Finland: Fast Track Processing for Specialists and Entrepreneurs and Introduction of D Visa

January 10, 2022

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Country / Territory

At a Glance

  • By June 2022, the government of Finland plans to launch a new visa type, the D visa, and a new fast-track service route for processing applications submitted by specialists and start-up entrepreneurs.
  • Both changes are intended to streamline immigration processes and attract skilled workers to Finland.

The situation

By June 2022, the government of Finland plans to launch a new visa type, the D visa, and a new fast-track service route for processing applications from specialists and start-up entrepreneurs.

Details of the new D visa and the fast-track service route are as follows:

Change Details Impact
Introduction of D Visa
    • The D visa will be issued for a period of up to one year. Additional details will be confirmed once the D visa has been implemented.
  • The D visa will allow individuals to travel to Finland as soon as their residence has been granted, instead of proving their identity abroad and having fingerprints taken for the residence permit card, as required in the current visa process.
  • Employers and foreign nationals will benefit from a faster entry process as foreign nationals will be able to move to Finland more quickly, including under the new pathway for specialists and start-up entrepreneurs set out below.
Fast-track service route introduced for specialists and start-up entrepreneurs.

    • To use this new processing route, eligible applicants will be required to submit and pay for the application online.

    • The process will be partially automated to ensure processing of approximately two to three weeks, down from approximately six to eight weeks.

 Foreign nationals who utilize the new fast-track route will be able to move to Finland and commence work faster than under a regular, non-fast track process, which should make the specialist and start-up entrepreneur visas more attractive to individuals.
  • Emphasis on attracting talent. The proposed changes to visas are intended to attract skilled workers to Finland by facilitating and streamlining the immigration process.
  • D visas. National D visas, which have been introduced in many European countries, are based on the Schengen Convention and allow for a longer stay than the short-term Schengen visas.

The government of Finland may introduce other measures to streamline residence permit processes.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

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