Immigration Series: All About Finland’s Start-up Residence Permit

Startup team with at least two founders with expertise in their field and who are planning to move to Finland are eligible to apply for the Finnish Startup Residence Permit. (Photo: Alexandr Bormotin via Unsplash)

If you are an entrepreneur from outside the European Union (EU) looking to build a startup in Finland, you can apply for the Finnish Startup Permit that is issued for a maximum of two years and can be renewed.

Who is eligible?

• Startup team with at least two founders with expertise in their field and who are planning to move to Finland.
• Resources: Access to sufficient resources and funding for the company's early-stage development as well as secure financial means for personal support.
• Business plan: Innovative business plan and commitment to the business idea.
• Significant holding: The team has to have at least 60% holding in the company.
• Intention: An intention to establish a fast-growth company in Finland.
• Working full-time: Working full-time at the company

Steps to submit application to Business Finland: 

Step 1: Submit your eligibility statement application to Business Finland 

Business Finland will evaluate whether your business plan and the team meet the criteria for fast-growth startup business. This must be submitted on behalf of a team, with one team member designated as the main point of contact. You can submit the Eligibility Statement application through the Enter Finland Platform and attach passport copies and CVs of all team members.

Step 2: Complete your residence permit application to the Finnish Immigration Service

If you have received a positive Eligibility Statement from Business Finland, you can then apply for a residence permit from the Finnish Immigration Service. Each team member needs to submit their application individually through the Enter Finland Platform. The main point of contact will be responsible for sharing the statement with all team members.

Step 3: Establish a company in Finland

Once you have established your company in Finland, you can benefit from a wide range of services and resources. Business Guide is an extensive package on everything one should know before establishing a business in Finland.

Step 4: Renew your Start-up permit

When your residence permit is about to expire and you want to continue running your startup in Finland, you need to apply for an extension. You can apply for your extended Startup Permit directly at the Finnish Immigration Service. You do not need to apply for a new Eligibility Statement from Business Finland. If the Finnish Immigration Service requires a renewed Eligibility Statement, they will contact Business Finland.

How to fast-track your application:

• Create an account in the online service Enter Finland.
• Enter your name in the application without special characters (for example á, ç, ñ, ô, é, ı). You can use the same spelling as in the machine readable zone (MRZ) in your passport.
• If you have previously created an account in Enter Finland and there are special characters in your name, you can make changes to your name when you select ‘My account’. If you make changes to your name, you can go back to an application that you have started to fill in by selecting ‘My applications’ - ‘Draft applications’.
• You must obtain a positive Eligibility Statement from Business Finland.
• You can fill in and submit your residence permit application after receiving a positive Eligibility Statement to your Enter Finland account.
• On the first page of the application, choose the option: I want to fast-track the processing of my application. If you intend to apply for a D Visa, remember to fill in the D visa section on the first page of the application.
• Remember to attach all the required documents to your application. The attachments must be in Finnish, Swedish or English. If necessary, have the attachments translated.
• If your family members are applying together with you using the fast track service - Fill in your child’s application during the same session. Your spouse will receive a fast track ID number after you have submitted your application. After that, your spouse must submit his or her own application within two days.
• Pay the processing fee on the last page of the application. If you are also applying for a D visa at the same time, pay the D visa as well.
• From the list, choose a service point that ends with the letters ‘VFS’. If there is no VFS Global application centre in your country, choose a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) as your service point.

Appointment to prove your identity: Book an appointment for proving your identity at the selected service point immediately.

• If your family members are applying together with you, book a family appointment.
• When booking an appointment, enter your fast track ID number.
• If your family members are applying together with you, enter their fast track ID numbers as well.
• You must prove your identity within five working days of submitting your application in Enter Finland.
• Bring with you to the appointment: Your diary number; your family members must bring their own diary numbers, a valid passport. If you are also applying for a D visa, the D  visa will be affixed to your passport.

Fast-tracking is not possible, if: 

• you fail to prove your identity within five working days of submitting your application in Enter Finland
• further information for your application is required, or
• your application does not meet the requirements for a residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur