The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment published a consultation draft on 27 May 2026 that would radically simplify Finland’s two-step start-up residence-permit procedure. At present, foreign founders must first secure a positive ‘innovation potential’ statement from Business Finland before lodging a residence-permit application. Under the bill, that pre-assessment would disappear; instead, immigration officers would evaluate the business plan as part of a single, paid application. Officials say almost half of the 1,100 statements issued since 2021 were negative, generating workload without delivering new companies or jobs. By merging the processes, the government hopes to deter speculative or incomplete filings and free resources for genuine high-growth founders. The public-comment period runs until 8 July 2026, with a parliamentary vote expected in the autumn and an indicative in-force date of early 2028. For start-ups, the biggest practical change is timing: candidates would no longer need to incorporate or obtain a Finnish Business ID before applying. Instead, they could finalise registration after approval, reducing sunk costs if an application fails. The draft also allows applicants to submit supporting documents—such as funding term sheets or prototype evidence—digitally through the Enter Finland portal. Corporate mobility managers see the reform as part of a wider shift towards skills-based immigration. While Finland has tightened pathways to permanent residence, it is seeking to double the annual intake of international tech talent to 15,000 by 2030. Streamlining the start-up route aligns with that target and could make Helsinki more competitive with Tallinn and Stockholm for early-stage founders.
![Helsinki drafts overhaul of start-up residence permit to cut red tape]()
For founders weighing a move, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork side of the journey. Through its Finland resource hub (https://www.visahq.com/finland/), the service tracks real-time immigration rule changes, pre-checks supporting documents and manages courier submissions, letting entrepreneurs focus on pitching rather than paperwork.
HR departments advising entrepreneurs should prepare new checklists once the final law is passed, especially around business-plan formatting and the expected application fee. They should also watch for possible fast-track processing times—currently 14 days for specialists—which the ministry is considering extending to approved start-up founders.
For founders weighing a move, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork side of the journey. Through its Finland resource hub (https://www.visahq.com/finland/), the service tracks real-time immigration rule changes, pre-checks supporting documents and manages courier submissions, letting entrepreneurs focus on pitching rather than paperwork.
HR departments advising entrepreneurs should prepare new checklists once the final law is passed, especially around business-plan formatting and the expected application fee. They should also watch for possible fast-track processing times—currently 14 days for specialists—which the ministry is considering extending to approved start-up founders.
