Continuing to work if your permit is not a seasonal work permit
Usually, you may continue working in accordance with your current permit while your application for an extended permit is being processed if you apply for an extended permit before your current permit expires. In contrast, if you apply for an extended permit after your previous permit has already expired, you are not allowed to continue working on the basis of your old permit.
- Read more about when you are not allowed to continue working after your permit expires.
- If you are a seasonal worker, read more under Continuing to work if you have a seasonal work permit.
If we decide not to grant you an extended permit and you appeal this decision, you may continue working until your appeal has been processed.
Examples of different scenarios:
You may continue working as usual until an extended permit for studies is granted to you. After that, you may work in accordance with a student's right to work.
If you wish to change your job in the restaurant industry for a job in the construction business, you need to apply for a new residence permit. After that, your right to work in the restaurant industry will continue to be valid until you are granted a new residence permit even if your previous permit has already expired.
If you apply for an extended permit before your residence permit for studies or research expires, you may continue working or start a new employment already before your application for an extended permit has been decided. After applying for an extended permit, you may work without restrictions (full-time, for instance) regardless of your field of study.
- If you apply for an extended permit before your previous permit expires, your right to work does not end during the processing of your application for an extended permit
- Read more about when you are not allowed to continue working after your permit expires.
Continuing to work if you have a seasonal work permit
You may continue working while your application for an extended permit is being processed if:
- you apply for an extended permit before your first residence permit for seasonal work expires;
- the permit that you are applying for is a new residence permit for seasonal work or a residence permit for an employed person ('TTOL'); and
- you will continue to work for the same employer.
You may continue working while your residence permit application is being processed if:
- you are applying for a residence permit for seasonal work to continue working for the same employer in Finland; and
- you submit your application for a residence permit for seasonal work when you are in Finland and before the expiry of your seasonal work visa or certificate for seasonal work.
Otherwise your right to work will end when your certificate or visa for seasonal work expires.
You are not allowed to continue working while your residence permit application is being processed in the following cases:
- You are applying for a residence permit for seasonal work to work for a different employer. Your right to work will end when your certificate for seasonal work or visa for seasonal work expires.
- You are applying for a residence permit for an employed person ('TTOL'). Your right to work will end when your certificate for seasonal work or visa for seasonal work expires.
Situations in which you are not allowed to continue working when your permit expires
- You work as a visiting teacher, lecturer, trainer or consultant on the basis of an invitation or agreement and the work lasts for a maximum of one year.
- You carry out an individual assignment related to the supply of an individual machine,
device, product line or expert system imported into or to be exported from the country, and your work lasts for a maximum of six months. - You do market research, prepare for a company’s establishment in Finland, negotiate and acquire customer orders or supervise the fulfilment of orders or have other similar duties, and your employer or contractor does not have place of business in Finland and your work lasts for a maximum of one year.
- You are doing practical training in Finland and the length of the training does not exceed 18 months.
- You are doing international practical training in Finland in the form of an intra-corporate transfer within an international company and the length of the training does not exceed one year.
- You work as an au pair.
- You are in Finland for a Working Holiday.
If you apply for asylum instead of an extended permit
If you are staying and working in Finland with a residence permit and apply for asylum (international protection) instead of an extended permit, your right to work based on your residence permit ends when the residence permit expires.
Read more about the right to work when applying for international protection.