🧭 Step by Step: What Permits Are Needed?
🔹 For All Foreigners:
- Job or assignment (or study place)
- Residence permit or registration:
- EU citizens: registration at the Immigration Service (if over 3 months)
- Others: residence permit (work, study, entrepreneurship)
- Tax card (Tax Administration)
- Personal identification number and address (Digital and Population Data Services Agency)
- Bank account (often needed for salary)
- Employment contract or assignment contract
- Register as a jobseeker (TE Office, if unemployed)
🌍 Employment Options by Visa Type
🇪🇺 EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens
- No residence permit needed, can work freely.
- Register residence if staying over 3 months.
- Can work as an employee, entrepreneur, or light entrepreneur.
🎓 Student Visa
- Can work up to 30 hours per week during the semester.
- Can work freely during summer and holidays.
- Can also work as a light entrepreneur or through an invoicing service.
🛂 Travel Visa (Schengen)
- Does not entitle to work.
- Working requires a residence permit or visa change.
💼 Work Residence Permit
- Granted for a specific job or sector.
- Can work as an employee or apply for a separate permit for entrepreneurship.
💰 Income Limits and Taxation
| Type | Income Limit (2025) | Pension |
|---|---|---|
| Student | approx. 1,000 €/month (30 h/week) | No pension accrual, unless YEL |
| Employee | No minimum income, but TES salary | Pension accrues automatically |
| Entrepreneur | YEL min. 15,128 €/year | Pension accrues according to YEL |
| EU Citizen | No income limit | Pension accrues in Finland |
- Taxation: If you stay in Finland for more than 183 days a year, you are generally taxable in Finland.
- Pension: Pension accrues from work done in Finland. For entrepreneurs, it requires YEL insurance.