This page is the map of the permit system, not legal advice; Migri's own pages have the forms and the fees. What matters most for your future is the letter on your card and the date you renew.
The main permits
| Permit | Who | Typical length | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employed person (TTOL) | most workers, tied to a field | 1 year, then up to 4 | A |
| Specialist | higher-paid experts | up to 2, then 4 | A |
| EU Blue Card | highly qualified, salary threshold | 2 | A |
| Student | degree students | the length of the studies | B for some, A for degree students since 2022 reforms |
| Family ties | spouses and children of residents | follows the sponsor's permit | usually A |
| Entrepreneur and start-up | business owners | 1–2 years | A |
| International protection | refugees | 4 years | A |
A means continuous, B temporary. Continuous years count toward the permanent permit.
The card
The residence permit card carries your photo, permit type, validity dates and, printed on it or in the decision, your henkilötunnus. Carry it when you travel; it replaces a visa for the Schengen area.
Renewal
Apply for an extended permit (jatkolupa) in Enter Finland before the current one expires, then visit a Migri service point to prove your identity. While a timely application is pending you keep the right to stay and work. Processing times are published on Migri's site and vary from weeks to months; apply as early as the rules allow, usually three months before expiry.
Changing employer or field can require a new permit or notification; check before you sign a contract in a different sector.
The road to permanent residence
Under the rules in force since 8 January 2026, the standard route is six years of continuous (A) residence, satisfactory Finnish or Swedish, and two years of work, with four-year routes for high earners, Finnish master's graduates and holders of particularly good language skills. The language part, the proofs and the timeline are in Finnish for residence and citizenship.
Two things break the count: gaps between permits caused by late renewal, and long stays abroad. Keep both under control from year one.
Citizenship
After the permanent permit or the required years, citizenship needs the language, an established identity, no serious offences and a means of livelihood. The residence years are being revised in the 2027 amendments; Migri's page has the current figure.