Finland / Business and start-up residence

Entrepreneurship in Finland

Finland has residence routes for active entrepreneurs and growth-oriented start-ups. Company ownership or passive investment alone does not grant residence.

Requirements can change and depend on your circumstances. Use the linked official guidance and your application instructions before making decisions.

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Finland: Business and entrepreneurship planning

Finland pathway details

Requirements and options to understand

Use these points to prepare. The Finnish authorities and institutions decide which route and documents apply to each case.

01

Entrepreneur residence permit

This route is for people who will actively work in their Finnish business and meet the legal definition of an entrepreneur.

  • The business usually needs registration in Finland’s Trade Register before a permit is granted.
  • The regional business authority assesses profitability using the business plan, financing and other evidence; Migri makes the residence-permit decision.
  • The business must provide a secure livelihood. If a new business has no turnover, other sufficient funds may need to be shown.
  • Simply owning shares in a Finnish company is not enough; the applicant must work in the business in Finland.

02

Start-up entrepreneur residence permit

This route is intended for founding teams building a new company with the potential for rapid international growth.

  • First obtain a positive start-up eligibility statement from Business Finland.
  • Business Finland assesses the business model, team capabilities and growth potential; a general small-business idea is not automatically eligible.
  • After the positive statement, apply to Migri and show sufficient personal funds for living costs.
  • Business Finland approval is an eligibility assessment, not a residence permit or a promise of funding.

03

No general investor visa

Finland does not provide a residence permit solely for passive investment or company ownership.

  • Choose the entrepreneur route if you will actively run a viable business.
  • Choose the start-up route only if the founding team and company meet Business Finland’s start-up criteria.
  • A short business visit is separate and does not authorize ordinary work or long-term residence.

04

Entry after a permit decision

Some applicants who have already received a residence-permit decision may qualify for a D visa to travel before receiving the residence-permit card.

  • A D visa is available only for specified permit categories and after the residence permit has been granted.
  • It is an entry document, not a separate basis for residence or business activity.
  • Check current eligibility and application steps with Migri and the Finnish mission.

A clear next-step plan

Prepare in a manageable sequence

  1. 01

    Choose the right route

    Decide whether the case is active entrepreneurship or a growth-oriented start-up.

  2. 02

    Prepare the business case

    Organise the business plan, team profile, financing and livelihood evidence.

  3. 03

    Obtain the required assessment

    For a start-up route, apply first to Business Finland for the eligibility statement.

  4. 04

    Apply to Migri

    Submit the residence application and prove identity through the required mission process.

Business and start-up residence

Questions to consider

These answers are general orientation, not a decision on eligibility or an application.

Can I get residence by buying a Finnish company?

Not through ownership alone. The entrepreneur route requires active work in a viable business and evidence of livelihood.

Does the start-up permit require investment funding?

The permit requires a positive Business Finland eligibility statement and sufficient personal funds. It is not itself a funding grant.

Can I apply for the permit after arriving as a visitor?

A first residence permit is generally applied for before arrival. Confirm the current application and identity-verification rules with Migri.

Official information

Rules and thresholds can change. Confirm the current details for your application with the responsible Finnish authority or institution.

Your Finland plans

Discuss your next step.

Share your goals and questions with our team.

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Photography credits

Images are cropped and colour-adjusted. Section images combine subject photography with a country landmark and do not imply an institutional partnership.

Adapted images: CC BY-SA 4.0.

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