Difference between A1, A2, A3 and A4 visas

[Cleber]

Hi,

For what I know A residence permits are 'continuous work and residence permits'.
Now, I'm applying for council housing and they have this menu on their website that forces me to choose between A1, A2, A3 and A4 visas.
How do I know which one is mine? My passport only states 'A.UVI'

Regards,

Cleber

[Hank W.]

I think thats the old system where A1 was employed, A2 was family reasons... etc.

[sy]

This is from the Decree 131/2002, which is not valid anymore.

A.1 Oleskelulupa on myönnetty suomalaisen syntyperän tai muun Suomeen olevan siteen perusteella.

A.2 Oleskelulupa on myönnetty pitkäaikaiseksi arvioidun ammattitaitoisen työvoiman tarpeen johdosta.

A.3 Henkilölle on annettu turvapaikka (UlkL 30 §), oleskelulupa suojelun tarpeen perusteella (UlkL 31 §) tai hänelle on myönnetty oleskelulupa pakolaiskiintiön puitteissa tai muutoin painavasta humanitaarisesta syystä (UlkL 18 § 1 mom. 4 kohta).

A.4 Muu kuin edellä mainittu henkilö, joka oleskelee maassa pysyväisluonteisesti.

A.5 A-ryhmään kuuluvan henkilön tai Suomen kansalaisen perheenjäsen silloin, kun oleskeluluvan myöntäminen perustuu ainoastaan perheenjäsenen maassa oleskeluun.

In short:
A.1 Finnish trait or based on family ties
A.2 For work which has long-term labor shortage
A.3 Refugees (roughly)
A.4 Other permanent reasons (many people have been issued 2 years of B.1, then 2 years of A.4, then 2 years of A.2, then PR)
A.5 Others

[Hank W.]

Yeah, they AFAIK scrapped that when the new system came into force, didn't they?