

You must submit your residence permit application in person. Take the originals of the required attachments to the application with you when you go to the mission or police service point.

A processing fee is charged for the residence permit application. The fee will not be refunded even in the event of a negative decision. The fee will be collected at the mission or police service point when you submit your application.

You must be in possession of a valid passport or other travel document, and you must be legally resident in the country where you submit your permit application. If there is no Finnish mission in your country of residence and you must travel to another country to submit your application, you must find out yourself whether you require a visa to do so.

Before you may be granted a residence permit, you must also meet the general requirements for entry into Finland. These requirements include the following: you may not have been refused entry into Finland, and you may not be a danger to public order and safety, national health, or Finland’s international relations.

Passport, photo and fingerprints

Take your passport and passport photo with you to the embassy or the police. Make sure that your passport is valid for your entire stay in Finland or longer.

At the embassy or at the police service point, you will also be fingerprinted for a biometric residence permit card.