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Residence permit application for seasonal work

You must apply for your first residence permit for seasonal work abroad before arriving in Finland.

If you already have a certificate or a visa for seasonal work and want to continue doing seasonal work in Finland directly after your certificate or visa for seasonal work expires, you can apply for a residence permit for seasonal work in Finland. In that case, apply for a first residence permit for seasonal work before your certificate or visa expires.

Applying for an extended permit for seasonal work is possible only if you have a valid residence permit for seasonal work and you intend to continue doing seasonal work directly after your previous residence permit for seasonal work expires.

You can be granted permits for seasonal work for a maximum of 9 months during a 12-month period.

You will receive a decision on your residence permit application for seasonal work within 90 days of submitting your correctly filled-in application and all documents required by the Seasonal Workers Act to the Finnish Immigration Service.

As a seasonal worker, you are only allowed to work for the employer whose name is marked on your residence permit. If you want to add a new employer of seasonal workers to a valid residence permit for seasonal work, you can apply for the addition of a new employer.

Family members of seasonal workers cannot get a residence permit in Finland on the basis of family ties.

  • Expected processing time for electronic application

    first permit, 3–6 mths: 1–2 months, first permit, 6–9 mths: 3 months / extended permit 1–3 months

     

  • Expected processing time for paper application

    first permit, 3–6 mths: 1–3 months, first permit, 6–9 mths: 3 months / extended permit 1–3 months

  • Electronic application fee

    first permit, 3–6 mths: 380 €, first permit, 6–9 mths: 540 € / extended permit: 170 €

  • Paper application fee

    first permit, 3–6 mths: 480 €, first permit, 6–9 mths 740 € / extended permit 430 €

This is what you should do:

Make sure you meet the requirements for a residence permit for seasonal work.

Requirements for a residence permit for seasonal work:

Make sure you have all the necessary attachments. Have the attachments translated and legalised if needed.

Attachments:

Fill in the application:

1

Fill in the application OLE_TY6 and add the necessary documents.

  • You can fill in the application online in Enter Finland. The fee for an online application is lower than for a paper application.
  • If you cannot use Enter Finland, fill in a paper application. You will find a link to the application at the bottom of the page.

You can only apply for your first residence permit for seasonal work abroad. If you already have a certificate or visa for seasonal work and you want to continue doing seasonal work after the expiry of your certificate or visa, you can apply for a residence permit for seasonal work while you are in Finland.

2

Pay for your application in the online service Enter Finland, at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

3

If you are abroad, contact one of the Finnish missions (embassy or consulate) abroad. If you are already in Finland, book an appointment at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

4

Wait for a decision. The Finnish Immigration Service will contact you if necessary.

5

Read what happens after you have applied.

Please notice that if your seasonal work will last for 6–9 months, your application for a residence permit for seasonal work will be processed in two stages. This means that an Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office) will first assess, among other things, whether you have sufficient financial resources and whether labour force is available in Finland or within the EU/EEA for the work in question within a reasonable time. Secondly, following this, the Finnish Immigration Service makes its decision.

Right to work

You cannot start working before you are granted a residence permit for seasonal work.

A residence permit for seasonal work is always bound to a specific employer. This means that you are only allowed to work for the employer whose name is marked on your residence permit. If you want to add a new employer of seasonal workers to a valid residence permit for seasonal work, you can apply for the addition of a new employer. Read more on the page New employer.

If you are applying for a first residence permit for seasonal work while your certificate or visa for seasonal work is still valid, or if you are applying for an extended permit, check whether you have the right to work while your application is being processed.

Residence permit application for seasonal work, OLE_TY6

Fill in an electronic application

Extended permit for a seasonal worker, OLE_TY6

Fill in an electronic application