Work in Finland

Always submit your company’s start-up notification regardless of whether you are launching an existing business’s operations in Finland or launching a completely new company. When you start a company, you will receive a unique identifier (Business ID) for your company.

If you have a Finnish personal identity code, submit your company's start-up notification in the Business Information System (YTJ). You can submit your company's information to the trade register of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office and the registers of the Tax Administration via YTJ. You can set up a private entrepreneurship in Finland, if you have a permanent place of residence in the European Economic Area.

If you do not have a Finnish personal identity code, submit a start-up notification on paper in the Tax Administration or to the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH).

File a start-up notification for a private trader online or with a paper from (YTJ).

Read more about a private trader’s (toiminimiyrittäjä) start-up notification (Finnish Patent and Registration Office PRH).Opens in a new window.

If you stay in Finland for a maximum of 6 months, you are a person with limited tax liability. This means that you will only pay the necessary taxes from income you receive from Finland. 

Taxation is also affected by whether a permanent place of business in Finland is formed.

Read the instructions on the Tax Administration website:

• Staying no more than 6 months in Finland – here’s how you can take care of your taxesOpens in a new window.
• Read the Tax Administration’s instructions for a foreign business in FinlandOpens in a new window.

If you stay in Finland for more than 6 months, you are generally liable to pay taxes. This means that you will pay the necessary taxes in Finland from all income you receive. An exception to this are tax agreements between some countries. 

Taxation is also affected by whether a permanent place of business in Finland is formed.

Read the instructions on the Tax Administration website:

• Staying longer than 6 months in Finland – here’s how you can take care of your taxesOpens in a new window.
• Read the Tax Administration’s instructions for a foreign business in FinlandOpens in a new window.

When setting up a company in Finland, find out 

• which permits you will need to apply for 
• what notifications you have to submit and to whom
• whether your field has special obligations.

Use the Suomi.fi permit search to find out which permits your company needs.

As an entrepreneur, you are responsible for arranging your own pension insurance.

A company's pension insurance (YEL insurance) is mandatory when you meet the following conditions: 

• you are between 18 and 67 years old, 
• you have worked as an entrepreneur for at least 4 months, 
• you live in Finland, 
• your earned income is at least EUR 9 010.28 per year (2024), and 
• you work in your company. 

If the YEL insurance is mandatory for you, you must obtain the insurance within six months of starting your business.

Read more about a self-employed person’s pension insurance from the Finnish Centre for Pensions’ site Self-employed.Opens in a new window.

The Entrepreneur Fund is an unemployment fund for entrepreneurs. You can sign up as a member of the Entrepreneur Fund if the income confirmed for your pension insurance is at least EUR 14 803 per year. 

Read more about the Entrepreneur Fund.Opens in a new window.

Some trade unions accept also entrepreneurs as members.  You should contact a trade union in your field if you are looking to join a trade union as an entrepreneur.

If you recruit an employee, familiarise yourself with the obligations and issues related to the hiring process. Recruiting an employee - Suomi.fi