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Frequently asked questions: Employment

Application requirements

I wish to move to Finland to work in paid employment. I am not an EU national or a person with an equivalent nationality. What do I need to do?

To move to Finland on the basis of employment, you must first get a job in Finland. After you have found a place to work, you will need a residence permit on the basis of work issued by Finland. Apply for your first residence permit outside Finland and visit a Finnish embassy or consulate to prove your identity. You must wait for the decision outside Finland. 

If you are not sure which application you should use, use the Application Finder to find out.

May I apply for a residence permit for an employed person if I find a suitable job while visiting Finland?

No, you cannot. You must apply for a first residence permit outside Finland before arriving in Finland. If you apply for a residence permit while in Finland, you will usually get a negative decision.

Application procedure

I own shares of a public limited company (oy) in Finland. I wish to apply for a residence permit. Which permit do I need?

A residence permit will not be granted on the grounds that you own shares; you also have to work in the company, and the work must be performed in Finland. If you are not sure what application form you should use, use the Application Finder to find out.

Can I and my family member submit our applications at the same time? Will the applications be processed together?

Your family member can submit his or her application at the same time as you submit your application. Your applications are not necessarily processed at the same time. You can speed up the processing by making sure that both you and your family member include all the necessary information and attachments in your applications.

Right to work

Am I allowed to work while waiting for a decision on my application for a residence permit on the basis of employment?

You do not have the right to work while your first application for a residence permit on the basis of employment is still being processed.

Work for which a residence permit is not required is an exception to this rule. Note, however, that you will be allowed to work in this way without a residence permit only until the expiry of your visa or exemption from visa.

If you have already been granted a residence permit on the basis of employment or some other residence permit on the basis of which you are entitled to work, you may continue the work that you are entitled to do in the same field during the processing of your extended permit on condition that you have applied for an extended permit before the expiry of your previous permit.

May I work elsewhere within the Schengen area with a residence permit for an employed person issued by Finland?

If you have a Finnish residence permit, you may travel to other countries in the Schengen area for a short period of time, but you are not allowed to take paid employment there. If you wish to live or work in another country in the Schengen area, you need to contact the authorities of that country to determine the type of permit required.

Regardless of the type of residence permit (A, B or P) or the reasons why it was granted, a Finnish residence permit allows you to visit other countries in the Schengen area for no more than 90 days at a time. This is the longest total consecutive time you may spend outside Finland in other Schengen countries, not just in one country.

I have a permanent residence permit issued by another Schengen country. Does this allow me to live and work in Finland?

A residence permit issued by another Schengen country allows you to travel to Finland for a period of no more than 90 days at a time. If you do not have a residence permit issued by Finland, you may not stay any longer than that, and you may not take paid employment.

Work for which a residence permit is not required is an exception to this rule.

May I change from one occupational sector to another while my residence permit for an employed person is valid?

Your residence permit for an employed person entitles you to work in any or several occupations of your choosing. For more information, see Changing jobs.

Can I move from one professional field to another while my residence permit for an employed person is valid? 

Your residence permit for an employed person entitles you to work in one or more professional fields, depending on the number of professional fields for which you have originally applied for a permit. For more information, see Changing jobs.

I have been granted a residence permit for employment but my employment relationship has ended. Will the Finnish Immigration Service know that my employment relationship has ended? What will happen with my residence permit?

Residence permit holders must always have grounds for their residence permit. If you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of work, we recommend that you try to find a new job as soon as possible. You can also apply for a residence permit on new grounds if you have some other grounds for residing in Finland.

Your employer may notify the Finnish Immigration Service of the ending of your employment relationship. Based on the notification, the Finnish Immigration Service may start considering the withdrawal of your residence permit. At the moment, there is no legal obligation for the employer to notify the Finnish Immigration Service of the ending of an employment relationship.

You can follow the legislation reforms concerning employment on the website of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: Measures of the Government concerning work-based immigration

Am I allowed to study if I have a residence permit for an employed person?

Yes. All Finnish residence permits entitle you to study in Finland. Please note, however, that if the purpose of your residence in Finland changes from employment to studying, for example, you must apply for a new residence permit for studies.

Pursuing a trade or business

I have completed a degree in Finland. Can I do freelance work?

You are free to engage in business activities and do freelance work if you hold a residence permit for a person with a degree or qualification completed in Finland.

Can I do freelance work or be a light entrepreneur with my residence permit?

Yes, that is allowed. However, make sure that you continue to meet the permit requirements.

I applied for an extended permit before my previous permit expired but the decision was negative. Can I still continue my business activities?

If you received a deportation decision at the same time, you are allowed to pursue a trade until your deportation matter becomes enforceable.  Read more on the page Deportation and denial of admittance or stay.

What’s the difference between the right to work and the right to pursue a trade?

The right to work concerns the right to work in paid employment in an employment relationship. The right to pursue a trade concerns the right to engage in business activities without an employment relationship and to be self-employed. 

Residence permits are granted for different purposes, and the right to work may differ between permits. 

Regarding students, for example, the right to work permits students to work for up to 30 hours per week. Residence permits issued on the basis of work may be issued for work in a certain sector. Family members may work without restrictions. 

All residence permits granted by Finland allow the permit holder to pursue a trade even though the right to work may differ from permit to permit. However, the original requirements for the permit must still be met. The holder of a residence permit for studies, for example, must still continue to study.

Other experts

I am entering Finland as a lecturer. I am not an EU national or a person with an equivalent nationality. Do I need to apply for a residence permit for an employed person?

If you are entering Finland as a lecturer on the basis of an invitation or agreement, you do not need a residence permit for an employed person.

However, you must have a valid visa or be a citizen of a visa-exempt country. You may work for no more than 90 days, until your visa or visa exemption period expires.

If you are entering Finland for an assignment lasting more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit which is granted separately for lecturing. If you are not sure what application form you should use, use the Application Finder to find out.

Remote work

I am going to work in Finland for a foreign company. Can I apply for a residence permit on the basis of work? 

If the company does not require you to reside in Finland, you cannot be granted a residence permit on the basis of work. A residence permit on the basis of work is only granted for such work that requires the employee to reside in Finland. Working remotely for a foreign company does not on its own constitute grounds for a residence permit on the basis of work. 

Check the grounds on which you can apply for a residence permit in Finland on the basis of work. 

If I reside in Finland and work remotely for a foreign company, can the income requirement be met?

No, it cannot, if you plan to apply for a residence permit on the basis of work. Working remotely for a foreign company does not on its own constitute grounds for a residence permit on the basis of work, so you will have to apply for a residence permit on some other grounds. 

Check the grounds for applying for a residence permit in Finland on the basis of work. If you apply for a residence permit on the basis of work, you will need to be paid a sufficient salary for the job for which you applied for a residence permit during the entire time your residence permit is valid. The income from remote work is not taken into account in the application. 

As regards other residence permits, the situation is considered case by case. Other grounds for residence permits are, for example, family ties, studies and remigration. Read more about the grounds for applying for a residence permit.

I have a valid residence permit in Finland. Am I allowed to work remotely for a foreign company when staying in Finland with a residence permit? The company does not have business activities in Finland.

You are allowed to work remotely for a foreign company when staying in Finland with a residence permit. However, you cannot be granted a residence permit on the basis of remote work. Visit the website of the Tax Administration to check on issues related to taxation.