British citizens who are not already permanent residents of Finland cards are being urged to apply for the right to reside in the country. The call came from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) and the Ministry of the Interior when Finland tried to clarify the housing instructions after Brexit.
In statements issued on Tuesday afternoon, both Migri and the ministry stated that according to the Brexit resignation agreement, British citizens, including persons with documentary evidence of the right of permanent residence in the EU, must exchange the document for a Finnish permanent residence card.
The Finnish authorities had previously issued an advisory recommendation, but now they say that change is mandatory. The background to the updated information is the advice of the European Commission, which has found that Finland has interpreted the need for British people to register as permanent residents rather than a requirement.
The immigration authorities stated that applying for the right of residence in Finland on the basis of a divorce agreement is free of charge for persons who already have a document certifying the EU’s right of residence.
The application period for the right of residence lasts until the end of September 2021. Ministry of the Interior regret previous misleading about it.
Source: The Nordic Page