Töihin Suomeen

Foreigners who wish to work in Finland will require a residence permit for an employed person. Foreigners who are private entrepreneurs or self-employed will usually require a residence permit for a self-employed person. There are several exceptions to this rule, however. For example, EU nationals and people with equivalent nationalities do not require these permits.

Residence permit for an employed person

You can apply for a residence permit for an employed person (työntekijän oleskelulupa) if you have been offered employment in Finland. Application for the first permit must usually be made prior to entering Finland at the Finnish Embassy of the country of origin of the applicant. Information on application for a residence permit for an employed person is available on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.

When applying for a worker’s residence permit, always remember to attach the Appendix to Worker’s Residence Permit Application (TM 0.54) which must be filled in and signed by the employer. If the preliminary decision of the regional Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY-centre) (formerly TE-centre) is positive, the Finnish Immigration Service can supply the employee with a residence permit. Contact details for the ELY Offices' processing permit and registration matters can be found from the website. The application process may take some time.

Applications for extended residence permits for employed persons in Finland are dealt with by the local police.

If you are a national of a Nordic Country, EU member state, Switzerland or Liechtenstein, you are allowed to work freely in Finland. You do not need to obtain a residence permit for an employed person. EU residents need to register their right of residence at a police station if their stay exceeds three months. Nationals of Nordic Countries must register at a Register Office if their stay exceeds six months.

Residence permit for a self-employed person

If you plan to work as an entrepreneur in Finland, you need to obtain a residence permit for a self-employed person (elinkeinkeinonharjoittajan oleskelulupa)

Application for the permit must be made prior to entering Finland at a Finnish Embassy of the country of origin of the applicant. Permits are only granted for profitable business activities. The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY-centre) deliberates weather conditions for business exist and whether the entrepreneur can obtain a reasonable living through the business activities. The ELY-centre will form a preliminary decision regarding the profitability of the business. If the decision is positive, the Finnish Immigration Service can grant the applicant a residence permit for a self-employed person.

The website of the Finnish Immigration Service contains further information on the residence permit for a self-employed person in Finnish, in Swedish and in English.

If you are a national of a Nordic Country, EU member state, Switzerland or Liechtenstein, you are free to work as an entrepreneur in Finland. You do not need a residence permit for a self-employed person. EU nationals must register their rights of residency at a police station if their stay exceeds three months. Citizens of Nordic Countries must register at a Local Register Office if their stay exceeds six months.  

More information

The website of the Finnish Immigration Service contains further information on visas and residence permits for nationals of other than EU/EEU countries in Finnish, Swedish, English, French and Russian.

The Finnish Immigration Service’s helpline answers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10.00-11.00 questions concerning residency permit applications of employees and self-employed people, telephone 071 873 3720.

The Work pages of the Info Bank also contain information on the Finnish working culture, job-seeking, establishing an enterprise, and unemployment benefits.

The website for the Ministry of Employment and the Economy has more information on the topic in the following languages:

English
Finnish
Swedish
French
Estonian
Russian
Polish