Government to tighten conditions for permanent residence permits
The conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit will be tightened. For example, the continuous period of residence required for the permit will be extended. Applicants will also be required to demonstrate proficiency in Finnish or Swedish and have a work history of a certain length. The Government submitted to Parliament the relevant proposal for amending the Aliens Act on 5 June.
“Successful integration would be a prerequisite for a permanent residence permit. One of the objectives set in the Government Programme is to encourage immigrants to comply with the rules of Finnish society, and to work and to study the language,” says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.
The continuous period of residence required for a permanent residence permit would be extended from four years to six years. When an applicant has resided in Finland for six years, as a rule, they could be granted a permanent residence permit on condition that their proficiency in either Finnish or Swedish is satisfactory and they have two years of work experience in Finland.
Obtaining a permanent residence permit based on a four-year period of residence would still be possible. However, the applicant would have to meet one of the following three additional requirements: 1) a minimum annual income of EUR 40,000, 2) a master’s degree or a postgraduate degree recognised in Finland and two years of work experience in Finland, and 3) high proficiency in Finnish or Swedish and three years of work experience in Finland.
If the applicant meets the work experience requirement, it would also be required that they have only used unemployment security or social assistance for a maximum of three months.
Applicants who have completed a master’s degree, a postgraduate degree or a university bachelor’s degree in Finland could obtain a permanent residence permit without having to meet the required period of residence in terms of years. In such a case, a certain standard of proficiency in Finnish or Swedish would also be required. In addition, they would be required to meet the general conditions for issuing a residence permit in the same way as in other situations where a permanent residence permit is issued. These general conditions include a valid passport and sufficient financial resources as well as the fact that they do not pose a danger to public order or security.
A third-country national who has resided within the European Union for a long period may apply for an EU residence permit in a Member State. This is a permanent permit that is valid until further notice just like the national permanent permit. Proficiency in Finnish or Swedish would also be included in the requirements for obtaining an EU residence permit.
Furthermore, the Government proposes that in future any unconditional sentence of imprisonment would affect how the period of residence required for a permanent residence permit and an EU residence permit is calculated. The duration of time when an applicant is serving an unconditional sentence of imprisonment would be excluded from the period of residence. In addition, the calculation of the period of residence would start from the beginning once the sentence has been served in full.
The legislative amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 8 January 2026.
Inquiries:
Pekka Lindroos, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 327, firstname.lastname@gov.fi
Harri Sivula, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 488 623, firstname.lastname@gov.fi (from 9 June)