Canreach Global

Finland Start-up Entrepreneur Residence Permit

A residence permit for founders who will build and run a real business in Finland. This is not an investor visa, and Finland has no golden visa.

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Finland's Start-up Entrepreneur Residence Permit is built for founders who want to operate a genuine business in one of Europe's leading innovation environments. There is no minimum net worth and no fixed investment requirement. What is assessed instead is the quality, viability and growth potential of your business, through a positive Eligibility Statement from Business Finland. If you are looking to place capital and receive residence without running anything, Finland is not the country for that, and we will tell you so at the first conversation.

Key facts

Finland Start-up Entrepreneur Permit at a glance

OutcomeA Finnish residence permit as a start-up entrepreneurMinimum investmentNo minimum net worth or fixed investment requirement. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support themselves in Finland and obtain a positive Eligibility Statement from Business FinlandInvestment routesOne permit route rather than an investment route. The start-up entrepreneur route, requiring a positive Business Finland Eligibility StatementTime to approvalApproximately two weeks for the Migri decision under Migri's fast-track service, where eligible. Overall processing varies, because the Business Finland assessment and the preparation of the business take additional time on top of thatFamily includedEligible family members may apply for residence on family grounds, subject to the family-reunification and income requirementsPhysical presenceConfirmed case by case. This is an active route, so you are expected to be in Finland running the business rather than holding it at a distance

Figures as of October 2026. Amounts and timelines change and are confirmed before you commit.

The program

About the Finland Start-up Entrepreneur Residence Permit

Finland has no passive golden visa. There is no residence permit and no citizenship route in Finland that is granted in exchange for buying property, subscribing to a fund or placing a deposit. Visitors who arrive looking for a Finnish investor visa are looking for something that does not exist. What does exist is a residence permit for people who will actively found and run a company in Finland.

Canreach Global offers the Start-up Entrepreneur Residence Permit. It requires a positive Eligibility Statement from Business Finland, the public body that assesses whether the business is the kind of innovative, growth-oriented venture the route was designed for. That statement must be valid at the point the permit application is filed.

The residence permit itself is decided by Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service. Business Finland assesses the business idea. Migri decides your right to reside. First residence permit applications are generally made from abroad, so the planning happens before you move, not after.

The permit is a residence permit, not a status that settles your long term position. Permanent residence and citizenship are separate, later applications, and they are never granted because of a business.

Benefits

Why clients choose the Finland start-up entrepreneur route

  1. Residence in Finland while you develop and operate the qualifying business.

  2. Access to Finland's respected start-up, technology and innovation ecosystem.

  3. Potential family relocation under the applicable family residence rules.

  4. A route that is assessed on the business you are actually building, rather than on the size of a cheque.

  5. A pathway that can support longer-term residence planning, when the separate later requirements are independently satisfied.

Is it for you

Who the Finland start-up entrepreneur route suits

This route is for active founders. It is designed for growth-oriented businesses that obtain a positive Business Finland Eligibility Statement. It is not a passive investor visa and should not be planned as one.

Main applicant

  • A founder or entrepreneur who will genuinely run the business in Finland.
  • Able to present a credible business plan with financing, ownership and forecasts behind it.
  • Able to obtain and hold a valid positive Business Finland Eligibility Statement.
  • Able to show sufficient financial resources to support yourself in Finland for the whole permit period, separately from the funding of the business.

Family members who can be included

Eligible family members may apply for residence on family grounds, subject to the family-reunification and income requirements. Family members applying alongside an eligible fast-track start-up founder can also use the fast-track procedure where the requirements are met. We confirm exactly who in your family qualifies during your assessment.

Not the right fit

This program is not the right fit if you want to invest capital and receive residence without operating a business, or if you are looking for a Finnish golden visa or a direct route to a Finnish passport. Neither exists.

Investment

Approximate investment and costs

The qualifying position

No minimum net worth or fixed investment requirement.
There is no set amount of capital that qualifies you.
A positive Business Finland Eligibility Statement, valid at the time the permit application is filed. This is what the route turns on.
Sufficient financial resources to support yourself in Finland, required throughout the permit period and in addition to the funding of the business itself.

Other costs to budget for

The Finnish government application fee, paid when you submit through Enter Finland.
Fees for identity verification and biometrics at the required service point or mission.
Company formation, accounting and local advisory costs in Finland.
Extension application fees when you renew before expiry.
Canreach professional fees, quoted separately after your assessment.

Figures as at October 2026 and confirmed with Canreach. Government requirements change; we confirm current figures before you commit.

Request program details

Outcome

What you receive

Status and documents

A residence permit as a start-up entrepreneur, issued as a residence card once Migri has decided your application.

Travel

A Finnish residence permit is a residence document, not a travel guarantee. Travel rules are set by the countries you visit and can change, so we confirm the current position with you rather than presenting travel access as a benefit of the permit.

Living, working and studying

Residence in Finland while you build and operate the business. The permit allows your main activity to be the start-up, and it also permits other work in addition to running the start-up.

