The Ultimate Guide to Getting a Finland Work Visa: Post Study Work Options
Finland’s high quality of living and work conditions entice foreign students to continue staying in the country. Finland is known for its high-income economy where human rights, equality, justice and health care facilities are accessible to all residents regardless of race and color and is very accepting of foreign students to stay back and work post-graduation.
Finland allows foreign students to work while studying and search for work after studying which is not complex as English is being widely spoken in Finland, although it does not hurt if you learn the local language.
Just like any other EU member state, your visa options in the country varies depending on your nationality and the nature of employment. If you are a foreign EU/EEA or Nordic student, you do not need any special permits to work in Finland. You need to get a tax card (verokortti) at the nearest tax office (Verotoimisto) and give it to your employer. If your work in Finland lasts for more than three months, apply for a registration of an EU citizen’s right of residence through the Enter Finland service or at a service point of Finnish Immigration Service (Maahanmuuttovirasto).
Non-EU students who want to stay in the country post study needs to apply for the next permit before your current visa runs out. See your options below and jump start your plans as the visa process takes months.
Finland offers unrestricted and fair opportunities of work to foreign students who have studied in Finland as their residents. If you have decided to continue living in Finland after your studies then you can extend your student resident permit for one year before it expires. You may continue working or start a new employment already before your application for an extended permit has been decided. If you have applied for an extended permit, you may work without restrictions (for example full time) regardless of your field of study. If you receive a negative decision on your extended permit application, you are not allowed to continue working even if you appeal the decision.
Extended Permit to look for work or start a business
If you have not found a job after completing your study program, then you can apply for resident extension for job search purpose or start a business. You can extend your stay for a maximum of one year. You need to apply for the extension before your student visa expires. Expected processing time is 4-8 months.
You need to have a valid residence permit for studies or for scientific research to eligible for the visa extension and you will not be granted a residence permit to look for work if you have received a decision on deportation from Finland.
To apply, you need to prepare the following:
- Valid Passport
- Valid residence permit for studies or for scientific research
- Passport photo
- Degree certificate
- Financial Proof (at least €6,720)
Once you find a job or you already started your business then you should apply for a new residence permit based on work or an entrepreneur before the extended permit expires.
Extended Permit on the basis of work
If you have an employment contract or a binding job offer you can submit an application for resident permit extension and your salary should meet the income requirement of your field or €1,236 per month. The expected processing time is 2-4 months.
If you have completed your degree from Finland several years ago, you can still work in Finland despite the fact you have not been living in the country in between this period. You can apply for a resident permit for work purposes as a candidate who has studied in Finland. There is no time limit and restrictions for applying for a resident permit for work in Finland after you have studied from there.
The foreign nationals who are granted resident permit on work basis have basic rights of an employee as provided to Finnish nationals despite what their job type is and what their salary is.
To apply, you need to prepare the following:
- Valid Passport
- Valid residence permit for studies or for scientific research
- Passport photo
- Degree certificate
- Financial Proof (depends on income requirement)
- Employment contract
Residence permit on the basis of work
Once you found a job and you have a signed employment contract or a binding job offer you can transition to this permit. The main purpose of your stay in Finland must be work. The expected processing time is 2-4 months.
To apply, you need to prepare the following:
- Valid Passport
- Valid residence permit for studies or for scientific research
- Passport photo
- Degree certificate
- Financial Proof (depends on income requirement)
- Employment contract
Residence Permit for an Entrepreneur
If you intend to become an entrepreneur then you need to apply for this permit. Before a permit can be issued, entrepreneurs usually need to enter their business in the Trade Register maintained by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office. You cannot get a residence permit only because you own a company. To work as a freelancer or a light entrepreneur (where you employ yourself and perform entrepreneurial activities). You must also work at the company in Finland. The expected processing time is 4 months.
Working Holiday Residence Permit
Finland has a reciprocal agreement with Australia and New Zealand. Expected processing time is 2 months.
Australian citizen may work for a maximum of nine (9) months during a twelve-month (12) trip, but you may only work for three (3) months for a single employer. If you plan to work for the same employer for longer than three months, you must apply for and be granted a residence permit for an employed person.
New Zealand citizens’ right to work is not restricted in the agreement between Finland and New Zealand and there is no processing fee for the permit.
To apply, you should prepare the following:
- Valid Passport
- Valid residence permit for studies or for scientific research
- Passport photo
- Documents showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application
- Return Ticket
- Proof of funds (€2,000 in your bank account for the first three months)
- Health insurance for your entire stay (if you are a citizen of New Zealand)
Resident Permit as a Specialist of Your Work Field
The third-country nationals applying for a residence permit as a specialist with a monthly salary must be at least €3,000. This is the permit for you if you work as a specialist or as a teacher and have a contract of employment with an employer operating in Finland or have accepted a binding job offer. The expected processing time is 1-2 months.
EU Blue Card
The third-country nationals working as highly qualified employees in Finland must have a monthly salary of €4,732. The monthly allowance, medical and accommodation benefits and travel allowances are not included in monthly salaries of EU Blue Card Holders. The permit is valid until further notice which means the period of validity is not limited. If you have an EU residence permit granted by a Schengen country, you may stay in another Schengen country for a maximum of 90 days. You need to apply for this permit before your current permit expires.
Internship
The third-country nationals working in Finland as an intern must at least earn €1,211 per month. The resident card for work purposes will not be granted to unpaid interns. This is a temporary residence permit for a maximum period of 18 months. The expected processing time is 1-4 months.
Permanent Residency Permit
The permanent residency card can be applied after four years of continuous stay in Finland on the legal basis of work or family grounds. When you apply for the permanent resident card of Finland your continuing resident permit must be valid or have not been yet expired.
For the permanent residency card of Finland, you also have to prove that you have not committed any crime during this duration of 4 years. You must provide a record of their accommodations in all these years, your source of income, and that their health is in good condition.
If you meet the requirements and granted permanent resident card you have right to work wherever you want in Finland unrestrictedly. You can travel in and out of Finland without any restriction and have the right to avail government-provided benefits of free education for students and concessions on health care services except for the right to vote.
The expected processing time is up to 2 months for electronic application or up to 9 months for a paper application.
Naturalised Citizenship
Once you have continuously lived in Finland for the past 5 years on the permanent resident card or has married to a Finnish citizen; the duration of continuous residence in Finland and marriage should be 4 years
It is required to have knowledge of the Finnish language and must prove knowledge about the Finnish constitution.
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