Finland, known as the happiest country in the world, is offering Indians a chance to apply for permanent residency. From work and study benefits to family sponsorship, PR opens the door to a secure and fulfilling life in Europe.

Did you know that Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for eight years in a row? From the magical Northern Lights to the modern city of Helsinki, the country is famous not only for its beauty but also for its quality of life. Now, Indians have the opportunity to become permanent residents of Finland. The Finnish government has made it possible for eligible candidates to apply for a Permanent Residence Permit (PR), which allows them to live, work, and settle in the country for good.

WHY CHOOSE FINLAND FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCY?

• Getting PR in Finland comes with several benefits:
• You can live and work in Finland indefinitely.
• You can sponsor your family members to join you.
• PR holders get access to Finland’s social security, healthcare, education, and pension schemes.
• Travel becomes easier as PR allows short visits to most Schengen countries.
• Access to housing benefits, unemployment support, and better credit options.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FINLAND PR

• To qualify, you must meet specific conditions:
• You should have lived in Finland for at least 4 years on a continuous residence permit (A permit). From January 2026, this period will increase to 6 years.
• You must have lived at least 2 years physically in Finland during this time.

Additional requirements include:

• Minimum annual income of 40,000 (about 41.3 lakh), OR
• A recognised master’s/postgraduate degree with 2 years of work experience, OR
• High-level Finnish/Swedish language skills with 3 years of work experience.
• Applicants must also have a clean criminal record.

DOCUMENTS YOU NEED TO APPLY

Before applying, make sure you have:

• A valid passport and passport photos
• Proof of financial stability
• A copy of your passport’s ID page
• Consent form if applying as a child
• Any documents proving education, employment, or language skills.

HOW TO APPLY FOR FINLAND PR

The application process is straightforward:

1. Check your eligibility and gather all required documents.

2. Fill out the application form online via Enter Finland or submit a paper application.

3. Pay the application fee ($240 online / $350 paper / $180 for under 18).

4. Book an appointment at the Finnish Immigration Service or VFS Global to give biometrics.

5. Track your application online for updates.

6. Once approved, collect your residence card from the embassy or service centre.

COST OF APPLYING FOR PR

• Electronic application: 240 (24,800 approx)
• Paper application: 350 (36,100 approx)
• Under 18 applicants: 180 (18,600 approx)

Finland’s Permanent Residency program is a golden chance for Indians who dream of living in Europe. With its strong social systems, beautiful environment, and welcoming culture, Finland offers not just a home but a better quality of life.

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Fourth largest national park of India, located in Arunachal Pradesh of Northeast India. Most popular for its enormous biodiversity and untouched tropical rainforests. The park features about 1,000 floral and 1,400 fauna species. Namdapha is, infamously, the only world protected area where all four Indian big cats — tiger, leopard, snow leopard, and clouded leopard — coexist. Other animals that inhabit it include Asiatic black bears, Malayan sun bears, dhole (wild dogs), and more. It is a botanical wonderland and a wildlife conservation haven of Northeast India and also been declared an eco-sensitive area.

People from across the world travel to India and share their reviews and tips on travelling across the country. From positive to negative, people have all kinds of experiences while visiting the Indian subcontinent. However, in the midst of a thousand social media posts sharing tips for people travelling to India for the first time, one post has caught the eye of many for its unique claims.A Dutch woman named Ivana who is not just travelling in the country but also living in it, recently took to Instagram to share a detailed post about her life in the country, sharing things she had known before. From Indian families to sarees and rickshaw struggles Ivana had a say for it all and netizens are loving her reviews.

Indian values

Titled ’10 things I wish I knew before coming to Indian for the first time’ the post began with her appreciating India’s hospitality with the saying ‘Atithi devo bhava’ advising the travellers to ‘be prepared to be fed to death’She also shared how much Indians value family which is something one can only understand after spending time with them. ‘So def try to befriend local people and see how they live.’

Travel tips

Another interesting tip Ivana shared was her experience visiting one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal. ‘Taj Mahal is quite difficult to reach. Plan a trip to Agra for 2/3 days in order to not have a lousy Taj experience. Some basic tips: be THERE at 6am for a foreigner ticket, but keep in mind Taj is closed on Fridays for prayer,’ she wrote. She also revealed that the colour of the Ganga river in Rishikesh is ‘minty green’ and advised that if people plan to swim there then they should wear full clothes and watch out for currents and cold temperatures.

Saree experiences

Ivana shared that a saree is difficult to wear if not worn before but once worn, it’s highly comfortable and advised taking help from an elder aunt or at a salon.

India is not overcrowded

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about India is that it’s overcrowded, which Ivana cleared with her statement. ‘India is not overcrowded! There’s plenty of space and ‘slow’ times. For the tourist places try to visit way before 10AM (like 8AM!) or you can go to more rural areas to escape all crowds. Be mindful of which places you visit without a guide though! Some places are even off limits for Indians.’

Netizens react to Ivana’s post

People who are planning to visit or move to India have been thanking the influencer for her tips and experiences. “Hi Ivana, just wanted to say that I absolutely love your content! I’m moving to India soon and have saved all your tips and infos, so helpful! Thanks for sharing such valuable insights 🙏” wrote a woman in the comments.“Such a good post, thanks Ivana! ❤️” added another.“Like you might have experienced, it’s easier to eat with your hands (wash them beforehand obviously)” wrote another, sharing their own tip.