Finland Entrepreneur permit

For self-employed entrepreneurs (sole trader, general partner, cooperative member or at least 30% shareholder in a managerial role); business must be profitable and registered in the Trade Register. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}

What you must show and pay

• Income of about EUR 15,000 a year (≈ $16,800) · Indicative net business income (after tax) of about EUR 15,000 (≈ $16,800) a year to secure the entrepreneur's livelihood. This is a general guideline in the Economic Development Centre's administrative practice, applied from 1 November 2024, not an amount set in law, and the Centre may adjust it; the business must also be profitable. ^{3 7 1}
• A fee of EUR 750 (≈ $840) · Online first permit (paper EUR 900 (≈ $1,010)); extended EUR 230 (≈ $260) online. ¹

Requirements

• Applicant is a sole trader, general partner, cooperative member with unlimited liability, or manager of a limited company. ¹
• A company manager holds at least 30% of the share capital or votes, or has similar authority. ¹
• The business is registered in the Trade Register and has a Business ID. ¹
• The owner works in the company in Finland. ¹
• Freelancers and light entrepreneurs working through an invoicing service company cannot apply. ¹
• The business is profitable and secures the entrepreneur's livelihood, as assessed by the Economic Development Centre. ^{1 3}
• The guideline for sufficient livelihood is about EUR 15,000 (≈ $16,800) net per year. ³
• In the early stage, livelihood can come from employment income, start-up funding or own funds. ³
• A business plan, a two-year financial forecast and premises documents are submitted. ¹
• Bank statements for the past three months show own funds, if used for the start-up phase. ¹
• The Economic Development Centre decides first, then the Finnish Immigration Service. ¹
• The first permit is applied for abroad. ¹

Stay

• The first fixed-term residence permit is granted for one year unless a shorter period is applied for. The Economic Development Centre's decision states the period for which the entrepreneur permit can be granted and whether it is temporary or continuous. An extended permit can be granted for up to four years if the conditions for the permit are still met.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

No limits on the right to work, but income must come mainly from the business.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Residence permit for an entrepreneur · Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) · checked 2026-10-11
2. Income requirement for work-based permits · Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) · checked 2026-10-11
3. Immigration of entrepreneurs: indicative livelihood guideline · Economic Development Centre (Elinvoimakeskus) · checked 2026-10-11
4. Aliens Act 301/2004 (consolidated text, Finlex) · Finlex, Ministry of Justice of Finland · checked 2026-10-11
5. Extended permit on the basis of employment · Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) · checked 2026-10-11
6. Extended permit · Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) · checked 2026-10-11
7. Immigration of entrepreneurs: indicative income guideline for the entrepreneur residence permit · Economic Development Centre in Uusimaa (Uudenmaan elinvoimakeskus, successor of the ELY Centre) · checked 2026-10-11
8. Permanent residence rules effective 8 January 2026 · Finnish Immigration Service · checked 2026-10-11
9. Citizenship for adults (residence period 8 years from 1 October 2024) · Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) · checked 2026-10-11
10. Period of residence for Finnish citizenship · Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) · checked 2026-10-11