Work Visa / Finland Work Visa
Finland Work Visa
Applying for a Finland Work Visa can be a great opportunity for individuals looking to advance their careers or explore new professional opportunities in one of Europe's most economically developed and
multilingual countries. Here are some reasons why someone might apply for a Finland Work Visa :
Why apply for a Finland Work Visa ?
- Finland is known for its high quality of life, excellent education system, and progressive work culture.
- Ranked among the happiest countries in the world.
- Finland has some of the shortest working hours in the world (7.5 hours/day, 37.5 hours/week).
- Generous parental leave policies (up to 54 weeks).
- Flexible working arrangements (remote work, flexible hours).
- High employee satisfaction and low stress levels.
- Ranked as one of the best countries for living conditions, healthcare, and education.
- Low crime rate, clean environment, and excellent public transportation.
- High demand for skilled workers in IT, engineering, healthcare, and education.
- Start-up friendly environment with strong government support.
Working in Finland
- Key industries: ICT, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and clean energy.
- High demand for skilled professionals in engineering, IT, and medical fields.
- Unemployment Rate: ~6-8% (indicate the latest figure)
- Growth in tech startups and innovation sectors.
- Competitive wages
- Comprehensive social benefits: health care, pension, and parental leave.
- Private sector offers performance-based bonuses and benefits.
Several visa and work permit options
- Residence Permit for an Employed Person
- Specialist Permit
- EU Blue Card
- Startup Permit
- Researcher Permit
- Seasonal Work Permit
- Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT) Permit
- Au Pair Permit
Residence Permit for an Employed Person
- Purpose : For regular employees who have secured a job in Finland.
- Process : This requires a work contract, and the employer may need to show that they couldn't find suitable candidates from the EU/EEA area.
- Duration : Initially granted for one year, but can be extended.
- This visa is the most common type of work visa. There are three types of visas in this category
- Continuous (A), Temporary (B), and Permanent (P). Employees who are seeking residency for the first time in Finland will apply for a Temporary Permit.
- A temporary residency permit is issued as a fixed-term (B) or continuous residence permit, depending on the duration of the stay.
- The first permit is usually given for one year, unless you apply explicitly for a shorter validity period. Ongoing residence permits may be extended for a maximum of three years.
Specialist Permit
- Purpose: For highly skilled professionals, such as IT professionals or engineers.
- Process: Requires proof of employment in a specialized field. This permit is processed faster compared to other work permits.
- Duration: Issued for the length of your employment contract (up to 2 years).
- Application: Can be applied for in Finland or from abroad
EU Blue Card
- Purpose : For highly qualified professionals from non-EU countries.
- Requirements : Requires higher education qualifications and a valid job contract offering a salary that is at least 1.5 times the average wage in Finland.
- Duration: Initially issued for up to 2 years and can be renewed.
- Application: Can be applied for after securing a job in Finland.
Startup Permit
- Purpose : For entrepreneurs and startup founders planning to launch a business in Finland.
- Requirements : Innovative business plan and financial backing.
- Duration : Initially for up to 2 years, extendable.
- Application : Apply through Finland's Business Immigration Service.
Fee Per Applicant
Electronic Application: €380
Paper Application: €480
Documents required
- To obtain a Finland work permit, each employee will need:
- An employment contract
- A valid passport and passport photo
- A residence permit
- Medical certificates
Application Process
The procedure begins when the employee is offered a job with a Finnish firm.
Before arriving in Finland, the employee must apply for a residence permit, which can be done online using the Enter Finland website. Within three months after filing the application, the employee must visit a Finnish diplomatic mission. Original copies of the documents, as well as supporting documentation and his fingerprints, must be presented. The Employment and Economic Development Office will assess your application. After establishing that the employee meets all requirements for a residence visa, the Finnish Immigration Service, or Migri, will make the final decision. The employee and the employer will get written notice of the decision.
After this, the employee will receive a residence permit card from the Finnish embassy. The first permit is valid for one year and can be renewed later.
Job Opportunities in Finland
- 180,000+ job opportunities in Finland for foreign nationals
- GDP increased to $312 billion in 2024
- 5.1% unemployment rate in 2024
- Plans to issue 40,000+ work permits in 2024
Finland Work permit to Finland PR
Candidates are eligible to obtain a PR after they have lived in Finland continuously for 4 years without any breaks on a residence visa. Candidates can also obtain an EU residence permit after they have lived in Finland for 5 years.
- Finland keeps a track of multiple citizenships; it implies that a citizen of Finland can also hold a citizenship in another country. The authorities of Finland will consider the people who hold multiple citizenships as a citizen in Finland as well as abroad.
- To apply for Finnish citizenship, you must meet the following requirements for eligibility:
- Applicant must have lived for sufficient amount of time in Finland.
- No criminal record.
- Have a Job offer in Finland
- Should have acceptable skills in Swedish or Finnish
