Work in Finland

If your profession is a regulated one, the Finnish authorities must recognise your degree or professional qualifications. Check the professions for which the recognition of professional qualifications is required.Opens in a new window.

You will probably need a residence permit to work in Finland if you are not a citizen of an EU Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

You should submit your residence permit application to the Finnish Immigration Service in your country of origin: 

1. Select the right permit from the application guide of the Finnish Immigration ServiceOpens in a new window.. 
2. Submit your residence permit application in the Enter Finland serviceOpens in a new window. when you are still in your country of origin. 
3. You must prove your identity in person in the Finnish diplomatic missionOpens in a new window..

When you apply for a residence permit for yourself, you should also apply for residence permits for your family members. If you are granted a residence permit, your family members may also get residence permits on the basis of family ties. 

Check from the website of the Finnish Immigration Service  who can be granted a residence permit on the basis of family tiesOpens in a new window..

When you travel to Finland, you will need a valid passport.

It is a good idea to get a travel insurance that is valid for a few months after your arrival in Finland.

If you are moving to Finland from outside the customs and fiscal territory of the EU, you must clear your removal goods through the customs. Check whether you need to pay customs duties and taxes on your removal goods.

If you are moving to Finland from a country belonging to the customs and fiscal territory of the EU, you do not need to clear your removal goods through the customs. In most cases, you do not need to pay any customs duties or taxes on your removal goods.

There are goods that you are not allowed to bring to Finland or to which restrictions apply. Check whether you need a permit to bring any of your goods to Finland.

• You do not need to pay anything to the employer or the Finnish recruitment agency for getting the job.
• It is recommended that you make a written employment contract with your employer. 
• Make sure that the pay, working hours, length of the trial period and other terms of employment are specified in the employment contract.
• The employment contract may not contain terms of employment that are against the law in Finland.
• In Finland, wages are determined on the basis of sector-specific collective agreements.

You will find more specific advice in

• the guide As a foreign employee in Finland (available in 18 languages)Opens in a new window.
• the Work Help Finland mobile application (available in 26 languages)Opens in a new window..

If you are planning to stay in Finland for at least one year, you can apply for a municipality of residence from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

You must have a municipality of residence if you want to use public health and other similar services in Finland.

1. Book the appointment at the Digital and Population Data Services AgencyOpens in a new window. before coming to Finland to ensure that you can get the appointment as soon as possible after arriving in Finland. 
2. Complete the form Registration information of a foreigner.Opens in a new window. 

If your children or spouse are also moving to Finland, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency will register your family relationships. If possible, book an appointment for the whole family so that you can submit the applications for all family members on the same visit.

1. Book the appointment at the Digital and Population Data Services AgencyOpens in a new window. before coming to Finland to ensure that you can get the appointment as soon as possible after arriving in Finland. 
2. Complete for all the form Registration information of a foreigner.Opens in a new window.

If your spouse is planning to seek work in Finland, they should register as a jobseeker in TE Services (in Finnish)Opens in a new window. as soon as they arrive in Finland. If your spouse is not a citizen of an EU or an EEA country or Switzerland, they must obtain a residence permit and the right to work before registering as a jobseeker.

TE Services provide your spouse with help and support in jobseeking and in adapting to life in Finland. Your spouse must register as a jobseeker to receive unemployment benefits.

When you stay in Finland for more than 6 months, you are generally liable to pay taxes. This means that you will usually have to pay tax to Finland from all your income.

The tax rate for your salary is progressively determined on the basis of your income for the entire year. You will need a Finnish personal identity code and a tax card. 

Staying longer – your tax rate depends on your incomeOpens in a new window..

You need a tax number if you are coming to Finland to work at a construction site or a shipyard.

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

• Rental housing is provided by municipalities , private housing agencies and private persons.
• You should always make the tenancy agreement in writing.
• Your citizenship cannot be used as a basis for not renting you a flat.
• The landlord may require that you have a Finnish personal identity code.
• Many landlords also check your credit information. 
• Most landlords require a security deposit.

You can usually open a bank account if you have a Finnish personal identity code and an official identity document such as a passport. When opening the account, you will also receive online banking codes with which you can identify yourself in online services. In some of the online services you can also identify yourself also with the identification methods of foreigners.

You need a Finnish personal identity code to get a personal telephone and internet connection. Buy a prepaid connection if you still do not have a personal identity code.

Kela provides benefits for many different life events. Benefits are paid to families with children, unemployed persons, people on a low income, students, people suffering from an illness and pensioners.

Read more about social benefits on Kela’s website.Opens in a new window.

If you have problems with your employment relationship, every effort should be made to sort them out at the workplace. Discuss the problems with your supervisor. 

If you do not want to do that or if doing that would not be helpful, you can turn to

• your shop steward, or an elected representative or occupational safety and health representative representing
• your trade union
• telephone service of the occupational safety and health authoritiesOpens in a new window.
• a public legal aid office.

If you suspect a crime, ask for advice from Victim Support FinlandOpens in a new window..