There Is No Route for Living on Your Own Money: the Act Lists Three Grounds From Abroad and Two of Them Are Work
Answer
The general rule applies to you
No exception is recorded for citizens of Paraguay on this topic. That is the answer, not a gap - everything below is the rule you get, unchanged.
147 exceptions recorded across 54 countries · none match Paraguay to Finland · Residency on passive income
Finland has no means-tested residence permit. Section 47(1) sets out the whole of what a continuous permit may be granted for to a person who is abroad: having been a Finnish citizen or having a Finnish-born parent or grandparent, continuous employment, or continuous business. Section 45(1) does the same for a temporary permit: temporary work, temporary business, or "another special reason". Income appears in the Act in a different role entirely. Section 39 makes secure livelihood a condition of almost every permit, and section 39(2) names pensions, assets and other sources alongside employment as things that can satisfy it - but satisfying the money test is not a ground for a permit, it is what you must also do once you have one. Nothing in the Act turns a private income into a right to live here, and "another special reason" in section 45(1)(3) is a temporary permit decided case by case with no stated content.
At a glance
- A residence permit for living on private income
- None in sections 45 and 47 of the Aliens Act, which list the grounds exhaustively
Section 47(1) gives three grounds for a continuous permit and section 45(1) three for a temporary one. Neither list contains a means-tested category.
- What a pension does for you
- It satisfies the money test; it does not open a route
Section 39(2) names pensions (eläkkeistä) among the sources that make livelihood secure. No section makes a pension a ground for a permit.
- The only open-ended door
- "Another special reason", section 45(1)(3), and only for a temporary permit
The Act states no content for it. A temporary permit does not count towards permanent residence in the way a continuous one does.
- First permit length
- One year, unless applied for shorter
Section 53(1) of the Aliens Act. A fixed-term permit may never run longer than two years.
- Who decides whether a stay is temporary or continuous
- The permit authority, on the applicant's stated purpose
Section 33(2). The classification is a decision about the stay, not about the person, and it governs what the time counts for later.
Requirements
- A ground in section 45 or section 47 of the Aliens Act - work, business, or Finnish descent
- Secure livelihood under section 39 on top of the ground, unless the Act says otherwise
- For a first permit, income from employment, business, pensions, assets or other sources sufficient that recourse to social assistance is not to be expected
In detail
What the three Nordic answers have in common, and where they part
Sweden's record says one sentence of its Aliens Act is the whole route and that it says may. Denmark's says there is no means-tested route at all and that the Act's grounds are work, family, study, protection and a handful of named cases. Finland sits with Denmark: the grounds are listed and a private income is not one of them. What Finland adds that neither neighbour has is the first item on its own list - a continuous permit for a person with a Finnish-born grandparent, granted without any money test at all. A reader looking for a way to live in the Nordics on savings will find the nearest thing to it in Finland, and it will depend on who their grandparents were rather than on what they have.
Country-level policy
A reader who opens the Finnish Aliens Act looking for the money will not find it. The general salary floor for a work-based permit is a cross-reference into chapter 5, section 4(2) of the Unemployment Security Act, a provision about how much a month of work must pay before it counts towards unemployment benefit; the amount there is 1,134 euros and the indexation clause two hundred sections later adjusts the subsection above it and not that one. The employee permit's extra floor is set by government decree and the decree, 860/2024, is two sections long and says 1,600 euros. The specialist permit asks for the average gross wage of a wage earner and names no figure and no publisher. The new four-year route to permanent residence asks for 40,000 euros of income in the last completed taxation, adjusted each January by the wage coefficient in section 96 of the Employees Pensions Act and expressed at 2026 level. Four thresholds, four mechanisms, and the only one a reader can look up inside the immigration statute is the one with no number in it.
What applies to you
Nothing changes for a citizen of Paraguay
We have no rule recorded that treats your citizenship differently here, so the general rule above is the one that applies to you. That is an answer, not a gap.
What the law says
«Jatkuva oleskelulupa myönnetään ulkomailla olevalle henkilölle: 1) jos hän on ollut Suomen kansalainen eikä hän ole menettänyt Suomen kansalaisuuttaan kansalaisuuslain (359/2003) 33 a §:n perusteella tai ainakin toinen hänen vanhemmistaan tai yksi hänen isovanhemmistaan on tai on ollut syntyperäinen Suomen kansalainen; (26.4.2019/565) 2) jatkuvaluonteista työntekoa varten; taikka 3) jatkuvaluonteista yritystoimintaa varten.»Our translation - not official
A continuous residence permit is granted to a person who is abroad: 1) if he or she has been a Finnish citizen and has not lost Finnish citizenship under section 33 a of the Nationality Act (359/2003), or if at least one of his or her parents or one of his or her grandparents is or has been a Finnish citizen by birth; 2) for continuous employment; or 3) for continuous business activity.
