Working without a residence permit
You will always need a residence permit if your work lasts for over 90 days. It is not possible to apply for a first residence permit on the basis of work when you are in Finland.
There are certain jobs in which you may work without a residence permit for a maximum of 90 days. After that period, your right to work ends.
Your residence in Finland must be legal. This means that you need to:
- have a valid visa, or
- hold a Schengen residence permit granted by another country, or
- not be required to have a visa to Finland due to your citizenship.
When can I work without a residence permit?
You do not need a residence permit if:
- your residence in Finland is legal;
- you have been invited to work in Finland or you have signed a contract to work in Finland;
- you will work for a maximum of 90 days; and
you will be working as:
- an interpreter, a teacher, a specialist or a referee; or
- a professional artist, a professional coach, a professional athlete, or are a member of an assistance or support team for such a person.
You may also perform these tasks without a residence permit if you work lasts 90 days or less:
- You are a product demonstrator or a film worker, and your employer does not have an office in Finland.
- You are a sailor and you work on a ship listed in the Register of Merchant Vessels or, if you were hired outside Finland, on a ship that primarily operates between foreign ports.
- You are an employee of a company that operates in another EU/EEA country, and you come to Finland to perform temporary acquisition or subcontracting tasks as specified in the regulations concerning the freedom to provide services. You must also have permits that allow you to reside and work in said country, and these permits have to be valid when you finish your work in Finland.
- You are a member of the personnel for a vehicle owned or controlled by a foreign party, and
- you drive a vehicle whose task is to transport across the border a load that is to be delivered to or retrieved from a certain destination, or
- operation in Finland is related to regular service between municipalities, at least one of which is located abroad, and
- you do not reside in Finland.
- You are an employee in tourism industry and you arrive in Finland to participate in tourism events, a package tour or some other trip. You may work for example as a tour leader or tour guide. This also applies to drivers, cooks, and other tourism staff related to the trip. You can enter Finland as part of the group or arrive in advance to welcome the group.
If you are an asylum seeker, read more about asylum seekers’ right to work.
If you are an EU-citizen or a family member of an EU citizen, read more about EU citizens’ right to work.
