FinlandStarting a business
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
This pathway is for a founder who owns a recently founded start-up company aimed at growth, or who is about to establish a start-up company.
You are a start-up entrepreneur if you own a recently founded company that aims for growth or are about to establish a start-up company.
The applicant must own a recently founded start-up company aiming for growth, or be about to establish one, and must obtain a positive Eligibility Statement from Business Finland before applying. Only one member of a start-up team needs to apply for the statement and share it with the team; the statement must be no more than 4 months old when the permit application is submitted.
You either own a recently founded start-up company that aims for growth or are about to establish a start-up company. See the website of Business Finland (businessfinland.com) for information on what the start-up company must be like.
You must obtain a positive Eligibility Statement from Business Finland before you can apply for this permit.
Apply for an Eligibility Statement in Enter Finland. Only one person in your start-up team needs to apply for the statement and share it with the rest of the team.
Before you submit your residence permit application in Enter Finland, make sure that your Eligibility Statement is no more than 4 months old.
The central money test is means of support: in 2026 net income of at least EUR 1,210 / 1,090 / 1,030 per month depending on where the applicant lives, held in the applicant's own bank account and sufficient for at least one year. The money may consist of savings, income from the start-up, funding granted to the start-up or other regular income continuing during the stay.
In 2026, your net income must be at least EUR 1,210 / 1,090 / 1,030 per month, depending on where you live.
You must have the required sum in your own bank account. The money can consist of, for example, your savings, income from your start-up company, funding granted to your start-up company or of other regular income which continues during your entire stay in Finland.
You must have enough money for at least one year.
The holder's main activity must be start-up entrepreneurship, but the permit also allows other work in addition to running the start-up company. The official source does not state the family position.
When you live in Finland with a residence permit for start-up entrepreneurs, your main activity must be start-up entrepreneurship. However, your residence permit for start-up entrepreneurs also allows you to do other work in addition to running your start-up company.
A first residence permit for start-up entrepreneurs can be granted for two years, with sufficient financial resources required for the entire permit duration. The official page does not establish an extended-permit maximum or a route to permanent residence.
A first residence permit for start-up entrepreneurs can be granted for 2 years. You are required to have sufficient financial resources for the entire duration of your residence permit.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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Not legal advice. No eligibility verdict or ranking. Check the linked sources before applying.