Finland entrepreneur residence permit in 2026
The ordinary entrepreneur permit is for people who will genuinely run qualifying business activity in Finland. Owning a company is not enough.
Who can use the route
Migri lists qualifying forms such as private traders, partners in general partnerships, general partners in limited partnerships, certain cooperative members with unlimited liability, and qualifying entrepreneurs in limited liability companies.
Applicants normally need their own Business ID and business registration where required.
You must work in the business
A person cannot obtain this permit merely by holding shares or registering a company. The applicant must actually work in the company in Finland.
The route also does not treat a so-called light entrepreneur working only through an invoicing service company as an entrepreneur for this permit.
Profitability and two-stage decision
The business operations must be profitable, and the entrepreneur's means of support must be secured through income from the business.
Processing has two stages. First, an Economic Development Centre evaluates business viability and livelihood and issues the relevant partial assessment. Migri then decides the residence-permit application and the general immigration requirements.
Right to work
A person granted the entrepreneur residence permit has broad work rights, but the principal livelihood must continue to come from the business because entrepreneurship is the permit ground.
Startup founders may have a different route
A growth-oriented founder may instead fit the start-up entrepreneur route, which requires a Business Finland Eligibility Statement. The two routes should not be marketed as interchangeable "startup visas".
Settlement and tax
Business registration, VAT or tax registration do not create residence rights. Permanent residence is a later immigration status assessed under the 2026 permanent-residence rules.
Related: startup entrepreneur, remote work, Finland hub, methodology, and legal disclaimer.
Official and supporting sources
- Migri — Residence permit for an entrepreneurgovernment · accessed 2026-09-20
- Migri — Work-based residence permitsgovernment · accessed 2026-09-20