Where and how to apply

• Submit your application in the e-service Enter Finland. After you have submitted your application, you have to visit the Finnish diplomatic mission or consulate in your country of origin/residence to prove your identity and have your fingerprints taken. A paper application is submitted to the Finnish diplomatic mission or consulate in your country of origin/residence.
• You have to submit your application yourself. Your host entity cannot do it for you.
• Processing fee (EUR): online application 350, paper application 550.
• Expected processing time: online application 1 month, paper application 2 months.
• You will be informed of the decision online or through the Finnish diplomatic mission or consulate. You will receive your residence card through the Finnish diplomatic mission or consulate.

Documents required

General attachments

• A valid passport (you must present it when you submit the residence permit application);
• a passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop;
• color copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes;
• document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application; and
• form MP_1 (if you already are in Finland and apply for your first residence permit).

Application-specific attachments

• Internship agreement containing the following information:
  • a description of the internship programme, including the educational objective or learning components;
  • the duration of the internship;
  • the placement and supervision conditions of the internship;
  • the internship hours;
  • the legal relationship between you and your employer (the organisation where your internship takes place).
• Documentation of means of support (the salary paid for the internship)
• The employer’s assurance of or documentation showing the following:
  • assurance or documentation showing that the internship does not replace a job;
  • assurance or documentation showing that the employer has not, during the preceding nine months, terminated the contract of an employee with the same or similar work due to financial or production-related reasons or reasons arising from the reorganisation of the employer’s operations.

Duration of validity of permits/visas

The maximum duration of the trainee permit is 18 months.

Conditions for renewal

No renewal after maximum period of 18 months.

Appeals

It is possible to appeal the decisions made by the Finnish Immigration Service before an Administrative CourtSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• within the 30 days following the notification. The appeal procedures are indicated in the decision.

A rejection from the Administrative Court can be appealed as a last resort to the Supreme Administrative Court. You will need to apply for leave to appeal.

Change of status

If the grounds for your residence change and you meet the necessary conditions, you should apply for a new residence permit (for example employment or family ties).

Family members

N/A

Long-term residence

The stay as a trainee is temporary and it is not counted in the period of residence to be eligible for long-term/permanent residence in Finland.