Family

Eligible family members may apply for residence on family grounds, subject to the family-reunification and income requirements. Where the main applicant qualifies for the fast-track start-up procedure, family members applying with them can also use it when the requirements are met.

Financial and business

A company of your own inside Finland's start-up and innovation ecosystem. Business performance is never guaranteed, and it is a separate matter from the immigration outcome.

Tax considerations

Unlike a passive residence program with a low minimum stay, this is a relocation route, so your personal tax position is likely to change when you move and start operating a company in Finland. Tax treatment depends on your personal circumstances and where you are tax resident. We refer you to qualified tax advisors before you commit.

Path to permanent residence or citizenship

Progression to permanent residence is possible later, but Finland changed its permanent residence rules in January 2026, and applicants must meet the applicable residence, work or integration and language requirements. Permanent residence and citizenship are separate, later applications. Neither is guaranteed by the business.

Before you apply

What to know before you apply

  • Finland has no passive golden visa. Active founders may qualify for the Start-up Entrepreneur Residence Permit, and that is the route this page covers.
  • A positive Business Finland Eligibility Statement is required, and it must be valid when the permit application is filed.
  • Sufficient financial resources to support yourself in Finland are required throughout the permit period, not only at the point of application.
  • First residence permit applications are generally made from abroad, so the sequencing has to be planned before you relocate.
  • Permanent residence and citizenship are separate, later applications and are not guaranteed by business investment. Finland changed its permanent residence rules in January 2026 and applicants must meet the applicable residence, work or integration and language requirements.
  • The business carries ordinary commercial risk. Your permit depends on maintaining the business and income conditions.

Step by step

How the application works

  1. Confirm the fit

    We confirm with you that the start-up entrepreneur route suits your business before any work begins.

  2. Obtain the Business Finland statement

    We support the application for a positive Business Finland Eligibility Statement, which must be in place and valid when the permit application is filed.

  3. Build the file

    Business plan, financing, ownership, forecasts and proof of living funds.

  4. Submit and pay

    File through Enter Finland and pay the government fee.

  5. Verify your identity

    Attend the required service point or mission for identity verification and biometrics.

  6. Receive the decision

    Collect your residence card, then maintain the business and income conditions.

  7. Renew on time

    Apply for an extension before expiry. Permanent residence and citizenship are separate processes.

Migri decides eligible start-up entrepreneur applications in approximately two weeks under its fast-track service, where eligible. That two week estimate covers the Migri decision alone and is not the end-to-end timeline, because the Business Finland assessment and the preparation of the business take additional time before the permit application can be filed. Government processing times vary and change. We confirm a current, realistic timeline with you case by case at the assessment stage, and keep you updated as your file moves.

Preparation

Documents and our pre-filing review

Documents we help you prepare

Passport; Business Finland statement where applicable; business plan; registration and ownership evidence; financing evidence; bank statements; contracts; and family records.

Our pre-filing review

Before anything is filed we work through: nationality and residence history, family composition, criminal history, sanctions and politically exposed person screening, source and path of funds, tax advice, investment and project due diligence, translations and legalisation, current government fees, and holding and exit rules.

Questions

Finland start-up entrepreneur permit questions, answered

Does Finland have a golden visa or an investor visa?
No. Finland has no passive golden visa and no investment-based residence or citizenship program. The route available is the Start-up Entrepreneur Residence Permit, and it requires you to actively run a qualifying business.
How much do I have to invest?
There is no minimum net worth and no fixed investment requirement. The route turns on a positive Business Finland Eligibility Statement. Separately from the funding of the business, you must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support yourself in Finland throughout the permit period.
What is the Business Finland Eligibility Statement?
It is the assessment of your business by Business Finland that this route requires. Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service, decides the residence permit itself, but a positive statement must be in place and valid when the permit application is filed.
Can I apply after I arrive in Finland?
First residence permit applications are generally made from abroad. We plan the sequence with you before you move.
Can my family come with me?
Eligible family members may apply for residence on family grounds, subject to the family-reunification and income requirements. Family members applying with an eligible fast-track start-up founder can also use the fast-track procedure where the requirements are met.
Can I do other work as well as run my start-up?
The permit allows your main activity to be the start-up and also permits other work in addition to running it.
Will this give me permanent residence or a Finnish passport?
Not automatically, and not because of the business. Permanent residence and citizenship are separate, later applications. Finland changed its permanent residence rules in January 2026, and applicants must meet the applicable residence, work or integration and language requirements.

Official program source

The residence permit is decided by Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service, at migri.fi. The Eligibility Statement this route requires is issued by Business Finland, at businessfinland.fi.

Canreach draws program information from the official program authority and confirms current rules, fees and requirements before any file is submitted.

Next step

Take the next step

Schedule a confidential program assessment. We will confirm whether the Finland Start-up Entrepreneur Residence Permit fits your business and your family, or point you to a program that fits better, and prepare a tailored roadmap covering eligibility, the Business Finland stage, documentation and the expected government process.

  • A confidential assessment of your goals, your family and your budget
  • A written comparison of the programs that fit
  • Clear estimates of costs and timelines before you commit to anything
Phone: 905-696-7434
Email: info@canreach.com