Leaving from Finland
Citizens of EU and EEA countries do not require a residence permit for Finland. Citizens other than the above are required to have a valid visa or residence permit. If you do not have right of residence, you must leave Finland.
If you are not granted a residence permit, you must leave Finland
If you have applied for a residence permit and receive a negative decision, you will be required to leave Finland.
Decision on refusal of entry
In conjunction with the negative decision on a residence permit the police or the Finnish Immigration Service will also make a decision on refusal of entry. The police or Border Guard will enforce the refusal of entry, i.e. the removal from Finland.
If your residence permit application has been rejected because of a circumvention of immigration regulations or, for example, because of a marriage of convenience, the decision on refusal of entry will also include refusal of entry to the Schengen area. Refusal of entry will also be imposed if you are considered a danger to public order or security, for example through your criminal activity. Refusal of entry will also be imposed if your application for international protection is rejected in the accelerated procedure.
In other cases you will have the opportunity to leave Finland voluntarily during a brief period of grace. If you do not leave Finland voluntarily before the deadline, a refusal of entry to the Schengen area will be imposed.
More information on refusal of entry for asylum seekers can be found on the Asylum in Finland - Refusal of Entry webpage.
Decision on deportation
If you had already been issued with a residence permit for Finland but have not been granted an extension, the Finnish Immigration Service will decide on deportation. You may also be deported if you have committed a punishable offence. The deportation – or removal from Finland – will be enforced by the police or the Border Guard.
If your residence permit application has been rejected because of a circumvention of immigration regulations or, for example, because of a marriage of convenience, the decision on deportation will also include refusal of entry to the Schengen area. Refusal of entry will also be imposed if you are considered a danger to public order or security, for example through your criminal activity.
In other cases you will have the opportunity to leave Finland voluntarily during a brief period of grace. If you do not leave Finland voluntarily before the deadline, a refusal of entry to the Schengen area will be imposed.
If you are deported, your residence permit will become void.
Voluntary return
The decision on refusal of entry or deportation may allow a period of grace during which you must leave Finland. If you leave within this period, a refusal of entry to the Schengen area will not be imposed. The period of grace is normally 30 days.
You will be refused entry if you breach immigration regulations
If your residence permit application has been dismissed due to a breach in immigration regulations, you will not be given a grace period for voluntary return. You will be given a refusal of entry to the Schengen countries.
If you have applied for a residence permit on a basis other than your actual reasons for coming to Finland, you are in breach of entry regulations. In this case your application will be rejected. You will be given a refusal of entry and a prohibition of entry. During the refusal of entry you cannot visit Finland or other Schengen-countries.
More information
Travelling when in possession of a residence permit
Revoking the permit