The closed list that makes the absence a finding rather than a gap.
Read it at the sourceAbout this source
Finland's state legal information service, run by the Ministry of Justice. It publishes the Suomen säädöskokoelma - the statute series, where an Act takes effect on publication - and, separately, the ajantasainen consolidated text of each Act with later amendments worked into it. Every statute carries an ELI identifier that states the date of the consolidated version, so the cut-off is on the page rather than inferred: the Aliens Act 301/2004 was read at http://data.finlex.fi/eli/sd/2004/301/ajantasa/2026-06-26/fin. The site is bilingual by law and serves Finnish and Swedish texts of the same statute at the same address; Finnish is the language quoted here. It also carries unofficial English translations under /lainsaadanto/saadoskaannokset/.
Standing: Maintains the text in force
Cannot be cited for: The English translations are not the instrument and must never be quoted as one - they are produced by ministries, carry their own amendment cut-offs separate from the Finnish text's, and several are years behind it. The consolidated text is the right thing to quote for what the law is now, but it prints provisions that are not yet in force alongside those that are, each marked with its own commencement date: the Nationality Act consolidation of 16 June 2026 carries the 2027 citizenship-exam wording of section 13 directly beneath the wording in force. A reader who takes the first paragraph they see has a one-in-two chance of reading next year's law. The consolidation also lags the statute series, and each statute's page lists the government bills pending on it; those bills are not law and must not be cited as if they were. The original statute as enacted is a different document at a different address under /lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/ and does not carry amendments.
We re-read it every 60 days. More about this source
«Tilapäinen oleskelulupa myönnetään ulkomailla olevalle henkilölle: 1) tilapäistä työntekoa varten; 2) tilapäistä yritystoimintaa varten; tai 3) jos on muu erityinen syy luvan myöntämiselle.»Our translation - not official
A temporary residence permit is granted to a person who is abroad: 1) for temporary employment; 2) for temporary business activity; or 3) if there is another special reason for granting the permit.
The temporary side of the same list.
Read it at the sourceAbout this source
Finland's state legal information service, run by the Ministry of Justice. It publishes the Suomen säädöskokoelma - the statute series, where an Act takes effect on publication - and, separately, the ajantasainen consolidated text of each Act with later amendments worked into it. Every statute carries an ELI identifier that states the date of the consolidated version, so the cut-off is on the page rather than inferred: the Aliens Act 301/2004 was read at http://data.finlex.fi/eli/sd/2004/301/ajantasa/2026-06-26/fin. The site is bilingual by law and serves Finnish and Swedish texts of the same statute at the same address; Finnish is the language quoted here. It also carries unofficial English translations under /lainsaadanto/saadoskaannokset/.
Standing: Maintains the text in force
Cannot be cited for: The English translations are not the instrument and must never be quoted as one - they are produced by ministries, carry their own amendment cut-offs separate from the Finnish text's, and several are years behind it. The consolidated text is the right thing to quote for what the law is now, but it prints provisions that are not yet in force alongside those that are, each marked with its own commencement date: the Nationality Act consolidation of 16 June 2026 carries the 2027 citizenship-exam wording of section 13 directly beneath the wording in force. A reader who takes the first paragraph they see has a one-in-two chance of reading next year's law. The consolidation also lags the statute series, and each statute's page lists the government bills pending on it; those bills are not law and must not be cited as if they were. The original statute as enacted is a different document at a different address under /lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/ and does not carry amendments.
We re-read it every 60 days. More about this source
«Oleskeluluvan myöntäminen edellyttää, että ulkomaalaisen toimeentulo on turvattu, jollei tässä laissa toisin säädetä. Toimeentuloedellytyksestä voidaan yksittäisessä tapauksessa poiketa, jos siihen on poikkeuksellisen painava syy tai lapsen etu sitä vaatii.»Our translation - not official
The grant of a residence permit requires that the foreigner's livelihood is secure, unless otherwise provided in this Act. The livelihood requirement may be departed from in an individual case if there is an exceptionally weighty reason for it or if the best interests of the child so require.
About this source
Finland's state legal information service, run by the Ministry of Justice. It publishes the Suomen säädöskokoelma - the statute series, where an Act takes effect on publication - and, separately, the ajantasainen consolidated text of each Act with later amendments worked into it. Every statute carries an ELI identifier that states the date of the consolidated version, so the cut-off is on the page rather than inferred: the Aliens Act 301/2004 was read at http://data.finlex.fi/eli/sd/2004/301/ajantasa/2026-06-26/fin. The site is bilingual by law and serves Finnish and Swedish texts of the same statute at the same address; Finnish is the language quoted here. It also carries unofficial English translations under /lainsaadanto/saadoskaannokset/.
