How does Entrepreneur Residence Permit (Yrittaja) work in Finland, and who qualifies?

The Entrepreneur Residence Permit (Yrittaja) suits sole traders, partners, and majority-shareholding managers who personally work in their Finnish business. You will need your own Business ID, and you must work in the company in Finland. Eligibility also requires that you are a sole trader, a partner, or hold at least 30% of the shares or votes in a managerial role. First applications are submitted from abroad.

The key assessment is profitability: the regional Economic Development Centre evaluates whether the business can support you without reliance on social assistance. Because of this review, processing typically takes about a month, with a two-month legal maximum, and the first electronic permit fee is EUR 750.

If your venture is a scalable, growth-oriented startup rather than a conventional business, the separate Startup Entrepreneur permit — which runs through Business Finland and is faster — is likely the better fit. Always confirm the current requirements on migri.fi, and an ACME consultant can help you decide between the traditional entrepreneur route and the startup route.