Foreigners planing paid employment in Finland must usually get either a residence permit or an employee's residence permit. Self-employed persons intending to carry our a business in Finland must apply for a residence permit for a self-employed person. EU/EEA citizens must register their residence in Finland in accordance with the provisions that apply to them. There are, however, many exeptions to the regulations. You should check the latest provisions on the Internet.
More information:
Immigration Agency - www.migri.fi
A residence permit
A residence permit may either be for a fixed term or be permanent. A fixed-term residence permit is granted according to the nature of residence either as a temporary or a continuous residence permit. The first residence permit is always issued for a fixed term.
Residence permit types
Visa
Visas (viisumi) are only granted for short visits. Such a visit must not exceed the duration of three months. Foreigners who come to Finland e.g. on holiday, on business or to take part in a meeting, require a visa. Visas are generally applied for at the Finnish mission in the applicant’s country of domicile.
Finland has agreements with certain countries that exempt the citizens of those countries from the need to obtain a visa when entering Finland. These include the Nordic countries and countries within the EU.
More about visas can be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ulkoasiainministeriö) website.
NON-EU Citizen residence permit
Residence permits and visas may be issued for entry into Finland. On Immigration Agency’s web site you will find information about the circumstances under which permits may be issued. Permits are usually given for charge. On Immigration Agency’s web sites you can check whether you fulfil the conditions for having a permit in Finland. The service is available in Finnish, Swedish and English.
Citizens of Nordic and EU countries
Nationals of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland (i.e. the Nordic Countries) can enter and reside in Finland without a residence permit. Also, a work permit is not required from citizens of the Nordic Countries that want to find salaried employment in Finland.
Nationals of an EU or an EEA country can reside, work, practise a profession or study in Finland for three months without any particular procedure involving authorities. You must register your rights of residency if the duration of stay exceeds three months.
Citizens of other countries
If you are from a country other than an EU or Nordic country and you wish to stay in Finland for over three months, you will usually need a residence permit (oleskelulupa). If you wish to work in Finland, you will usually require a residence permit for an employed person.
Forms for applying for a residence permit:
Information on the prices of residence permits
