Finland tightens criteria for permanent residence permit

The four-party alliance government led by the Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) stiffened criteria for getting permanent residence permit in Finland.

The President on Monday approved the relevant amendments to the Aliens Act brought by the government earlier and the amendments will enter into force on 8 January 2026, said the Ministry of the Interior in a press release.

According to the new law, the continuous period of residence required for the permit will be extended and applicants will also be required to demonstrate proficiency in Finnish or Swedish and have a work history of a certain length.

“In line with the Government Programme, applicants will be required to comply with the rules of society, and to work and to study the language,” said Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen in the press release.

As per the new law, the continuous period of residence required for a permanent residence permit will be extended from four to six years.

When applicants have resided in Finland for six years, as a rule, they may be granted a permanent residence permit on condition that their proficiency in either Finnish or Swedish is satisfactory and they have been working in Finland for two years.

If an alien has been sentenced to unconditional imprisonment, the uninterrupted authorised period of residence will be interrupted and its calculation will start from the beginning once the sentence has been served in full.

Obtaining a permanent residence permit based on a four-year period of residence would still be possible, but the applicant would have to meet one of the three additional requirements- a minimum annual income of EUR 40,000, a Master’s degree or a postgraduate degree recognised in Finland together a two-year work history and particularly good skills in the Finnish or Swedish language together with a three-year work history.

If the applicant meets the work experience requirement, it would also be required that they have only used unemployment security or social assistance for a maximum of three months.

Applicants who have completed a master’s degree, a postgraduate degree or a university bachelor’s degree in Finland may obtain a permanent residence permit without having to meet the required period of residence in terms of years.

In such a case, a certain standard of proficiency in Finnish or Swedish will also be required.

Earlier, the government on June 5, 2025 submitted the bill to Parliament for amending the Aliens Act in this regard.

In January 2025, the government has proposed stiffen criteria for getting permanent residence permit in Finland.

The government in early March, 2024 took the initiative to stiffen the criteria for getting permanent residence permit in Finland.

In July 2024, the parliament passed the government proposal to bring legislative amendments extending the period of residence required for Finnish citizenship to eight years from five years.

On June 16, 2023, leaders of the ruling parties announced the programme, which included tougher immigration, residence and citizenship laws.

The government tightened the immigration policy despite strong protest by different groups.

Separate demonstrations were held in Helsinki on June 27, 2023 and June 18,2023 protesting against the immigration policy taken by the government.

Several hundreds of people went on demonstrations in Helsinki in August, 2023 protesting against the move.