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.

The employer will request a decision from the Employment Agency as to whether a foreigner can be employed. This page contains contact details for those employment offices which handle permits and registrations. If the preliminary decision of the Employment Agency is positive, the Finnish Immigration Service can supply the employee with a residence permit. The application process may take some time.

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

Residence permit for a self-employed person

EU nationals and people with equivalent nationalities can freely engage in business in Finland. Other nationals will require a residence permit for a self-employed person (elinkeinonharjoittajan oleskelulupa), if they intend to engage in business in Finland.

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 regional Employment and Economic Development Centres (TE-keskus) deliberate whether conditions for business exist and whether the entrepreneur can obtain a reasonable living through the business activities. The Employment and Economic Development 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.

More information on the topic is available on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service In English, Finnish and Swedish.

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

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

English
Finnish
Swedish