Residence Permit - Now What?

[kiina]

Here's my problem: I will soon graduate from a Finnish univerisity and recently I got a job offer in Finland. Now it's time to renew my residence permit again, but there're many questions ...

Probably I should apply for a fixed term, continuous residence permit, in order to get a permanent residence permit eventually. Right? How long can this fixed term residence permit be issued at one time? 2 years? And which category it is in, A?

So now I should apply for a permit like this:
A?: ? years fixed term, continuous, employment
Correct?

And, is this true that if I want to get a permanent residence permit in the future, I need to have at least 4 years of continuous permit (A)?

Thanks a lot in advance for your input.

[Hank W.]

Sounds like a plan. 4 years with an "fixed-term" A means you can then apply "permanent" A.

(I thought students got an F permit before)

[sy]

Since the new Aliens Act, there are 3 types of residence permits:

• B: temporary permit;
  A: continuous permit;
  P: permanent residence permit.

The number dropped from the permit, only the letter remains. However, on your record in their system, the reason for issuing the permit is still recorded.

In your case, you can apply for the residence permit based on your employment, instead of studying. If you've got a permanent work contract, you should cross the "extended permit" on the application, and apply for 3 years. This way UVI/police has to consider for the A-type permit, because they can't issue B-type for 3 years. You can also write on the application that you want to apply for the A-type permit explicitly.

If you can get the A-type permit for 3 years, after that you apply again for the permit for only 1 year; then after that you can apply for the PR.

[sy]

(I thought students got an F permit before)

F was used before for visa types, not for residence permit types. It's for a short-term, max. 3 months, visit.

F.4 was for persons who came to Finland to attend an entrance exam.

[kiina]

Thanks to you guys! Your answers are very helpful!

[kiina]

Thank you guys for your answers. Is it illegal to start working while the work permit application is still being processed at the authorities? And is my contract still valid under this circumstance, that the employment relationship started when actually I didn't have a valid full time work permit yet?

[sy]

I guess technically it's illegal to start working before you get your permit. (BTW, now it is called employee's residence permit, no seperate work permit anymore.) And again if your residence permit doesn't allows you to work, your employment contract is technically not valid.

But I guess you have the residence permit for studying now. That allows you to work part-time (20 hours per week) during semesters and full-time during holidays. So actually you can start to work now.

[kiina]

Thank you again for your quick answer. Yes, I'm still holding this student permit and there're a few months till it expires, but I've already graduated from school, so officially I'm not a student any more. Do I have the right to work now, either part-time or full-time, with this student residence permit? I just don't want to get myself into any trouble.

[sy]

Since today is already the mid of May, in many schools the exam period is almost over, so I think you can work full time with your current student permit. And if you have submitted your application for your next permit, you can work full-time until they issue you the new permit.

You can also let your company to write a speed-up request to the police.

[kebab]

Since the new Aliens Act, there are 3 types of residence permits:

• B: temporary permit;
  A: continuous permit;
  P: permanent residence permit.

The number dropped from the permit, only the letter remains. However, on your record in their system, the reason for issuing the permit is still recorded.

In your case, you can apply for the residence permit based on your employment, instead of studying. If you've got a permanent work contract, you should cross the "extended permit" on the application, and apply for 3 years. This way UVI/police has to consider for the A-type permit, because they can't issue B-type for 3 years. You can also write on the application that you want to apply for the A-type permit explicitly.

If you can get the A-type permit for 3 years, after that you apply again for the permit for only 1 year; then after that you can apply for the PR.

Thanks! That was really useful! But I wonder why can't I apply for 4 years directly in "extended permit" if I have a permanant work contract? Is there anything special with that 3 years first?

[sy]

Thanks! That was really useful! But I wonder why can't I apply for 4 years directly in "extended permit" if I have a permanant work contract? Is there anything special with that 3 years first?

Yes, the law says that the maximum length of the extended permit is 3 years.

Please also note that if your first residence permit is issued based on your temporary work (B-type), then after two years you can be issued with the A-type, then in this case your first A-type permit will be for one year. After that you can apply for the A-type permit for 3 years. See Section 54 of the Aliens Act.

[Helsinki Vampire]

hmm, from your name, am I right that you are a non-eu citizen?
Do this rules apply to non-eu citizens only?

Because I'm an eu citizen and I got a permanent residence permit. My friend said that that’s normally 5 years so I asked in the magistrati and they said as well that it is permanent = I can stay as long as I want.
I think I'm registered as Au-Pair but soon I'll start studying.
You're able to get Kela student support when you are registered here on a permanent base and the reason is any other but studying.

Now after all the info in this thread I'm a little bit worried if I'll be able to get the student aid from Kela and if my residence permit is really permanent?

Anybody who can help me?