New law expedites long-term D visa for students, researchers

Amendments to the Aliens Act will extend the use of a long-term visa known as a D visa. The President approved the amendments on Tuesday, said a government press release.

The amendments will contribute to promoting education-based and labour-based immigration and streamline entry procedures.

In future, D visas can be issued to students, researchers, persons in managerial positions in companies and family members of the above-mentioned individuals.

The original idea of the legislative proposal drafted by the Ministry of the Interior was that a D visa could also be issued to employees of certified employers.

However, the regulation concerning this group has since been compiled in a proposal for the certification of employers prepared by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, which is scheduled to enter into force in February.

The Finnish Immigration Service will issue a D visa in connection with a favourable decision on a residence permit.

This will allow people who have been granted a residence permit to travel to Finland sooner than at present, as they will not need to wait for a residence permit card abroad; instead, a visa sticker attached to the travel document at a Finnish mission will prove their right of entry.

This will make it easier for them to start their studies, research and work on time, facilitate the recruitment of experts and enhance Finland’s attractiveness.

A D visa could also be issued for entry to a residence permit holder residing abroad whose residence permit card has been lost, stolen or expired.

The new amendment also included a provision enabling the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to grant a temporary residence permit to young people from diplomatic families arriving in Finland until they reach the age of 20. To date, after turning 18, young people from diplomatic families have had to apply to the Finnish Immigration Service for extension of their residence permit.

A D visa was introduced in Finland in June this year. At that time, legislative amendments prepared by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs entered into force. Under these amendments, a D visa can be issued to specialists, high-growth startup entrepreneurs and their family members.

The amendments will enter into force on 22 December.

Some of the changes to information systems that are needed for the use of a D visa will not, however, be completed until spring 2023.

This is why the application of the amendments will begin in two stages: A D visa may be issued to persons in managerial positions in companies and their family members as of the entry into force of the Act. Starting from 1 April, a D visa may be issued to students, researchers and their family members as well as to persons who have lost their residence permit card.

The government in June submitted a proposal to the parliament to bring amendments to the Aliens Act with the view to extend the use of a long-term visa known as a D visa.