From January 8, 2026, Finland is changing the rules for obtaining permanent residence: 6 years of residence, language requirements and work experience. Find out what will change for foreigners

From January 8, 2026, significant changes to the Aliens Act will come into force in Finland, which will complicate the conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit. The relevant amendments have already been approved by the country's president and are part of the government's program aimed at strengthening the integration of migrants into Finnish society.

In particular, these rules provide for a longer period of residence in the country, mandatory language requirements and confirmed work experience. We will tell you about the main changes for expats in Finland in January 2026 in this article.

To legally reside in another country, an expat must apply for a residence permit, which in the future gives the right to citizenship. The requirements and procedures vary significantly depending on the country.

The Immigration Guide from Visit World will help you quickly understand the current rules for obtaining a residence permit or citizenship in any country in the world.

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Main changes in the procedure for obtaining a residence permit in Finland

Starting in 2026, the standard period of continuous residence required to obtain a permanent residence permit will increase from 4 to 6 years.

In addition, applicants will have to:

- Demonstrate a sufficient level of proficiency in Finnish or Swedish;

- Have at least two years of work experience in Finland;

- Meet the requirements for integration, financial stability and compliance with the country's laws.

As emphasized by the Ministry of the Interior of Finland, the goal of the changes is to encourage foreigners to work, learn the language and adhere to the rules of Finnish society.

Who will be able to obtain a permit in 4 years?

Despite the general tightening of requirements, the possibility of obtaining a permanent residence permit after four years in Finland remains. However, to do so, the applicant must meet at least one of three additional conditions:

- Minimum annual income of 40,000 euros;

- Master's or doctoral degree recognized in Finland and two years of work experience in the country;

- High level of proficiency in Finnish or Swedish and three years of work experience in Finland.

At the same time, persons applying for a permit based on employment will be able to use unemployment benefits or social assistance for no more than three months during the relevant period.

Language requirements: how to prove knowledge of Finnish or Swedish?

Language proficiency will become a prerequisite for both a national permanent residence permit and an EU residence permit (P-EU).

Language proficiency levels will be determined according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR) – from the second lowest to the second highest level. You can confirm your knowledge by:

- Passing the National Certification Exam in Finnish or Swedish;

- Providing documents confirming completion of school, vocational or secondary education in Finnish or Swedish (for lower levels).

To pass the language test, it is sufficient to successfully pass at least two of the four subtests, which together confirm oral and written skills.

Work requirements: what counts?

Work is understood as paid work or entrepreneurship in a volume sufficient for financial independence without permanent social assistance.

Countable activities include:

- employment;

- entrepreneurship and self-employment;

- freelancing and so-called “light entrepreneurship”;

- work related to receiving a Finnish grant.

The applicant must have been in full-time or equivalent employment for 2-3 years prior to the application and not have an interruption of more than three months.

How can a child obtain a permanent residence permit?

There will be separate rules for children:

- A child can obtain a permanent residence permit without a minimum period of residence if their guardian has a permanent residence permit, a P-EU permit or Finnish citizenship. In this case, the language and work requirements do not apply;

- If there is no guardian in Finland, the child must have lived in the country for 4 years for a national permit or 5 years for an EU permit.

How will a criminal record affect the right to a residence permit?

The new rules provide for a stricter approach to offences. If the applicant has been sentenced to unconditional imprisonment, the period served in the sentence:

- is not counted towards the period of residence;

- after the sentence has been fully served, the required period of residence starts from zero.

What does this mean in practice?

The tightening of requirements means that Finland is increasingly focusing on economically active and integrated migrants. For foreigners planning to stay in the country for a long time, the following are key:

- stable work or business;

- learning Finnish or Swedish;

- no serious criminal record.

Those who already live in Finland or are planning to move should assess their situation in advance and prepare for the new requirements.

In order to legally move to another country and obtain a residence permit or citizenship, it is important to understand the requirements and procedures in advance. Each country has its own rules, which are constantly updated.

Visit World's “Immigration Guide” will help you quickly navigate all the relevant documents and the application system. All information is sent to your email in PDF format in just a few minutes.

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We remind you! Finland has significantly updated the procedure for obtaining citizenship, the new rules came into effect on December 17, 2025. We have already told you who can obtain Finnish citizenship, how to apply correctly, what documents are required and what has changed in the law.

Photo – Freepik

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Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents for Finland;

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Travel insurance for foreigners in Finland;

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