Changes in the employment situation of an immigrant

If your fixed-term work becomes permanent or continues, you will need an extended residence permit. You can only apply for an extension from Finland. The extended residence permit is also fixed-term.

Apply for an extended residence permit in the Enter Finland service.Opens in a new window.

Remember to submit your application before your previous residence permit expires. If you submit your application for an extended permit late, the right to work associated with the permit has also expired. In this case, you cannot continue working with an old permit.

If your residence permit only has the right to work in a certain sector

• Apply for a new residence permit if you change both your job and your field of work.
• You can continue working with your current residence permit if you only change jobs but remain in the same field.

Read more about residence permit matters related to changing jobs on the website of the Finnish Immigration service.Opens in a new window.

As a posted worker, you may stop working for a foreign employer and move to a Finnish job. If you move to the service of a Finnish employer, you are no longer a posted worker.

If you have an A1 certificate issued by your country of origin, notify the authority that issued the certificate.  You will be covered by Finnish social security legislation in your new job. This means you will pay social insurance contributions to Finland and you can receive social security benefits from Finland. 

If you change your place of work or your tasks, you should usually also update your tax card. When your income changes, you should also change the income ceiling of your tax card. You can update your tax card as often as necessary.

Read more about tax cards on the website of the Tax Administration.Opens in a new window.

Working for several different employers depends on your residence permit.

If you have a residence permit for an employed person, you only have the right to work in a certain field. You can work for several employers at the same time if all your employers operate in the same field. For example, if you originally found employment as a cleaner, you can work for two different cleaning companies.

If necessary, confirm with the Finnish Immigration Service what work you can do with your residence permit.

Read about the right to work in more detail on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.Opens in a new window.

You need an extension permit if you continue your business activities in Finland longer than you originally expected. You must submit the application in Finland. The extended residence permit is also granted on a fixed-term basis. 

Apply for an extension permit for an entrepreneur in the Enter Finland service.Opens in a new window.

Remember to submit your application before your previous residence permit expires. If you do not submit the application for the extension permit on time, you can no longer continue your business operations with the old permit. 

 If you want to work full-time as a wage earner, do the following: 

1. Submit a termination notification to close down your business operations. If you do not submit the termination notification, you must still file tax returns and you are not eligible for unemployment benefits.

• Submit a notification of termination (ytj.fi).Opens in a new window.
• Submit the final tax returns to the Finnish Tax Administration.Opens in a new window.

2. Get a tax card for wage payments. All taxes and social security contributions are withheld directly from your wages and you do not need to pay them yourself.

• Order a tax card from the Finnish Tax Administration.Opens in a new window.
• Find out about the social security contributions paid by Finnish wage earners. Opens in a new window.

3. You must terminate your membership in the entrepreneurs’ unemployment fund. You can join a wage earners’ unemployment fund. If you join a wage earners’ unemployment fund within a month of leaving the entrepreneurs’ fund, your unemployment security will not be interrupted.

If you want to work full-time as a wage earner, do the following:

1. If you are staying in Finland with an entrepreneur’s residence permit, you must apply for a new permit for an employee.

Select the right permit from the application guide of the Finnish Immigration ServiceOpens in a new window..

Apply for the extension permit in the Enter Finland serviceOpens in a new window..

2. Submit a termination notification to close down your business operations. If you do not submit the termination notification, you must still file tax returns and you are not eligible for unemployment benefits.

• Submit a notification of termination (ytj.fi).Opens in a new window.
• Submit the final tax returns to the Finnish Tax Administration.Opens in a new window.

3. Get a tax card for wage payments. All taxes and social security contributions are withheld directly from your wages and you do not need to pay them yourself.

• Order a tax card from the Finnish Tax Administration.Opens in a new window.
• Find out about the social security contributions paid by Finnish wage earners.Opens in a new window.

4. You must terminate your membership in the entrepreneurs’ unemployment fund. You can join a wage earners’ unemployment fund. If you join a wage earners’ unemployment fund within a month of leaving the entrepreneurs’ fund, your unemployment security will not be interrupted.

You may get a municipality of residence in Finland if you intend to live in Finland for at least a year. Additionally a permanent home address will be registered for you. You can apply for the registration of a municipality of residence to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency with an online formOpens in a new window..

There is usually a period of notice. 

A fixed-term employment contract can only be terminated in the middle of the contract if this has been agreed in the employment contract.

The termination should be made or requested from the employer in writing.

If you have a non-compete agreement with your employer, remember to comply with it after your job is finished. As an employee, you will be compensated for the non-compete agreement.

The work ends

If your work ends, you will have three months to find a new job in Finland. If you do not find new work, your permit will be cancelled.

Your job seeking period will be six months instead of three months if one of the following conditions is met:

• you are a specialist (or EU Blue Card holder)
• you have lived in Finland for longer than two years with a work-based residence permit
• you are in a management position in the middle or top management of a company
• you are seconded specialist or manager moving within a company.

Even if your permit has been issued for a specific field of employment, you can also seek work in sectors identified as labour shortage sectors by the decreeOpens in a new window.. As long as the residence permit is still valid, seeking work in a labour shortage sector does not require a new residence permit.

Lay-off

If you are laid off, your residence permit will remain valid for the duration of the lay-off. If you have been laid off, you may not be granted an extended permit.

• Register as a jobseeker at the latest on your first day of unemployment or lay-off.
• If you already know the day, register before the employment relationship ends or the lay-off begins.
• Employment services provide support for job-seeking and integration in Finland.
• You will be eligible for an unemployment benefit only if you have registered as a jobseeker at the employment services and you are looking for full-time employment.
• The employment official assesses whether you can receive unemployment benefit, but the unemployment benefit is paid by your unemployment fund or Kela.

Read detailed instructions for applying for unemployment benefits and seeking a job from Unemployment guide.Opens in a new window.

Register as a jobseeker no later than on your first day of employment. The employment services provide you with support for jobseeking and integration in Finland. Your unemployment benefits are paid by your unemployment fund or Kela, but the employment official will determine whether you are eligible for unemployment benefits.

Read detailed instructions for jobseeking and applying for unemployment benefits from the Unemployment guide. Opens in a new window.

It depends on the situation. If you change fields or advance in your career, it is usually a good idea to change your membership to the right union or cash register for your field or position. If you belong to your union on the basis of your degree or if you change jobs in the same field to a similar position, you do not need to change trade unions or your unemployment fund.

If you are staying in Finland on the basis of work you may engage in business activities in Finland alongside your work. If you quit your work to become a full-time entrepreneur you have to apply for entrepreneur’s residence permit. This is necessary because your residence permit does not correspond to your new situation. You may continue with your business activities without limitations while your application for a residence permit for an entrepreneur is being processed.

Read instructions for applying for Residence permit for an entrepreneur (Finnish Immigration Service)Opens in a new window.

When your Residence permit expires, expires also your right to engage in business activities if you do not apply for an extended permit. Therefore apply for an extended permit before your previous residence permit expires.

Apply for an extended residence permit for an entrepreneur in the Enter Finland serviceOpens in a new window..

Read more about Launching business operations.