What the Finnish Startup Permit Is
The Finnish Startup Permit is Finland's residence permit for non-EU founders building a growth company. It runs in two steps. Business Finland checks whether your startup can scale internationally and issues an Eligibility Statement. Then each founder applies to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) for their own residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur.
It is a team route. Business Finland asks for at least 2 founders who together hold at least 60% of the company (Business Finland). A solo founder does not fit the criteria as published. For teams that do fit, the payoff is speed: Migri's estimate for a first permit is 2 weeks in most cases (Migri processing times).
The Finnish Startup Permit at a Glance (2026)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa name | Finnish Startup Permit (Migri: residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur) |
| Who runs it | Business Finland (Eligibility Statement) and Migri (permit decision) |
| Initial permit | 2 years, if you have living funds for 2 years |
| Renewal | Extended permit for up to 4 years, only for the period your continuous income is proven |
| Funds requirement | Personal: net income of EUR 1,210, 1,090 or 1,030 per month depending on where you live, for at least 1 year. Company: "sufficient resources", no fixed amount published |
| Government fee | First permit EUR 650 online or EUR 800 on paper. The Eligibility Statement is currently free |
| Processing time | 2 weeks in most cases, legal maximum 2 months |
| Path to permanent residence | Standard route of 6 years since 8 January 2026, plus some 4-year routes |
| Official source | Migri: Start-up entrepreneur |
Who Qualifies
Business Finland assesses whether your business model, team and resources show potential for rapid international growth (Business Finland):
- An innovative idea. It must be distinct from existing solutions in global markets and able to grow fast internationally.
- A founding team. At least 2 founders holding at least 60% of the company. One of you applies for the shared Eligibility Statement and acts as the main contact.
- Committed founders. Versatile expertise, a concrete business plan, commitment to it, and full-time involvement in the company.
- Resources. Sufficient resources and funding for early-stage development, plus secure personal support.
Personal funds are not company capital
Migri's personal-support rule for 2026 is net income of at least EUR 1,210, EUR 1,090 or EUR 1,030 per month, depending on where in Finland you live. The money must sit in your own bank account and cover at least 1 year. A 2-year first permit requires enough to cover your living costs for 2 years (Migri). That is living money, not investment.
For the company, Business Finland asks for sufficient resources and funding but publishes no fixed minimum investment amount.
How to Apply
- Apply for the Eligibility Statement in Enter Finland. One founder applies for the whole team, attaching passport copies and CVs for every team member.
- Get a positive statement from Business Finland. You need it before you can file the start-up entrepreneur permit.
- File individual permit applications within 4 months. Each founder submits their own Migri application in Enter Finland. The statement must be no more than 4 months old on the day you apply.
- Apply from abroad. A first permit is applied for outside Finland. Extensions are applied for in Finland.
Fees and Processing Time
| Migri fee | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| First start-up entrepreneur permit | EUR 650 | EUR 800 |
| Extended permit | EUR 230 | EUR 430 |
Fees are from Migri's fee list. The Business Finland Eligibility Statement is currently free of charge.
Migri estimates 2 weeks in most cases for a first start-up entrepreneur permit, with a legal maximum of 2 months (Migri processing times). The route is eligible for Migri's fast track. That estimate covers Migri's decision only, so plan separate time for the Business Finland statement.
Permit Length, Renewal and Permanent Residence
The first permit can be granted for 2 years. An extended permit can last up to 4 years, but only for the period in which you can prove continuous income (Migri). The renewal length follows your proven income, not your plans.
Permanent residence rules changed on 8 January 2026 (Migri). The standard route now needs:
- 6 years in Finland on a continuous residence permit
- at least 2 years of Finnish work history
- satisfactory Finnish or Swedish (B1), not required from age 65
Faster 4-year routes exist with annual income over EUR 40,000, with a recognized foreign master's, licentiate or doctoral degree plus 2 years of Finnish work history, or with 3 years of Finnish work history plus C1 Finnish or Swedish. A Finnish degree with developing language skills can qualify without the usual residence period, and the EU long-term resident permit (P-EU) has a separate 5-year route.
Family Members
Eligible relatives apply on the basis of family ties. Migri counts a spouse, registered partner, cohabiting partner and an unmarried child under 18 in your custody (Migri family members). A spouse who applies at the same time as you, using fast track, can get a decision in 2 weeks.
What Changed in 2025-2026
- In force since 8 January 2026: the permanent-residence reform described above.
- Proposed, not in force: on 1 October 2026 the Government proposed dropping the separate, free Eligibility Statement application. Business Finland's assessment would move into the paid residence-permit application, and the startup-permit conditions would be written into law. It is scheduled to take effect on 12 January 2028 (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment).
If you apply today, the current two-step process applies.
Where Finland Fits vs Other Founder Visas
Finland suits a founding team with an innovative, international product that wants a startup-specific assessment and a fast permit decision. The weak spots: solo founders do not fit the published team criteria, and the standard path to permanent residence is now 6 years.
Compare any European route on three questions: who assesses the business, how personal funds are counted, and what renewal requires. Our guides to Estonia and the Netherlands cover two other startup-focused routes.
Line Up Investors Before You Relocate
Business Finland's criteria include sufficient resources and funding for early-stage development, so start investor conversations before you move. Round Funded covers 60,000+ active investors. Outreach goes from your own Gmail, so replies land in your inbox, and the Data Room is free.
Browse VC firms in Europe on Round Funded →
For programs on the ground, see accelerators in Helsinki and incubators in Finland.
Comparing nearby options? See the Sweden founder visa guide and Denmark founder visa guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a solo founder get the Finnish Startup Permit?
Not under Business Finland's published criteria, which ask for a team of at least 2 founders holding at least 60% of the company.
How much money do I need for the Finnish Startup Permit?
Migri requires net income of at least EUR 1,210, 1,090 or 1,030 per month in 2026, depending on where you live, in your own bank account for at least 1 year (2 years for a 2-year permit). Business Finland publishes no fixed company investment minimum.
How long does the Finnish Startup Permit take in 2026?
Migri's estimate for a first permit is 2 weeks in most cases, with a legal maximum of 2 months. The Business Finland statement comes first and sits outside that estimate.
When can a founder get permanent residence in Finland?
Since 8 January 2026, the standard route takes 6 years on a continuous residence permit, plus 2 years of Finnish work history and B1 Finnish or Swedish. Some 4-year routes exist, for example with annual income over EUR 40,000.
Is the Business Finland Eligibility Statement being abolished?
It is proposed, not decided. The Government's proposal would fold it into the paid permit application from 12 January 2028. Today, the separate free statement is still the first step.
The Bottom Line
Finland's Startup Permit is a fast, startup-specific route for founding teams of two or more. Get the Eligibility Statement first, file within 4 months, and keep your living money in your own account. Then put the time saved into your raise: start your investor list on Round Funded.
