Finland’s parliament has revised the Foreigners Act, making it harder to qualify for permanent residence permits.
These changes came into effect on January 8, 2026, and aim to tighten eligibility criteria for long-term residents in the country.
New Requirements for Permanent Residence
Under the new rules, most applicants will need six years of continuous residence in Finland to be eligible for a permanent residence permit.
In addition, applicants must:
Have good knowledge of Finnish or Swedish
Have at least two years of work history (with some exceptions)
However, permanent residence may be granted after four years of uninterrupted residence if the applicant meets one of the following conditions:
Annual income of EUR 40,000 or more
A master’s or postgraduate degree recognized in Finland with at least two years of work history
Special Rules for Students and Children
Applicants who complete a degree in Finland—such as a master’s, postgraduate, or bachelor’s degree—can obtain a permanent residence permit without meeting the full residence requirement.
For children under 18, a permanent residence permit can be granted if their guardian already holds a permanent residence permit, a P-EU permit, or Finnish citizenship.
Other Important Details
EU long-term residence permits (P-EU) now require good knowledge of Finnish or Swedish along with other standard requirements.
Some exceptions exist where language skills or work history may not be required.
The new rules only apply to applications submitted on or after January 8, 2026.
Applications submitted before this date will follow the previous rules.
Applicants can submit a permanent residence application about three months before completing the required residence period.
The updated rules also include renewed application forms for:
Permanent residence permits
EU long-term residence permits (P-EU)
Permits for children of long-term residents
Finland’s new rules make permanent residence stricter, but they also offer some flexibility for students, high earners, and children.
Anyone planning to apply should carefully check the updated requirements to ensure their application meets all conditions.
