Proof of funds for the Finland startup visa is the money each founder must show, in their own bank account, to cover their own living costs. It is separate from the budget the company needs to start trading, and mixing the two up leads either to showing too little or to locking away more money than you need. For the route as a whole, start with the Finland startup visa requirements.
In short, Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service, expects each founder to have EUR 1,030 to 1,210 net a month for at least a year, depending on where they will live. If your spouse and children come with you, a separate amount is added for each of them.
Personal funds and the company budget are different things
Two bodies look at money from two angles. Business Finland, the state agency for innovation funding and trade, sets no fixed minimum investment for the company; it wants to see sufficient resources and a credible funding plan for the first year. The permit itself does not come with investment or financial support from Finland.
Migri assesses your own living costs, which is what proof of funds means here. Unlike the ordinary entrepreneur permit, you do not have to live off the company’s income from the start; your own savings count.
The amount each founder needs in 2026
Migri divides Finland into three groups for this purpose: the Helsinki area, 24 named larger municipalities, and everywhere else. Not every large town is automatically in the second group, so check the full list of the 24 municipalities on Migri’s site.
| Where you live | Per month (net) | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Helsinki area (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen) | EUR 1,210 | EUR 14,520 |
| 24 other larger municipalities (including Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Kuopio and Lahti) | EUR 1,090 | EUR 13,080 |
| Elsewhere | EUR 1,030 | EUR 12,360 |
The funds must cover at least one year and the whole period of the permit you want. A first permit can be granted for up to 2 years, but only if you show funds for 2 years; show one year’s funds and the permit will not be longer than a year.
Additional amounts for a spouse and children
Your spouse and children under 18 can come with you, and a separate monthly amount is added for each of them, again depending on where you live:
| Where you live | Spouse (second adult) | First child | Second child | Each further child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helsinki area | EUR 610 | EUR 610 | EUR 480 | EUR 360 |
| 24 larger municipalities | EUR 550 | EUR 550 | EUR 430 | EUR 320 |
| Elsewhere | EUR 520 | EUR 520 | EUR 410 | EUR 310 |
These are net monthly amounts and have applied since 1 November 2024. Migri’s own example is a couple with two children living in Tampere, who need to show EUR 2,620 a month.
These figures are the minimum Migri requires for a permit, not an estimate of real living costs. Budget rent and day-to-day spending separately with the cost of living in Finland.
Evidence Migri accepts
Migri sets one condition on where the money is held: it must be in your own bank account. It can come from savings, income from the startup, funding granted to the startup or other regular income. These documents are accepted as evidence:
- a bank statement;
- a funding decision for the startup, for example from Business Finland;
- the startup’s income statement and balance sheet;
- a rental agreement;
- an employment contract.
Documents that are not in Finnish, Swedish or English must be translated. Persian documents are translated into English and then legalised, first at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then at the Finnish embassy in Tehran.
The Business Finland statement and the four-month window
Before the permit application, one team member applies to Business Finland for an eligibility statement on behalf of everyone. The application is made in Enter Finland, is free, and takes up to about a month on average.
A positive statement has a shelf life: on the day you file the permit application, it must be no more than 4 months old. In Migri’s own example, a statement issued on 10 April has to be used by 10 August. Move your funds into your own account before the statement arrives, because the evidence has to go in with the permit application.
The statement means Business Finland has accepted your plan; the permit decision is Migri’s and is made separately. In 2025, 13% of Migri’s decisions on first startup permits after a positive statement were refusals.
Application and extension fees in 2026
The Finnish Ministry of the Interior sets the fees for 2026. Each founder and each family member pays separately, online applications cost less than paper ones, and fees are not refunded if the answer is negative.
| Item | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Business Finland eligibility statement | Free | — |
| First startup permit (each founder) | EUR 650 | EUR 800 |
| Startup permit extension | EUR 230 | EUR 430 |
| Spouse’s permit | EUR 750 | EUR 800 |
| Child under 18 | EUR 400 | EUR 430 |
These fees come on top of your proof of funds, which has to stay in your account after you pay them. Company costs are covered in company registration cost in Finland.
