Startup Permit
in Finland

This permit is intended for the founder and key project team members (co-founders).

Applicants must first obtain a positive Eligibility Statement from Business Finland. It is crucial that this statement is no more than four months old at the time of submitting the residence permit application. Business Finland evaluates and issues this statement based on the innovative potential and international scalability of your business plan submitted via the Enter Finland platform.

To qualify for the Startup Permit, applicants must have a startup team of at least two founders with diverse expertise who plan to relocate to Finland. They must have access to sufficient resources and funding for the company’s early development and secure financial means for personal support. The business plan should be innovative and demonstrate commitment to the business idea. The founding team is required to hold at least 60% ownership in the company and work full-time within it.

Embracing the Finnish permit allows you to immerse yourself in the quintessential Scandinavian lifestyle, renowned for its balance between work and leisure, deep connection with nature, and a strong emphasis on family and community well-being. This lifestyle is characterized by a commitment to sustainability, social equality, and a high quality of life, reflecting the values that make Scandinavia one of the happiest and most livable regions in the world.

The permit offers numerous advantages, such as access to Finnish public services and integration into the Finnish startup ecosystem. It provides potential tax incentives and opportunities for securing additional funding from public and private sources in Finland. Finland offers a robust support system for startups, with numerous grants available for both early-stage and more established companies. The process for accessing these grants is designed to be straightforward, ensuring that entrepreneurs can focus on innovation and growth without bureaucratic complexities.

Permit holders can enable their children to attend public schools at no cost and receive comprehensive public health insurance. After eight years of continuous residence, provided the primary residency in Finland are fulfilled along with a Finnish language test, applicants can apply for Finnish citizenship. Additional benefits include access to free or subsidized language courses for immigrants and the ability to exchange a foreign driving license for a Finnish one under specified conditions without additional testing. The permit also grants freedom to travel within the Schengen Area with a limitation of 90 days within any 180 day period and facilitates applying for visas to other countries such as the USA and UK.

Entrepreneurs and their dependents must demonstrate sufficient financial means to cover their stay in Finland. This includes a minimum of € 1220 per month for the main applicant and € 610 for a life partner, along with a total annual requirement of € 14,520 in the applicant’s bank account. The application fee for the first permit is € 400, and the expected processing time for an electronic application is approximately one month.

21 days

Our service process for teams of 2 to 3 founders involves a financial requirement of €6,000. If your team consists of more than 5 members, please contact us for further details.
The cost of our services varies depending on several factors, including the number of founders, the complexity of the business project, and the extent of services required.