Self-employed person needs a residence permit

Self-employed persons need a residence permit for a self-employed person to practice their profession in Finland. You are self-employed if you practice a profession or are engaged in trade in your own name, or if you have a similar responsibility for a company.

It is most common for self-employed people to have an individually-owned business (toiminimi), to be a partner in an unlimited partnership company (avoin yhtiö), or to be a general partner in a limited partnership company (kommandiittiyhtiö).

If you are a silent partner in a limited partnership company (kommandiittiyhtiö) and you work in your own company, you will need a residence permit for an employed person.

If you own shares of a public limited company (osakeyhtiö) and you work in this company, you will need a residence permit for an employed person. A residence permit will not be granted on the grounds that you own shares; you also have to work in the company, and the work must be performed in Finland.