Work in Finland

You can work in Finland without a residence permit in certain exceptional cases. You do not necessarily need a residence permit if you work in Finland for a maximum of 90 days, for example, as

• an interpreter
• a teacher
• a specialist
• a sports judge or referee
• professionell artist, tränare eller idrottare eller hör till deras stöd- eller servicepersonal
• a product demonstrator 
• a film worker
• a sailor
• the driver of a vehicle related to transport between countries
• the tour leader for a package tour to Finland
• you are a permanent 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.

Check the more specific definitions of exceptional cases on the website of the Finnish Immigration ServiceOpens in a new window..

The right to work indicated in your residence permit defines how you can work in Finland: 

• If you have received a residence permit based on family ties, you have an unlimited right to work. In this case, you can work in Finland without restrictions. 
• If you have fled the war in Ukraine and have received a residence permit based on temporary protection, you have an unlimited right to work. In this case, you can work in Finland without restrictions. Read more in UkrainianOpens in a new window..
• On the other hand, if you have received the residence permit based on studies, you have a limited right to work. In this case, you can only do a limited amount of work. 

Read about the right to work indicated in the residence permits in more detail on the website of the Finnish Immigration ServiceOpens in a new window..

When you submit your application to a Finnish embassy, you may visit Finland during the time your application is pending, but you must return to your home country when your visa or visa-free period expires

If you submit your application to the Finnish Immigration Service, you may reside in Finland while your application is pending, even if your visa or visa-free period expires during this time. If you are not granted a residence permit, you may be refused entry to Finland.

To be able to work as a private entrepreneur who has a so-called individually-owned business (toiminimi), you have to set up an individually-owned business in Finland. You cannot submit the start-up notification until when you are in Finland.

You can set up an individually-owned business in Finland if your permanent place of residence is located in Finland or somewhere else in the European Economic Area. Your citizenship does not affect setting up an individually-owned business. 

If your permanent place of residence is in Switzerland, you can apply to the Finnish Patents and Registration Office for an exemption so that you can set up an individually-owned business to Finland. Read the instructions for applying for an exemption on the website of the Finnish Patents and Registration Office (in Finnish)Opens in a new window..

Those who have fled the war in Ukraine can also act as entrepreneurs in Finland if they receive a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection.

Freelancing means that you work independently and usually for several clients without a permanent employment relationship. 

You are a light entrepreneur if you employ yourself and work in an entrepreneurial manner. You offer services or sell products to your own customers through a platform company (for example, Foodora, Freska, Uber, Wolt). Many authorities apply the same rules to light entrepreneurs and private entrepreneurs.

You cannot usually work in an occupation before your professional qualifications have been recognised. If you want to work in a regulated profession, you must meet certain requirements. They may have to do with education, training, work experience or, for example, completing a certain examination. 

There are regulated professions especially in health care. For example, you cannot work as a doctor without proving the required professional qualifications.

If you work in healthcare and social welfare, professional qualifications must be recognised before you can even apply for a residence permit for Finland.