How to Get a Finnish Work Visa (9 Steps)

Finland offers numerous work opportunities for foreign nationals. If you have already been offered a job in Finland, check which permit applies to your situation before you travel. In Finnish immigration terminology, what many applicants call a “work visa” is usually a residence permit on the basis of work. For a standard employment relationship, many non-EU/EEA applicants use the residence permit for an employed person, also known as TTOL.

A Schengen visa is intended for short stays of no more than 90 days. As a rule, visa holders may not work in Finland or in any other Schengen country. If you plan to work in Finland, you will usually need a residence permit granted by Finland, and in most cases you may not start working before you have a valid residence permit.

You usually need a Finnish residence permit if you are coming from outside the EU and plan to work in Finland for more than 90 days. The rules are different for the following groups:

• Citizens of EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland can start working in Finland immediately after arrival and do not need a residence permit. However, they must register their right of residence if they stay in Finland for more than three months.
• Citizens of Nordic countries, meaning Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland, register their right of residence with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
• Citizens of visa-free countries can generally visit Finland without a visa for up to 90 days, but this does not automatically give the right to work. Some short-term work is allowed without a residence permit only in specific cases, and work lasting more than 90 days always requires a residence permit.

Before making travel plans, use the Finnish Immigration Service’s Application Finder or the relevant application page to confirm the correct permit type for your job. The process below explains the common steps for a first residence permit for an employed person, but different rules may apply to specialists, seasonal workers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and other categories.

There are several things that you need to prepare before flying to the country. For a smooth process, complete the requirements, check the latest official instructions, and make sure your employer has submitted the required employment information. Here are the steps on how to apply for a work-based residence permit in Finland.

Steps to Apply for a Finnish Work Visa

You will usually apply online through Enter Finland or use a paper application form if you cannot apply online. If you are applying for a first residence permit, you must usually submit the application abroad and prove your identity at a Finnish mission or, in some countries, at a VFS Global application center.

Step 1. Investigate Current Restrictions

Before making official plans, check the Finnish Immigration Service, Finland Abroad, and Finnish Border Guard instructions for the latest entry, residence permit, and border requirements. Entry rules can change because of public health, security, border, or country-specific restrictions. You should also check which Finnish mission or application center handles residence permit matters in the country where you are legally staying.

Step 2. Completely Fill Out the Visa Application Form

Start by choosing the correct residence permit application. You can fill in the application online in Enter Finland, which is usually the faster option and has a lower fee than a paper application. If you cannot use Enter Finland, fill in the appropriate paper application form.

Answer all questions carefully and add the required attachments. You must apply for your residence permit personally. You cannot have another person, such as your employer or spouse, apply for the permit on your behalf.

Step 3. Provide Your Work Contract and Educational Verification

Your employer must supplement your application by adding the terms of employment and the required employer documents. These details normally include your job, salary, working hours, and other employment terms.

You must also have the qualifications and professional skills required for the job. Your employer must verify these skills when submitting the terms of employment. For regulated professions, such as certain health care roles, you may also need permission to practice from the relevant Finnish authority.

Step 4. Submit Proof of No Criminal Charges

A criminal record certificate is not listed as a standard attachment for every residence permit for an employed person. However, you must meet Finland’s general residence permit requirements. This means, among other things, that you must not be under an entry ban, and you must not be considered a danger to public order or security, national security, public health, or Finland’s international relations. The Finnish Immigration Service may request additional information if needed.

Step 5. Prepare for Travel Paperwork and No Travel Ban

You need a valid passport and, if you are applying abroad, proof that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the residence permit application. You do not normally need to submit return flight reservations for a residence permit for an employed person. Avoid booking nonrefundable travel until you have received the required permit.

You must also meet the general entry requirements, including not being under an entry ban. When you arrive in Finland, border authorities may ask you to show that you still meet the requirements for your residence permit.

Step 6. Trade Specific Requirements

You may need additional documents depending on the type of work you will perform in Finland. These can include professional licenses, proof of qualifications, or documents required for a specific work-based residence permit category. Use the Finnish Immigration Service’s instructions for your exact application type before submitting the application.

Step 7. Obtain Necessary Documents

For a residence permit for an employed person, you generally need a valid passport, a passport photo that follows the Finnish Police photo guidelines or a photograph retrieval code from a photo shop, color copies of the passport page containing your personal data and all passport pages with notes, and a document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application.

The passport photo must be no more than six months old. A residence permit is not normally stamped into your passport as a work visa sticker; if approved, you receive a residence permit card.

You must also meet the income requirement for your permit. For a residence permit for an employed person, your salary must at least correspond to the salary specified in the applicable collective agreement, and your total gross salary must be at least EUR 1,600 per month in 2026. Salary supplements, such as evening or night work supplements, are not included in this minimum. Zero-hours contracts and on-demand contracts do not meet the requirement for this permit type.

Bank statements and accommodation details are not listed as standard attachments for every residence permit for an employed person, but the authorities may request additional information when necessary. After arriving in Finland, you may also need to contact the Digital and Population Data Services Agency for registration matters, such as a municipality of residence and a personal identity code, if these were not issued with your residence permit card.

Step 8. Schedule an Interview and Wait for the Visa Result

After submitting the application, pay the processing fee and prove your identity. If you applied abroad, book an appointment at the Finnish mission or VFS Global application center that handles residence permit matters in your country of legal stay. An interview may be required in some cases, but it is not automatic for every applicant.

Once your employer has supplemented your application and you have proved your identity, wait for the Finnish Immigration Service’s decision. The Finnish Immigration Service will contact you if it needs more information. Do not start working in Finland before you have received the residence permit that gives you the right to work.

Documents Needed for a Finnish Work Visa

There are several requirements to prepare before applying. The exact attachments depend on your permit category, but the table below lists the common documents and conditions for a residence permit for an employed person.

We hope that this article on how to get a Finland work-based residence permit was helpful! If you want to learn more about study requirements in Finland, make sure to check out our Study in Finland Page! You can also check Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad!