Residence permit application for employment of another kind

Apply for a residence permit with this application if there is no separate application form for the work assignment in question. Apply for a residence permit with this application if you, for example, are coming to work for an association or to work professionally in the arts or you have taken a degree in Finland.

Expected processing time for electronic application

First permit 1–3 months / extended permit 1–2 months
Expected processing time for paper application

First permit 2–4 months / extended permit 2–4 months
Electronic application fee

First permit 400 € / extended permit 200 €
Paper application fee

First permit 470 € / extended permit 200 €

International organisations and cooperation between states

This is what you should do

1

Make sure you meet the requirements for the residence permit you are applying for.

2

Make sure you have all the attachments needed. If necessary, have them translated and legalised.

3

Fill in your application.

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

Read what happens after you have applied. Check the estimated processing time of your application here.

8

You should wait for the residence permit in the same country or locality where you submitted your application and proved your identity.

General requirements for entry into Finland

Make sure you meet the general requirements for entry into Finland before you submit an application.

Requirements

You must have a signed employment contract or a binding job offer.

You must have confirmed employment before you may apply for a residence permit. If you have been offered work by an employer, the employer needs to confirm that you will really be hired. This is usually done in the form of an employment contract.

Income requirement

You must have secure means of support

If you apply for a residence permit in order to work in Finland, you need to be able to earn your living in Finland through gainful employment throughout the time your residence permit is valid. The minimum salary from gainful employment is reviewed annually. Specialists and EU Blue Card holders are required to earn a higher salary. If your work is other than gainful employment (au pair, volunteering, Working holiday), your income requirement is defined separately.
Read more on the page Income requirement.

Right to work

You cannot start working before you get a residence permit.
Your right to work gives you the right to perform the work for which you have been granted a residence permit.
If you apply for an extended permit, check if you have the right to work while your application is being processed.

General attachments

Valid passport (you must present it when you submit the residence permit application)
Passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop, OLEL_PK
Colour copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes
Document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application
Form MP_1 (if you already are in Finland and apply for your first residence permit)

Application-specific attachments

Employment contract or a binding job offer (principal terms of work)