Finnish authorities announced updated requirements for issuing residence permits through amendments to the Aliens Act.

Key Points:

• Effective immediately, stricter requirements are in place — including identification requirements — for residence permit applicants as part of recent amendments to the Aliens Act.
• Officials provided guidance regarding situations where residence permits may not be issued, including:
  • Individuals may receive a negative residence permit decision if they apply for a first residence permit in Finland.
    • The recent legislative amendments to the Aliens Act will apply a stricter approach to applications for a first residence permit that are submitted in-country.
  • Applicants must now have a valid passport issued by their country of nationality.
  • Finally, applicants may not qualify for a residence permit if they have left Finland less than five years ago and received assistance for the purpose of settling in their home or other country.
• Individuals granted assistance for voluntary return before Sept. 1 will not be impacted.

Additional Information: Some applicants may still apply for a first residence permit in-country, such as family members of Finnish citizens, children born in Finland and family members of a student or researcher who are applying for a residence permit for study or research. Officials stated that each application will be examined individually.

BAL Analysis: All residence permit applications submitted before Sept. 1 that have not yet received a decision will have the new requirements applied. The government hopes to prevent evasion of provisions on entry into the country more effectively and enhance the reliability of identity verification to prevent situations of abuse.