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Working in Finland


A foreigner who intends to engage in remunerated employment in Finland must usually have a residence permit for an employed person. A person engaged in an independent business or profession in Finland must have a residence permit for a self-employed person.

However, there are many exceptions to this rule. For example, citizens of European Union (EU) Member States and equivalent persons do not need a residence permit for an employed person or for a self-employed person.

Permissions

Self-employed people arriving from outside of the EU must apply for a permit for their businesses. The issuing of this permit is a two-step procedure:

Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (www.ely-keskus.fi) will analyse the candidate’s opportunities for profitable business operations and assesses the security of his/her livelihood.
After this, the Directorate of Immigration (www.migri.fi) will grant a first-residence permit and the local police authority an extended permit, unless there are specific obstacles, which may relate to a threat to public order or security.

The principal rule is that applications from abroad are filed at a local Finnish mission. The applications for a permit extension are then filed with the local police authority. The applicant fills in a residence-permit application and encloses an account of their business plan and concept, a net-sales forecast, tenancy agreement, and other contributing factors relating to the profitability of the business for the evaluation that is carried out by the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.