Eligibility quiz
Was at least one of your grandparents a Finnish citizen at birth?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Finland
You can live in Finland until the end date on your permit.
You can enter and leave Finland with a valid passport and residence-permit card.
Study in Finland
You can study in Finland without a separate student permit.
Work in Finland
You can work without restrictions, including changing employers, without a separate work permit.
Visit Schengen countries
You may be able to make short visits to Schengen countries with a valid passport and residence-permit card, if you meet the destination’s entry rules.
This does not give you the right to settle there.
Use public healthcare
Public healthcare is generally available if you are resident in Finland and covered by a municipality.
Workplace or student healthcare may also be available, but treatment is not automatically free.
Receive social support
If you are assessed as permanently resident for social security, you can generally receive social security benefits.
Your entitlement may end if you move abroad or are away for more than six months.
How to apply
Applying at a consulateApplying at a consulate
Find your consulate
Find the Finnish consulate or embassy that serves the country where you live. Its instructions will tell you if you can apply at an application centre instead.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Finnish consulate serves your city for a residence permit based on Finnish origin?”
Download the application form
Download the Residence permit application for former Finnish citizens, OLE_EN. It also includes the option for a descendant of a Finnish citizen.
Download the formFill in the form
Fill in and sign the form, choosing the option for a descendant of a Finnish citizen. Give your parents' information and, if you apply through a grandparent, your grandparent's information.
Find form instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the OLE_EN residence permit application for Finnish origin?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your application.
See required documentsBook an appointment
Book an appointment using the instructions from the Finnish consulate, embassy or application centre that serves you.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book an appointment for a Finnish origin residence permit at the Finnish consulate serving your city?”
Go to your appointment
Bring your signed application, passport and required documents to your appointment, and have your identity and fingerprints taken. Pay the processing fee at the Finnish mission using a payment method it accepts; ask about payment when booking if you are applying at an application centre.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “What do I bring to my Finnish origin residence permit appointment at the Finnish consulate serving your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait abroad for the Finnish Immigration Service to decide, and send any further information it asks for. Do not start working before your permit is granted.
See processing informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Finnish origin residence permit application take in Finland?”
Get your permit card
Once your application is approved, follow the mission's instructions to get your residence permit card. You can then travel to Finland in line with your permit and the entry rules.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get my Finnish origin residence permit card from the Finnish consulate serving your city?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get birth certificates for yourself, your parent and your Finnish grandparent. If names differ across your records, include certificates of the name changes. If you cannot document a family tie, include a written explanation.
Grandparent's citizenship records
Get official certificates showing that your Finnish grandparent was a Finnish citizen by birth. These can include certificates from a Finnish parish or the Finnish National Archives.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Permission can end
Your permission to stay ends on its expiry date, so apply to extend it before then if you want to stay on the same basis.
It can be taken away if you no longer qualify, gave important false information, or pose a risk to public order, security or health.
It can also end if you are removed from Finland.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Expats & Foreigners in Finland
English Facebook group for people living in Finland interested in Finnish visas
Join on Facebookr/AnchorLessEurope
English Reddit group for people living in Europe interested in visas
Join on RedditForeigners in Finland
English Facebook group for people living in Finland interested in Finnish local life
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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