Income requirement for persons who apply for a residence permit on the basis of work
If you apply for a residence permit in order to work in Finland, you need to be able to support yourself in Finland with your salary throughout the time your residence permit is valid. The minimum salary required for a residence permit may change, because the Finnish Immigration Service reviews it every year.
Specialists and EU Blue Card holders are required to earn a higher salary. For unsalaried jobs (au pair, voluntary work, Working Holiday), the income requirement is defined separately.
When you apply for an extended permit, the Finnish Immigration Service will get information about your salaries and benefits from the Incomes Register. Therefore, you do not need to attach certificates of salaries or benefits to your application. If we need further information, we will send you a request for additional information. Read more on the page Incomes Register.
Sufficient financial resources from work
If you apply for a residence permit in order to work full-time, your salary must at least correspond to the salary specified in the collective agreement that applies to your employment relationship. For more information about collective agreements, see the website Suomi.fi.
If there is no collective agreement in your sector or if you work part-time, your gross salary must be at least EUR 1,399 per month in 2024. This sum meets the condition regarding previous employment (in Finnish: ‘työssäoloehto’) under the Unemployment Security Act.
See more detailed information on income requirement on different permit types
Your salary must at least correspond to the salary specified in the collective agreement that applies to your employment relationship.
If there is no collective agreement in your sector or if you work part-time, your gross salary must be at least EUR 1,399 per month in 2024.
Read more on the page Residence permit for an employed person.
If you apply for a residence permit as a specialist, you are required to earn a salary that is higher than average. Your gross salary must be at least EUR 3,638 per month in 2024. When we assess your level of income, the part of your salary that consists of fringe benefits or daily allowances will not be counted towards the required sum.
If you apply for an EU Blue Card, your gross salary must be at least EUR 3,638 per month in 2024. The required sum is reviewed annually. Possible fringe benefits and daily allowances do not count as salary.
Your salary must at least correspond to the salary specified in the collective agreement that applies to your employment relationship.
If there is no collective agreement in your sector or if you work part-time, your gross salary must be at least EUR 1,399 per month in 2024.
Read more on the page Seasonal work.
If you apply for a residence permit as an athlete, coach or referee, your salary for full-time sporting in Finland must be at least EUR 13,180 per year or per season (if the season in your sport is shorter than one year) in 2024.
The minimum salary required for a residence permit may change because the Finnish Immigration Service reviews it every year. In addition to salary, your employer must provide you with accident insurance and old-age insurance until you turn 43.
If an accommodation benefit or some other benefit is considered to form a part of your salary, attach a document on the taxable value of the benefit to your residence permit application.
It is not possible to replace a salary in money with:
- other fringe benefits (such as game or training outfits);
- health care or reimbursement of expenses for the athlete;
- bonuses based on future wins or other achievements in sports, because such income is uncertain;
- money from the parents of young athletes.
All fringe benefits included in the player contract must be shown on your payslip as taxable income.
If you apply for a residence permit as a start-up entrepreneur, the sum you are required to have is EUR 1,000 per month, or EUR 12,000 per year. It needs to be money which you can use to support yourself in Finland.
You must have enough money for at least one year. However, you may be granted a first residence permit for two years if you have enough money to cover your living costs for two years (EUR 24,000).
Paid internship
You have to get paid for your internship. Your salary must at least correspond to the salary specified in the collective agreement that applies to your employment relationship.
If there is no collective agreement in your sector, your gross salary must be at least EUR 1,399 per month in 2024. This sum meets the condition regarding previous employment (in Finnish: ‘työssäoloehto’) under the Unemployment Security Act.
Grants or scholarships granted by your home country university (Erasmus+ grants, for example) or pocket money paid by an organisation are not taken into account when assessing whether you will have sufficient financial resources during your internship. Food and housing allowances can be accepted, according to their taxable value, in the assessment of your financial resources. The allowances must be mentioned in the internship agreement.
Unpaid training programme
The training agreement signed by you and the organisation responsible for the training programme must state how you intend to finance your stay in Finland during the traineeship. You can, for example, attach a decision stating that you have been granted a scholarship or some other benefit for the traineeship. Attach proof of the scholarship or other benefit to your application.
Read more on the page Internship.
If you apply for a residence permit for au pair status, your host family must provide you with room and board, insurance and pocket money.
In addition to your room and board, your host family must give you at least EUR 280 (net) per month in pocket money. The host family must also present documentation of your insurance.
If you apply for a residence permit for a Working holiday, you must have sufficient funds to be able to live in Finland. You have to have about EUR 2,000 in your bank account for the first three months.
If you apply for a residence permit for volunteering, you must be able to secure sufficient financial resources for yourself through the volunteer programme.
If you apply for a residence permit for an entrepreneur, your business must be profitable and you must be able to secure sufficient financial resources for yourself from your business. The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) will assess whether you meet these requirements.
If you apply for a residence permit on the basis of having completed a degree or qualification or research in Finland, you must have a sufficient level of income in Finland during the entire time your residence permit is valid.
- In 2024, you must have at least EUR 1,000 per month (net) at your disposal.
- Your financial resources can be earned from employment, entrepreneurial activities, pursuing a trade or business, or a combination of these. A part of the financial resources available to you may also come from other sources, such as savings.
In this section, you will find the income requirements for the following permits:
- Work in the service of a religious community
- Work in the field of culture or the arts
- Work in the field of mass media
- International organisations and cooperation between states
- Delivery of a machine or a system
- Preparation of a company’s arrival in Finland and supervision of orders
- Consultant
- Top or middle management of a company
- Teacher, lecturer or instructor
- Intergovernmental agreement
You may work in paid employment or pursue a trade or business without establishing a company. Your main source of income must be the work for which you are applying for a residence permit.
- If your main source of income is paid employment, your salary must be at least the minimum specified in the relevant collective agreement.
- If there is no collective agreement or if you will be working part-time, your salary must be at least EUR 1,399 per month in 2024.
- If your main source of income is pursuing a trade or business, or if you are combining paid employment and pursuing a trade or business, you must make at least EUR 1,399 per month in 2024.
Some of your salary may consist of fringe benefits, such as company car or employer-provided accommodation. Fringe benefits will be taken into account according to their taxable values. For more information about the taxable values of fringe benefits, see the website of the Finnish Tax Administration (vero.fi).