Standing: Maintains the text in force
Cannot be cited for: The English translations are not the instrument and must never be quoted as one - they are produced by ministries, carry their own amendment cut-offs separate from the Finnish text's, and several are years behind it. The consolidated text is the right thing to quote for what the law is now, but it prints provisions that are not yet in force alongside those that are, each marked with its own commencement date: the Nationality Act consolidation of 16 June 2026 carries the 2027 citizenship-exam wording of section 13 directly beneath the wording in force. A reader who takes the first paragraph they see has a one-in-two chance of reading next year's law. The consolidation also lags the statute series, and each statute's page lists the government bills pending on it; those bills are not law and must not be cited as if they were. The original statute as enacted is a different document at a different address under /lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/ and does not carry amendments.
We re-read it every 60 days. More about this source
«Ulkomaalaisen toimeentulo katsotaan turvatuksi ensimmäistä oleskelulupaa myönnettäessä, jos hänen maassa oleskelunsa kustannetaan tavanomaiseksi katsottavilla ansiotyöstä, yrittäjätoiminnasta, eläkkeistä, varallisuudesta tai muista lähteistä saatavilla tuloilla siten, että hänen ei voida olettaa joutuvan toimeentulotuesta annetussa laissa (1412/1997) tarkoitetun toimeentulotuen tai vastaavan muun toimeentuloa turvaavan etuuden tarpeeseen. Tällaisena etuutena ei pidetä kustannuksia korvaavia sosiaaliturvaetuuksia.»Our translation - not official
A foreigner's livelihood is regarded as secure when a first residence permit is granted if his or her stay in the country is paid for out of income regarded as ordinary from employment, business activity, pensions, assets or other sources, such that he or she cannot be expected to fall into need of social assistance within the meaning of the Act on Social Assistance (1412/1997) or of a corresponding other benefit securing livelihood. Social security benefits that reimburse costs are not regarded as such a benefit.
Where a pension appears, and what it is doing there: a test of money, not a ground of admission.
Read it at the sourceAbout this source
Finland's state legal information service, run by the Ministry of Justice. It publishes the Suomen säädöskokoelma - the statute series, where an Act takes effect on publication - and, separately, the ajantasainen consolidated text of each Act with later amendments worked into it. Every statute carries an ELI identifier that states the date of the consolidated version, so the cut-off is on the page rather than inferred: the Aliens Act 301/2004 was read at http://data.finlex.fi/eli/sd/2004/301/ajantasa/2026-06-26/fin. The site is bilingual by law and serves Finnish and Swedish texts of the same statute at the same address; Finnish is the language quoted here. It also carries unofficial English translations under /lainsaadanto/saadoskaannokset/.
Standing: Maintains the text in force
Cannot be cited for: The English translations are not the instrument and must never be quoted as one - they are produced by ministries, carry their own amendment cut-offs separate from the Finnish text's, and several are years behind it. The consolidated text is the right thing to quote for what the law is now, but it prints provisions that are not yet in force alongside those that are, each marked with its own commencement date: the Nationality Act consolidation of 16 June 2026 carries the 2027 citizenship-exam wording of section 13 directly beneath the wording in force. A reader who takes the first paragraph they see has a one-in-two chance of reading next year's law. The consolidation also lags the statute series, and each statute's page lists the government bills pending on it; those bills are not law and must not be cited as if they were. The original statute as enacted is a different document at a different address under /lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/ and does not carry amendments.
We re-read it every 60 days. More about this source
«Määräaikainen oleskelulupa myönnetään tilapäisluonteista ( tilapäinen oleskelulupa) tai jatkuvaluonteista ( jatkuva oleskelulupa) maassa oleskelua varten. Lupaviranomainen ratkaisee maassa oleskelun tarkoituksen ottaen huomioon ulkomaalaisen antamat tiedot maahantulonsa tarkoituksesta.»Our translation - not official
A fixed-term residence permit is granted for a stay in the country that is temporary in nature (temporary residence permit) or continuous in nature (continuous residence permit). The permit authority decides the purpose of the stay taking into account the information the foreigner has given about the purpose of his or her entry.
About this source
Finland's state legal information service, run by the Ministry of Justice. It publishes the Suomen säädöskokoelma - the statute series, where an Act takes effect on publication - and, separately, the ajantasainen consolidated text of each Act with later amendments worked into it. Every statute carries an ELI identifier that states the date of the consolidated version, so the cut-off is on the page rather than inferred: the Aliens Act 301/2004 was read at http://data.finlex.fi/eli/sd/2004/301/ajantasa/2026-06-26/fin. The site is bilingual by law and serves Finnish and Swedish texts of the same statute at the same address; Finnish is the language quoted here. It also carries unofficial English translations under /lainsaadanto/saadoskaannokset/.
