Finland: New Residence Permit Application Requirements

Key Points  

• Finland will now require all residence permit applicants to provide proof of a valid passport issued by their country of nationality  

Updated October 2025

The Finnish Immigration Service has clarified its definition of “national travel document” and outlined new procedures for determining citizenship status. These updates may affect applicants with dual nationality, stateless status or non-standard travel documents. See our latest alert for full details. 

Overview  

The government of Finland announced that starting 1 September 2024, residence permit applicants must submit a valid passport from their country of nationality.  

Previously, applicants could use passports from other countries, including Finland, or third-country travel documents if they could not obtain a passport from their home country.  

Now, with limited exceptions, applicants who do not provide a passport from their country of nationality will not be eligible for a residence permit. This new rule also applies to applications submitted before 1 September 2024. As a result, some applicants and their employers may face more difficulties obtaining a residence permit. 

Looking Ahead  

Continue to check Finland’s government website and Envoy Global’s website for the latest updates and information.