What counts as seasonal work?

Seasonal work is work in agriculture, forestry and tourism that is tied to a certain time of the year. Seasonal work requires a significant increase in labour levels during a certain time of the year compared to the ongoing work performed outside that time period.

The maximum length of seasonal work is 9 months during a period of 12 months.

Only certain industries and jobs are considered to involve seasonal work

Industries that involve seasonal work are defined in a government decree (966/2017). The Standard Industrial Classification (stat.fi) describes which jobs are included in the industries.

Branches of agriculture and forestry involving seasonal work:

• A 01 Crop and animal production and related service activities, excluding A 017 Hunting, trapping and related service activities
• A 02100 Silviculture and other forestry activities
• A 02300 Gathering of wild growing non-wood products

Branches of tourism involving seasonal work:

• H 50102 Coastal passenger water transport
• H 50300 Inland passenger water transport
• I Accommodation and food service activities
• N 79120 Tour operator activities
• N 79900 Other reservation service and related activities
• R 90020 Support activities to performing arts
• R 93210 Activities of amusement parks and theme parks
• R 93291 Skiing centre activities

The tasks of a seasonal worker must fall under the above-mentioned branches. In addition, the nature of the work must be seasonal, and the work must be conducted in an employment relationship.

Examples of jobs within industries that involve seasonal work:

• picking of garden berries
• picking of wild berries
• raising and care of dairy cattle
• raising and care of pigs
• employment at a fur farm
• work associated with forestry and silviculture
• gathering of cones for seed production
• work associated with accommodation or restaurants, provided that the company’s activities are seasonal
• work as a tourist guide or wilderness guide
• work as a ski instructor.

Examples of jobs within industries that do not involve seasonal work:

• building a new piggery
• repairing the roof of a cowshed
• renovating the living quarters of seasonal workers
• work associated with fishing and aquaculture
• construction of green areas and landscape management
• real estate maintenance
• maintenance of a golf course
• work associated with food industry
• lorry driving.

You must have a job in Finland before you can apply for a seasonal work permit

You need to find yourself a job in Finland. To look for a job, you can, for example, visit the following websites:

• Job Market Finland (tyomarkkinatori.fi)
• Work in Finland (workinfinland.fi)
• Kuntarekry (kuntarekry.fi)

For more information about applying for a seasonal work permit, see the page Seasonal work.