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Applications for seasonal work are processed according to the starting date of employment stated in the application

Publication date 12.5.2020 16.59
Press release

We are processing requests for a certificate for seasonal work and applications for a residence permit for seasonal work in the order in which the applicants’ employments in Finland are to begin. The purpose of this is to ensure that the employees will be able to start working in due time.

The starting date of your employment, which you have stated in your application, determines when we decide your application.

During spring and early summer, a total of 4,500 seasonal workers may arrive in Finland from outside the EU. This includes 1,500 persons earlier determined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and 3,000 other seasonal workers starting from 14 May 2020.

  • EU citizens can arrive in Finland for seasonal work without restrictions as of 14 May. If you are a citizen in an EU Member State, you do not have to apply for a certificate or residence permit for seasonal work from the Finnish Immigration Service.
  • If you are not a citizen in an EU Member State and are coming from a visa-free country, you should apply for a certificate or residence permit for seasonal work from the Finnish Immigration Service.

The Finnish Border Guard makes the final decision on entry into the country during the coronavirus epidemic. The Border Guard also monitors the number of seasonal workers arriving in Finland. More information about cross-border traffic as of 14 May can be found on the website of the Finnish Border Guard. 

Applications for seasonal work are processed as urgent

We process all applications for seasonal work as urgent. You do not need to contact the Finnish Immigration Service or separately request us to speed up the processing of your application.

Certificates and residence permits for seasonal work are issued to start either immediately from the date of the decision or later, when the employment begins.

If you have not yet applied for a permit for seasonal work, you should apply for it as usual. Instructions on how to apply can be found on our website at migri.fi/seasonal-work.

Enter Finland is the quickest way to request a certificate for seasonal work 

If you are coming to Finland for seasonal work from a non-EU country, you will need a permit for seasonal work. You must wait for the decision in the country where you submitted your application.

We recommend submitting your application in the online service Enter Finland. You can also follow the processing of your application in the online service. 

Even your employer can create a user account in Enter Finland. You can choose to give your employer permission to use the online service in matters concerning your seasonal work permit. If you do this, your employer can, for instance, add attachments to your application.

More information about seasonal work and the coronavirus situation

Updates on how the exceptional situation is affecting the processing of applications for seasonal work are posted on our web page migri.fi/coronavirus. On our website, we have also put together a list of frequently asked questions about the effects of the coronavirus situation on applying for a permit for seasonal work.


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