🧭 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)
Migri here is the place you need to start
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.
