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Reviewed February 2024

Finland presents an exceptional career destination with its emphasis on work-life balance and inclusivity. The country’s flourishing tech sector, dynamic start-up culture, and commitment to sustainability offer a plethora of opportunities for a rewarding career. To begin an exciting professional journey in Finland, it is crucial to obtain a work visa, granting you access to a wide range of career opportunities in this thriving European nation.

Continue reading as Wego guides you through the process of applying for and obtaining an employment visa for Finland.

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Finland work visa

In order to engage in any remunerative activity in Finland, you will have to obtain a residence permit on the basis of work. There are different residence permits based on the different types of work. Eligibilities and requirements for each of them vary. You can visit the Finnish government’s official website to check the details about each type of permit.

As a rule, if there is no specific residence permit application for your work, you must apply for a residence permit for an employed person.

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Do I need a Finland work visa?

Nationals of the following countries are exempt from requiring a visa to enter Finland for a short, temporary visit of less than 90 days in any 180-day period:

citizens of the Schengen Area, EEA/EU, and the Nordic countries
citizens of the United States, New Zealand, Australia, San Marino, the Vatican, the Republic of Andorra, and Japan

Please note that individuals who do not require a visa to work in Finland are allowed to work for a maximum of 90 days. After this period, they are required to register as working residents in Finland.

Finland work visa eligibility

To qualify for a residence permit as an employed person in Finland, you must fulfill the following requirements:

securing a job in Finland
verification from your employer that you possess the necessary skills and qualifications to perform the job
ensuring that you will have sufficient income to sustain yourself throughout your stay in Finland

Furthermore, you must meet the general prerequisites for obtaining a residence permit. Please refer to Finland’s general conditions for granting a residence permit.

Finland work visa requirements

The following documents are required to obtain the residence permit for an employed person:

valid passport (you must present it when you submit the residence permit application)
passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop, OLEL PK
colour copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes
document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application
Form MP_1 (if you already are in Finland and are applying for your first residence permit)

Please note that these are the requirements for obtaining a residence permit for an employed person. Additional documents might be required if you are applying for a different type of work residence permit.

Finland work visa online application

Here are the steps to applying for a residence permit for an employed person.

Fill out the application and attach your documents

To begin the application process, follow these steps:

fill out the application online on the official Enter Finland website. Applying online typically incurs a lower fee compared to a paper application. If you are applying for your initial residence permit through Enter Finland, you may not need to visit a service point when applying for an extended permit
if you are unable to use Enter Finland, you can complete a paper application form

Pay the processing fees

When applying for a residence permit through Enter Finland online, the processing fee can be paid in the following ways:

submitting your application online: You can pay the processing fee using a credit card or Finnish online banking credentials at the time of submitting your application
proving your identity in person: Alternatively, you can pay the processing fee when verifying your identity at a Finnish embassy or consulate abroad or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service in Finland

If you are applying for a residence permit using a paper application, you are required to pay the processing fee when proving your identity at a Finnish embassy or consulate abroad or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service in Finland.

Employer’s supplement to your application

Once you have submitted your application through Enter Finland, it is essential for your employer to provide additional documents, such as the terms of employment, using Enter Finland for Employers.

If your employer is unable to utilize Enter Finland for Employers, they can complete the ‘Terms of Employment’ paper form. In such cases, you must attach the filled-in form to your application in Enter Finland. If you are submitting a paper application for your residence permit, remember to include the ‘Terms of Employment’ form filled out by your employer.

Identity verification at consulate, embassy, or service point

If you are currently abroad, please schedule an appointment at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) to undergo the identity check.

If you are already in Finland, please book an appointment at a service point of the Finnish immigration service for the identity verification process.

Wait for the decision

Once you have submitted your application, please wait for the decision. The notification process differs based on the method of application:

online application via Enter Finland: If you applied online, you will receive notifications about your application’s progress and any potential requests for additional information via email and text message
paper application: If you applied using a paper application, you will receive notifications regarding your application’s progress and any potential requests for additional information via email

If your application is approved, the residence permit will be delivered to the address you provided during the application process.

Finland work visa processing time

The estimated processing time for an application for a residence permit for employed persons in Finland is approximately two (2) months. This timeframe applies to both online and paper applications.

Additionally, you can conveniently track the progress of your application with the assistance of Kamu, the official chatbot. Simply provide Kamu with the diary number of your application, and Kamu will not only keep you updated on the status but also provide you with the expected processing time for your application.

Finland work visa fees

The fees for a Finland work visa depend on the type of application and whether it is submitted electronically or on paper. The fee structure is as follows:

Electronic Application: