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Professional athletes and coaches applying for residence or citizenship in Finland must meet the same legal requirements as all other applicants, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) said in a statement on Friday.
The clarification follows ongoing public discussion about whether top-level athletes should be granted easier access to permits or naturalisation.
While Finland issues a specific residence permit type for professional athletes, no legal exemptions apply when it comes to citizenship or general permit criteria.
“There are no separate fast tracks or exceptional conditions for athletes under Finnish law,” said Mari Luukkonen, process owner for citizenship at Migri. “Citizenship cannot be granted more easily to athletes than to other applicants.”
The agency reiterated that the law sets strict requirements for matters such as continuous residence, legal income, and language proficiency, all of which must be met before an applicant becomes eligible for Finnish citizenship. Time spent in Finland on a temporary permit only partially counts towards the residency requirement.
Athletes applying from abroad are prioritised
Changes to the Aliens Act that entered into force on 1 September 2024 require most applicants for a first residence permit to apply from abroad. This also applies to athletes.
According to Raisa Palomäki, process owner for work-based permits, athletes who apply from outside Finland are typically processed faster than those submitting applications from within the country.
“Applications from abroad are prioritised and processed more quickly,” Palomäki said. “By contrast, applications filed within Finland are subject to additional checks, which extends the processing time.”
Athletes must also book an appointment at a Finnish diplomatic mission to complete identity verification. For athletes, these appointments have generally been readily available. Once verified, successful applicants currently receive their permit decisions in roughly two weeks.
Residency permit figures remain steady
In 2024, the number of residence permit applications submitted by athletes remained consistent with previous years, with 520 initial or extension applications filed. Migri granted 389 permits, a slight decrease from 2023. Of the remaining applications, 69 were denied and 45 lapsed or were withdrawn.
“The year-to-year fluctuation is small and expected,” said Palomäki. “Negative decisions usually result from failing to meet either the athlete’s or the employer’s legal requirements.”
Applicants must show they earn sufficient income from their sports career to support themselves. The permits issued may be continuous (A permit) or temporary (B permit), depending on the expected duration of stay. Permanent residency can be applied for after four years of legal residence.
No citizenship without five years’ residence
To qualify for Finnish citizenship, a minimum of five years’ residence in Finland is required, along with demonstrated language skills and evidence of legal, sufficient income.
Income from sponsorships and partnership contracts is assessed like any other earnings when reviewing the citizenship application.
“Applicants must prove that their income is legal and sufficient,” said Luukkonen. “This can include wages, business earnings, or personal savings.”
The law also requires that the applicant has held a continuous residence permit for at least one year before applying for citizenship.
The Immigration Service emphasised that each case is processed individually and based on the law.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
