Obtaining a permanent residence permit would require language skills and work history in the future

According to the government's proposal, the conditions for a permanent residence permit would be tightened, among other things, by extending the continuous period of residence required for the permit. In the future, applicants would also be required to have knowledge of Finnish or Swedish and a work history of a certain length. The legislative amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 8 January 2026.

The continuous period of residence required for a permanent residence permit would be extended from four years to six years. When an applicant has resided in Finland for six years, as a rule, they could be granted a permanent residence permit on condition that their proficiency in either Finnish or Swedish is satisfactory and they have two years of work experience in Finland. 

Obtaining a permanent residence permit based on a four-year period of residence would still be possible. However, the applicant would have to meet one of the following three additional requirements: 1) a minimum annual income of EUR 40,000, 2) a master’s degree or a postgraduate degree recognised in Finland and two years of work experience in Finland, and 3) high proficiency in Finnish or Swedish and three years of work experience in Finland. 

If the applicant meets the work experience requirement, it would also be required that they have only used unemployment security or social assistance for a maximum of three months.

Read more about the conditions for a permanent residence permit in the Ministry of the Interior's press release of 5 June 2025: Government to tighten conditions for permanent residence permits