Immigrate to Finland from Australia

People who want to immigrate to Finland from Australia have various grounds they can do that under. Among them study, employment, and entrepreneurship are often used by those who want to obtain residency. For each of these reasons, the eligibility criteria are different.

Below, our lawyers in Finland invite you to discover how you can relocate there from Australia and how to obtain a residence permit. We can assist you during and after the immigration process.

Immigration pathways available for Australian citizens

Non-EU nationals, such as Australians, who want to stay longer than 90 days must apply for residency in Finland.  For this purpose, one must make sure to provide a valid reason for the resident permit application. Among them, we mention the following:

• being employed is a great way to immigrate to Finland from Australia;
• relocating to Finland to live with a relative or family reunion;
• activities related to research or other scientific operations;
• study;
• conducting business here.

If you decide to move to Finland from Australia and need guidance in filing the correct application, our local law firm is at your service.

The main option to immigrate to Finland from Australia based on employment

There are two cases under which employment and residence permits can be obtained by Australian citizens relocating to Finland:

• employment with a Finnish company;
• self-employment.

Employment can be seasonal, temporary or permanent and also implies obtaining a work permit issued by the Immigration Service alongside the residence visa.

Moving to Finland from Australia through employment is conditioned by having a job offer to you. It becomes necessary to apply for the residence permit after receiving the work visa. Depending on the type of work one will be doing while in Finland, he or she may need to apply for a different kind of residence visa.

When it comes to being self-employed, an Australian citizen needs to set up a sole trader in Finland to complete his/her activities. This also implies register for taxation with the Finnish Tax Administration.

You can rely on our Finnish law firm for assistance in creating your own business in this country.

Moving to Finland from Australia as a family member of a resident

Finland is one of the most sought countries in the world to live in, which is why it is not unusual to find people from all over the world choosing to emigrate here. This is how family reunion has become a common way to immigrate to Finland, including for Australians.

In order to visit relatives in Finland, Australian nationals can apply for a family visa at the Finnish Embassy in Canberra. The following family members can be granted reunion visas:

• life partners;
• spouses;
• a guardian by law (if the applicant is under 18 years old) can also relocate to Finland from Australia under this visa;
• children.

Those who have at least one family member in Finland who already has a residence card can apply for a residence permit for family reunification. As such, the family member residing in Finland will act as a sponsor.

If you need more information on this relocation pathway, you can discuss all its aspects with one of our Finnish lawyers.

Access to permanent residency and citizenship in Finland

After you immigrate to Finland from Australia, one may qualify for a permanent residence permit followed by citizenship if:

• he/she has been living in Finland for the last 6 years (4 years on certain grounds, applications from 8 January 2026) based on an A-type residence permit and the requirements for obtaining a permanent residency visa are still in effect;
• the start of the residence period depends on whether the applicant entered Finland with a temporary residence permit or a continuous residence permit;
• Finnish citizenship becomes available after 8 years of residence (5 years with Finnish or Swedish language skills), which may be accumulated over several periods of stay.

If you need support in relocating to Finland from Australia, please contact our lawyers.