Changes in application for a worker’s residence permit from 1 January 2012

The practices at the work permit units of the Employment and Economic Development Offices of Uusimaa, Tampere, and Lappeenranta will change with effect from the beginning of 2012. The changes are due to legislation on the basis of which Finland will introduce biometric residence permit cards. The cards will incorporate, for example, fingerprints. For this reason, the work permit units will not accept worker's residence permit applications after 1 January 2012. 

As a result of the change, there may be delays in the processing of applications in the early part of the year. The work permit units will carry on providing advisory services for employers in relation to workers' residence permit issues also in 2012.

Foreign employees to be responsible for submitting their own application

From the beginning of 2012, foreign employees must submit their own residence permit application. Employers will no longer be able to take care of the matter on behalf of their employees. In future, employees will have to send their residence permit application to the nearest diplomatic mission of Finland or, if in Finland, to a district police department. The work permit units of the Employment and Economic Development Offices will no longer accept applications.

The work permit units will carry on providing advisory services for employers in relation to workers' residence permit issues also in 2012. If necessary, employers can also request in writing for advance information about granting the worker’s residence permit. For foreign employees, the work permit units will carry on making preliminary decisions as part of the processing of residence permit applications.

Residence permit applications in Finland to be submitted to the police in all cases

From next year, the employee’s first residence permit must usually be applied for at a Finnish diplomatic mission overseas, as before. With the New Year, employees will be able to submit an application for extension to a residence permit in Finland only at a district police department. Although the place where the application is submitted will change, the application must include, as before, the form issued by the Employment and Economic Development Office and signed by the employer or client with assurances of, for example, the key terms and conditions of employment.

For the purpose of the biometric residence permit card to be introduced at the beginning of the New Year, fingerprints will be collected from all foreign employees applying for a residence permit and the fingerprints will be recorded in the Register of Aliens. When one is applying for a permit extension or a permanent residence permit, fingerprints will be collected again.

Employees to supplement residence permit applications in Finland

If a foreigner has submitted an employee’s residence permit application in Finland before 1 January 2012 but will not receive a decision on the application before the end of 2011, said person must visit a district police department to supplement the application. He or she will be fingerprinted for the purpose of a biometric residence permit. However, applications submitted at Finnish missions abroad before 1 January 2012 need not be supplemented even if the decision is not made before the end of 2011.   

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