Stricter requirements for issuing residence permits in Finland

As of 1 September 2024, amendments to the Aliens Act have been introduced stricter requirements for issuing residence permits in Finland.

The purpose of the legislative changes is to more effectively prevent evasion of provisions on entry into the country and to ensure that greater focus is placed on unethical or fraudulent behaviour, as well as cases of abuse, when evaluating residence permit applications. Here we will provide information about situations in which the Finnish Immigration Service may not issue a residence permit in Finland.

Employers can use employees latest tax card, valid in December 2024 in case the employer does not know the withholding percentage of the employee for the year in question at the time of payment. Because the income ceiling of the 2025 tax card is calculated for the whole year, the employer must also take the payments made in January into account when keeping an eye on the income ceiling of the tax card that is in force from 1 January 2025 onwards, regardless of whether tax has been withheld at the rate stated in the tax card for 2025 or 2024.

1. Applying for a first residence permit in Finland

According to the Aliens Act, an application for a first residence permit cannot usually be submitted in Finland, but it has to be submitted outside Finland. Applicant may get a negative residence permit decision if he or she applies for a first residence permit in Finland.

2. Applying for a residence permit without having a passport issued by your country of nationality

When applicant applies for a residence permit, he or she has to have a valid passport issued by applicant’s country of nationality. If applicant has just for example a refugee travel document or an alien’s passport issued either by Finland or some other country, he or she cannot get a residence permit in Finland.

3. Applying for a residence permit in Finland within five years of receiving support for voluntary return granted by Finland

When applying for a residence permit, applicant may not necessarily get a permit if he or she has left Finland less than five years ago and has received support for the purpose of settling either in applicant’s home country or some other country. However, if applicant has been granted support for voluntary return before 1 September 2024, this alone cannot lead to a negative residence permit decision.

4. The applicant’s own actions will be given more weight when reviewing application

For example, the following situations can result in a negative residence permit decision in Finland:

• • The applicant gives the authorities false information about his/her identity or nationality or the true purpose of applicant’s stay in Finland.
  • The applicant has presented forged documents.
  • The applicant has illegally resided in Finland.
  • The applicant has knowingly worked illegally in Finland without having the right to work.
  • The applicant has submitted a manifestly unfounded application so, that he or she wouldn’t have to leave the country.
  • If the applicant has tried to mislead the authorities in some other way.

5, Applying for a new permit after your previous permit has expired

It’s worth applying for an extended permit or a permanent residence permit before applicant’s current residence permit will expire. Applicant can get a negative decision if she or he applies for an extended permit or a permanent residence permit after applicant’s previous permit has expired.

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