Standing: Maintains the text in force
Cannot be cited for: The English translations are not the instrument and must never be quoted as one - they are produced by ministries, carry their own amendment cut-offs separate from the Finnish text's, and several are years behind it. The consolidated text is the right thing to quote for what the law is now, but it prints provisions that are not yet in force alongside those that are, each marked with its own commencement date: the Nationality Act consolidation of 16 June 2026 carries the 2027 citizenship-exam wording of section 13 directly beneath the wording in force. A reader who takes the first paragraph they see has a one-in-two chance of reading next year's law. The consolidation also lags the statute series, and each statute's page lists the government bills pending on it; those bills are not law and must not be cited as if they were. The original statute as enacted is a different document at a different address under /lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/ and does not carry amendments.
We re-read it every 60 days. More about this source
«Jollei jäljempänä tässä pykälässä toisin säädetä, ensimmäinen määräaikainen oleskelulupa myönnetään yhdeksi vuodeksi, jollei oleskelulupaa haeta lyhyemmäksi ajaksi.»Our translation - not official
Unless otherwise provided later in this section, the first fixed-term residence permit is granted for one year, unless the residence permit is applied for for a shorter period.
About this source
Finland's state legal information service, run by the Ministry of Justice. It publishes the Suomen säädöskokoelma - the statute series, where an Act takes effect on publication - and, separately, the ajantasainen consolidated text of each Act with later amendments worked into it. Every statute carries an ELI identifier that states the date of the consolidated version, so the cut-off is on the page rather than inferred: the Aliens Act 301/2004 was read at http://data.finlex.fi/eli/sd/2004/301/ajantasa/2026-06-26/fin. The site is bilingual by law and serves Finnish and Swedish texts of the same statute at the same address; Finnish is the language quoted here. It also carries unofficial English translations under /lainsaadanto/saadoskaannokset/.
Standing: Maintains the text in force
Cannot be cited for: The English translations are not the instrument and must never be quoted as one - they are produced by ministries, carry their own amendment cut-offs separate from the Finnish text's, and several are years behind it. The consolidated text is the right thing to quote for what the law is now, but it prints provisions that are not yet in force alongside those that are, each marked with its own commencement date: the Nationality Act consolidation of 16 June 2026 carries the 2027 citizenship-exam wording of section 13 directly beneath the wording in force. A reader who takes the first paragraph they see has a one-in-two chance of reading next year's law. The consolidation also lags the statute series, and each statute's page lists the government bills pending on it; those bills are not law and must not be cited as if they were. The original statute as enacted is a different document at a different address under /lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/ and does not carry amendments.
We re-read it every 60 days. More about this source
Practical notes
This is a negative claim and it rests on two sections. Sections 45 and 47 of the Aliens Act were read in full in the Finlex consolidation of 26 June 2026, and the Act's own arrangement of chapter 4 was checked section by section from section 33 to section 69 g.
The Act's grounds are not the whole of Finnish residence law: the research, study, traineeship and volunteering Act (719/2018), the seasonal work Act (907/2017) and the intra-corporate transfer Act (908/2017) sit beside it. Only 719/2018 was read, and none of the three creates a means-tested route either on the face of what was read.
Nothing published by the Finnish Immigration Service was read for this record.
- consolidatesUlkomaalaislaki, consolidated text of 26 June 2026
Finlex, oikeusministeriö · consolidated to 2026-06-26
About this source
Finland's state legal information service, run by the Ministry of Justice. It publishes the Suomen säädöskokoelma - the statute series, where an Act takes effect on publication - and, separately, the ajantasainen consolidated text of each Act with later amendments worked into it. Every statute carries an ELI identifier that states the date of the consolidated version, so the cut-off is on the page rather than inferred: the Aliens Act 301/2004 was read at http://data.finlex.fi/eli/sd/2004/301/ajantasa/2026-06-26/fin. The site is bilingual by law and serves Finnish and Swedish texts of the same statute at the same address; Finnish is the language quoted here. It also carries unofficial English translations under /lainsaadanto/saadoskaannokset/.
Standing: Maintains the text in force
Cannot be cited for: The English translations are not the instrument and must never be quoted as one - they are produced by ministries, carry their own amendment cut-offs separate from the Finnish text's, and several are years behind it. The consolidated text is the right thing to quote for what the law is now, but it prints provisions that are not yet in force alongside those that are, each marked with its own commencement date: the Nationality Act consolidation of 16 June 2026 carries the 2027 citizenship-exam wording of section 13 directly beneath the wording in force. A reader who takes the first paragraph they see has a one-in-two chance of reading next year's law. The consolidation also lags the statute series, and each statute's page lists the government bills pending on it; those bills are not law and must not be cited as if they were. The original statute as enacted is a different document at a different address under /lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/ and does not carry amendments.
We re-read it every 60 days. More about this source