Since 8 January 2026 the language you speak decides how long you wait for a permanent residence permit. It has always decided citizenship. This page gives the rules as they stand today, in one table, with the proofs Migri accepts. Rules change; the verified date is above and the official sources are at the bottom.
Permanent residence permit, rules since 8 January 2026
| Route | Residence | Language required | Other conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 6 years continuous | Satisfactory = B1 = YKI intermediate grade 3 | 2 years of work in Finland; at most 3 months of unemployment or social assistance during the work period |
| High income | 4 years | none | annual income of at least 40,000 euros |
| Finnish master's or doctorate | 4 years | none | degree completed in Finland plus 2 years of work |
| Particularly good language | 4 years | Particularly good = C1 = YKI advanced grade 5 | 3 years of work |
| Finnish bachelor's degree | as set in the Act | Developing = A2 = YKI basic grade 2 | degree completed in Finland |
| Long-term resident EU permit (P-EU) | 5 years | Good = B2 = YKI intermediate grade 4 | |
| Age 65 or over | as above | exempt from the language requirement |
The four tiers Migri uses, with their equivalents:
| Migri term | CEFR | YKI | Civil service language exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developing | A2 | basic level, grade 2 | satisfactory |
| Satisfactory | B1 | intermediate level, grade 3 | satisfactory |
| Good | B2 | intermediate level, grade 4 | good |
| Particularly good | C1 | advanced level, grade 5 | excellent |
Applications submitted before 8 January 2026 are handled under the old rules even if the identification appointment is later.
Finnish citizenship
You need satisfactory oral and written skills in Finnish or Swedish. The residence period is currently under revision: the amendments to the Citizenship Act expected in 2027 raise the general requirement to eight years and lower it to five for applicants who meet the language requirement. Until then, check Migri for the period that applies to you; the language requirement itself is unchanged.
What counts as proof
Any one of these:
- YKI certificate, intermediate level with grade 3 or higher for citizenship and the standard permanent residence route.
- Civil service language examination (valtionhallinnon kielitutkinto) with at least satisfactory oral and written skills.
- Finnish or Swedish education in Finland: basic education, upper secondary school, a vocational qualification completed in Finnish or Swedish from 2018 onward, or a higher education degree or maturity test in Finnish or Swedish.
- Language studies at a university: at least 15 credits count for the developing (A2) level only.
- Sign language: a certificate from the Finnish Association of the Deaf.
Proof must exist before you apply. Planning to take YKI later does not count on the day of filing.
How long it takes to reach B1
| Starting point | Daily study | Integration training | Realistic time to YKI grade 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | 30 min | no | 12 to 18 months |
| Zero | full-time course | yes | 9 to 12 months |
| A2 (can get by) | 30 min | no | 6 to 9 months |
Two things speed it up: speaking Finnish at work, and doing one writing task a week from month one. Two things slow it down: only reading, and waiting to feel ready.
Your plan
- Take the level test.
- Read the YKI page and register for a test date about a year out. The date is the plan.
- Follow the course and the grammar in order, with the verb tables for practice.
- From month three, one writing task and one easy news article a week.
- Two months before the test, mock tests every weekend.