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Residence permit

Residence permit or certificate due to exploitation by employer

If your employer has exploited you and neglected their obligations to a significant degree, you can apply for an extended permit or for a certificate of expanded right to work and change your employer. To do this, you must have a residence permit in Finland which contains the right to work.

You cannot apply for this permit or certificate if you have been working in Finland with a certificate for seasonal work or without a residence permit.

If you are granted an extended permit or a certificate of expanded right to work due to exploitation by employer, you can work in any field of your choice. In other words, you will have an unrestricted right to work.

Apply for extended permit or certificate due to exploitation by employer

Apply for an extended permit if your current residence permit is about to expire and you do not yet have a new employer

Extended permit is granted for the purpose of looking for work or starting a business, and it is valid for one year. The permit becomes valid when your previous residence permit expires. Read the instructions on how to apply for an extended permit due to exploitation by employer.

Apply for a certificate if you have a valid residence permit and you have found a new employer

A certificate of expanded right to work makes it easier for you to leave your old employer and start working for a new employer. Read the instructions on how to apply for a certificate of expanded right to work due to exploitation by employer.

Significant negligence and exploitation by employer can mean, for example, that your employer:

  • makes you work unreasonably long hours;
  • has not paid you the salary you have agreed upon in your employment contract;
  • threatens the life or health of you or your family.

A more extensive list of examples of what significant negligence or exploitation by employer can be.

Any work done in Finland must comply with Finnish legislation. This means, among other things, that no employee should be underpaid or made work in dangerous working conditions.

If you have a family member who has a residence permit in Finland on the basis of family ties:

His or her residence status will stay the same even if you are granted an extended permit or a certificate due to exploitation by employer. However, your family member must still have sufficient financial resources if he or she applies for an extended permit later on. 

What is the difference between a residence permit due to exploitation by employer and a residence permit for a victim of human trafficking?

A residence permit or a certificate due to exploitation by employer is only granted to persons who already have a residence permit in Finland which contains the right to work, whereas a residence permit for a victim of human trafficking can be granted to persons who do not have a residence permit in Finland. For more information, see the page Residence permit for a victim of human trafficking

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