Moving money from Iran into your own account
If you are moving your funds from Iran, EU rules apply as well. Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1975, published on 29 September 2025, restored the restrictions on transfers linked to Iran, and banks now check these transfers with enhanced vigilance. The Finnish government’s October 2026 bill notes that sanctions on the largest applicant countries make transfers to Finland, and therefore proving funds, difficult.
| Transfers to or from Iranian persons, not through an Iranian bank | What is required |
|---|---|
| Under EUR 10,000 | No notification or authorisation |
| EUR 10,000 to under EUR 40,000 | Written notification before the transfer |
| EUR 40,000 or more | Prior authorisation from the competent authority of the EU member state |
Transfers through Iranian banks or bureaux de change are stricter: they are prohibited unless they fall into a category that can be authorised. Plan the timing of the transfer while you are still writing the business plan, not after the statement arrives. The Iran section of the Finland startup visa guide has more detail.
Common mistakes with proof of funds
- The money is in someone else’s account. Migri wants the funds in your own bank account, so money in a parent’s or partner’s account does not count until it reaches yours.
- The wrong municipality figure. If you will live in Espoo or Vantaa, you need the Helsinki-area figure, not a lower one, so decide where you will live before you calculate.
- One year of funds for a two-year permit. If you want a 2-year permit, show 2 years of funds; otherwise the permit will be for one year.
- Untranslated documents. Statements and documents not in Finnish, Swedish or English are not accepted without translation.
- An unexplained balance. If money arrived in one lump with no explanation, document where it came from so that both the bank and Migri can see its source.
Changes in 2026 that affect money and fees
- New Migri fees took effect on 1 January 2026, including EUR 650 for a first permit applied for online.
- Registering a limited company (Oy) has been online only since 1 January 2026 and normally costs EUR 400.
- A new permanent residence law took effect on 8 January 2026; the main route is now 6 years of residence with work history and language skills. See Finland permanent residence.
- On 1 October 2026 the government submitted bill HE 216/2026 vp, which proposes removing the free eligibility statement as a separate step. It is a bill, not law; if passed, the government proposes it should apply from 12 January 2028.
Our role in preparing your proof of funds
You and your team file the applications in Enter Finland yourselves, Migri decides on the permit, and Business Finland has no partner consultants. Our work is making sure the file is complete and correct before it is filed:
- preparing the proof of funds that Migri accepts;
- listing the documents for each founder and each family member;
- coordinating certified translation and legalisation of family documents.
To review your team’s situation with us, complete the assessment form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need for the Finland startup visa?
Each founder must show EUR 1,030 to 1,210 net a month for at least a year, depending on the municipality: EUR 12,360 to 14,520 a year. A separate amount is added for a spouse and each child.
How much extra do I need for my spouse and children?
A spouse adds EUR 520 to 610 a month and the first child the same, with lower amounts for further children. Migri’s example of a couple with two children in Tampere needs EUR 2,620 a month.
Which bank account must the funds be in?
Your own. The money can come from savings, startup income, funding granted to the startup or other regular income, but money held in someone else’s account does not count.
How long is the Business Finland statement valid?
On the day you file the permit application, the statement must be no more than 4 months old. Prepare your funds and other documents before you receive it.
Is there a minimum investment for the Finland startup visa?
No fixed minimum is set by Business Finland or Migri. Business Finland expects a credible funding plan for the company’s first year, and separately each founder needs personal funds in their own account.
Official sources
Migri: start-up entrepreneur, Migri: income requirement, Migri: income requirement for family members, Migri: fees, Business Finland: applying, Enter Finland, PRH: limited company, Council Regulation (EU) 2025/1975. All checked on 12 October 2026.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and it describes published official rules rather than any individual case.
