Finland: Permanent Residence Eligibility Restrictions Forthcoming

Effective January 8, 2026, permanent residence permit requirements will become more restrictive as follows: 

• The period of residence required to obtain a permanent residence permit will be extended to six years (up from the current four). 
• Applicants will need to show sufficient Finnish or Swedish language skills; whereas currently there are no language requirements. 
• Applicants will need to show two years of work history; whereas currently this is not required. 

Among various exceptions, it will still be possible to obtain a permanent residence permit based on a four-year period of residence if the applicant has:  

• a minimum annual income of EUR 40,000 
• a master’s degree or a postgraduate degree recognised in Finland and two years of work experience in Finland; or 
• high proficiency in Finnish or Swedish and three years of work experience in Finland. 

Additionally, children may obtain a permanent residence permit without the required length of residence if his or her guardian has a permanent residence permit, a P-EU residence permit, or Finnish citizenship. The child applicant will not be subject to the Finnish or Swedish language proficiency and work history requirements. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.