In Finland, the health care system provides affordable public health services to people who live permanently in the country. In general, a person is entitled to public health services if they have a municipality of residence in Finland. Finnish health care aims to maintain and improve people’s health, well-being, work ability, and functional capacity, and the system emphasizes preventive, corrective, and rehabilitative services.
The nursing profession remains in demand in Finland. The Finnish government has identified nurses and practical nurses among national labor-shortage sectors, and a 2025 government-commissioned study estimated that by 2040 Finland will need about 9,400 more registered nurses and nearly 26,000 more practical nurses compared with 2021. According to the Finnish Nurses Association, there were 73,688 nurses in the Finnish workforce in its published workforce statistics, including nurses in private practice, midwives, and public health nurses.
Nurses throughout the country play an important role in helping Finland respond to health care needs, including the needs of an aging population. Below, you can learn how much nurses make and the steps to become a nurse in Finland.
How to Become a Nurse in Finland
Step 1. Obtain a Qualified Nursing Degree at a Finnish University of Applied Sciences
To become a registered nurse in Finland, students usually complete a Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing degree at a Finnish university of applied sciences. The degree is typically 210 ECTS credits and takes three and a half years to complete.
International students can apply through the joint application or through a separate application, depending on the program. In the joint application, applicants can apply to up to six study programs with one application form. For separate applications, applicants follow the application instructions and deadlines set by the chosen university of applied sciences.
Several Finnish universities of applied sciences offer Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing degrees taught in English or in English and Finnish. Examples include Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Häme University of Applied Sciences, and Novia University of Applied Sciences.
Step 2. Achieve a Proficiency Level in the Finnish Language
Health care professionals in Finland must have sufficient oral and written proficiency in Finnish or Swedish to perform their duties. Nursing programs taught in English commonly include Finnish language studies, and the level of Finnish needed for clinical practice and employment varies by institution and placement. For example, some programs state that students do not need Finnish skills at admission but must study Finnish during the degree to prepare for clinical placements and work in Finland.
The Finnish Supervisory Agency accepts several ways to demonstrate sufficient Finnish or Swedish proficiency. These include the Civil Service Language Certificate with at least “satisfactory skills” in all skills areas, or the National Certificate of Language Proficiency at the intermediate level test, levels 3–4, with a score of at least 3 in all skills areas in the same test.
If an applicant does not have one of those test certificates, the agency may also accept other evidence, such as:
- a Finnish comprehensive, upper secondary, or matriculation certificate showing a passing grade in Finnish or Swedish as the mother tongue or second language;
- a vocational qualification completed in Finnish or Swedish;
- studies in Finnish for civil servants or Swedish for civil servants at a university or university of applied sciences;
- a maturity test taken in Finnish or Swedish as part of a university or university of applied sciences degree; or
- an employer statement assessing the applicant’s written and spoken language proficiency, reading comprehension, and speech comprehension.
Step 3. Apply for Licensing
The practice of registered nursing in Finland is restricted to licensed professionals. Only people duly licensed by the Finnish Supervisory Agency may perform the duties of a licensed health care professional, such as a registered nurse.
Applicants should apply for the right to practice from the Finnish Supervisory Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto, LVV). The agency took over Valvira’s duties on January 1, 2026, and rights to practice previously granted by Valvira remain valid. Upon approval, the agency grants the right to practice as a licensed professional and the right to use the relevant professional title.
Step 4. Prepare All the Requirements Needed for the Application
The exact requirements depend on whether the applicant was trained in Finland, in another EU/EEA member state, or outside the EU/EEA. In general, applicants should be prepared to submit the following documents when required:
- a valid identity and nationality document, such as a passport or accepted identity card;
- a Bachelor of Health Care, Nursing degree certificate or diploma;
- a certificate of sufficient Finnish or Swedish language proficiency;
- for applicants trained abroad, a certificate verifying that the right to practice has not been restricted or revoked, such as a Certificate of Current Professional Status or Certificate of Good Standing;
- for EU/EEA-trained applicants, a certificate of conformity when required; and
- official translations of required documents if the originals are not in Finnish, Swedish, or English.
Step 5. Pay the Necessary Fees
Applicants must pay the fees charged by the Finnish Supervisory Agency. A fee is charged for every decision concerning rights to practice, including denied applications, and half of the processing fee is payable if an application is withdrawn.
For EU/EEA-trained registered nurses, current 2026 fees include €710 for licensing and protected-title registration, €470 for recognition of professional qualifications, €240 for licensing after proof of language proficiency has been received, €100–€400 for an expert opinion, and €710 for a decision on conditional recognition.
For nurses trained outside the EU/EEA, current 2026 fees may include €200–€600 for an expert opinion, €520 for a decision requiring additional studies, €870 for licensing after completing additional studies, and €1,390 for licensing without a decision requiring additional studies.
Step 6. Wait for the Decision
The decision on the right to practice is issued in Finnish or Swedish. Processing times depend on where the applicant completed their nursing education and whether the application is complete.
- For EU/EEA-trained registered nurses, the Finnish Supervisory Agency asks for missing documents within 30 days of receiving the application. If no additional information is required, processing may be completed within 30 days, but the statutory processing period for applications is three months.
- For applicants trained outside the EU/EEA, the processing period is at least four months from the date when the agency has received all required documents. Processing can take significantly longer if the agency needs further information or must verify the qualification.
- Applicants trained outside the EU/EEA may also be required to complete additional studies before final licensing if the agency finds differences between the applicant’s education and the corresponding Finnish training.
Processing is based on the documents received and the applicable legal route. Submitting all required documents in the correct form can help avoid delays.
Finland’s health care system focuses on maintaining and improving health, preventing illness, and providing public health services to residents. Because Finland continues to need qualified nurses, nursing can offer meaningful career opportunities for people who are prepared to meet the degree, language, and licensing requirements.
We hope that you found this article on the steps to becoming a nurse in Finland informative and helpful. You can find more information on different Finnish universities and scholarship opportunities on the Study in Finland page. If you are interested, feel free to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
