How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?
Migri says a first Finnish residence permit is usually valid for at most one year, with the actual period depending on its grounds. An extended work-based permit can be issued for up to four years, with its duration linked to the employment relationship. For this intergovernmental-agreement route, an extended-permit application can only be submitted in Finland; Migri assesses whether the applicant’s salary and income have been sufficient. Work under an intergovernmental agreement is among the continuous (A) permit grounds that may support an application for permanent residence. For permanent-residence applications submitted from 8 January 2026, one path requires six consecutive years on an A or Brexit permit, two years of Finnish work history, and B1 Finnish or Swedish; the language requirement does not apply at age 65 or over and individual health-based derogations can be possible. A separate path requires four consecutive years on an A or Brexit permit and at least EUR 40,000 in earned plus capital income in the most recently completed tax assessment after subtracting taxable social benefits. Migri instructs applicants on these paths to apply for permanent residence before their current continuous permit expires. Permanent-residence applicants must still meet the requirements for a continuous A permit. These are general Migri paths, not an automatic entitlement for every holder of the intergovernmental-agreement permit.
See recorded sources
- https://migri.fi/en/residence-permit-types
A first residence permit is usually granted for one year at the most. A permit may also be valid for a shorter or longer period, depending on the grounds for the permit.
- https://migri.fi/en/residence-permit-types
An extended permit can be issued for up to four years. If you hold a residence permit that was granted on the basis of work, the duration of the extended permit depends on the duration of your employment relationship.
- https://migri.fi/en/permanent-residence-permit
When you apply for a permanent residence permit, the following grounds for a continuous residence permit (A permit) can be accepted as the basis for your application:
- https://migri.fi/en/permanent-residence-permit
Work that is part of an intergovernmental agreement
- https://migri.fi/en/application-for-a-permanent-residence-permit
Requirements for permanent residence permit if the application has been submitted on or after 8 January 2026
- https://migri.fi/en/application-for-a-permanent-residence-permit
Application path: Residence of 6 years
This application path is suitable for you if you have lived in Finland for at least 6 years under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit, you have at least 2 years of work history in Finland, and your Finnish or Swedish language skills are at a
satisfactory
level (level B1). If you are 65 or over, the language skills requirement does not apply to you.
- https://migri.fi/en/application-for-a-permanent-residence-permit
In individual cases, derogation from the language skills requirement may be possible for reasons of health. Read more about the language skills requirement and derogation from it on the page
Language skills requirement.
- https://migri.fi/en/application-for-a-permanent-residence-permit
You have worked in Finland for at least 2 years by the time you apply for a permanent residence permit.
If you are on old-age pension, the work history requirement must have been met before you retired on old-age pension.
In individual cases, derogation from the work history requirement may be possible for reasons of health.
- https://migri.fi/en/application-for-a-permanent-residence-permit
Application path: Annual income of EUR 40,000
This application path is suitable for you if you have resided in Finland for at least 4 years under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit. Your income subject to income tax, meaning your earned income and capital income before taxes, must be at least EUR 40,000 in the most recently completed tax assessment process.
1
Make sure you meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit
You have resided in Finland under a continuous residence permit (A permit) or a Brexit permit for at least 4 consecutive years.
Apply for a permanent residence permit before your current continuous residence permit expires.
If you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of refugee status or subsidiary protection status, your period of residence has started on the day on which you arrived in Finland.
For more information, see the page
Period of residence requirement
.
You have an annual income of at least EUR 40,000
Your income subject to income tax, meaning your earned income and capital income before taxes, must be at least EUR 40,000 in the most recently completed tax assessment process.
You can check your income in the tax decision in the
MyTax (vero.fi)
online service. Make sure that you get the details from the tax decision for the most recently completed tax assessment process. Everyone has their own end date for the tax assessment process, meaning that the end date is different for every individual.
Add up the earned income and capital income from the most recently completed tax assessment process. Subtract from this sum any social benefits that are subject to tax (for example unemployment allowance and sickness allowance).
- https://migri.fi/en/intergovernmental-agreement
If you apply for this permit as a first residence permit, you must submit the application abroad. Applications for an extended permit can only be submitted in Finland.
- https://migri.fi/en/intergovernmental-agreement
When you apply for an extended permit, the Finnish Immigration Service will assess whether your salary and income have been sufficient.
- https://migri.fi/en/application-for-a-permanent-residence-permit
You still meet the requirements for a continuous residence permit (A permit).
