Finland Work Visa Types, Application Processes, and Document Requirements.
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Finland Work Visa Types, Application Processes, and Document Requirements.
The Finland Work Visa program has good potential to provide the opportunity for skilled professionals to be employed in one of the most progressive countries in Europe.
Finland offers the most comfortable working conditions, a good economy and standards of living, and can be the best place in an international location to pursue a secure and rewarding career.
Applying for a work visa in Finland is a procedure that can be followed through a series of steps, which can be done to secure the correct documents, meet the eligibility criteria, and finally start a professional life in Finland.
The visa not only grants a pathway in getting permanent residence and, subsequently, citizenship in Finland, but it also grants employment rights.
The Finnish Work Visa, which is also referred to as the Residence Permit of Employment, is a document that allows citizens of non-EU or non-EEA countries to work and remain in Finland for a given duration.
Citizens of the EU and the EEA are not required to have a visa or a residence permit in order to work in Finland, although they are obliged to enrol their right of residence.
To others, the process of employment requires a work visa before employment.
Finland delivers a number of work visa types based on the specifics and the duration of work.
The first step is to have knowledge of which category fits you before you apply.
Finland Work Visa Types
- Employment Residence Permit- Skilled workers whose employer has confirmed an employment offer in Finland.
- EU Blue Card – This is a set of highly skilled individuals through higher education and a job opportunity that is above the pay threshold.
- Specialist Permit – It applies to professionals in the field of IT or in top desks.
- Seasonal work permit – within the case of brief employment in agriculture, forestry, tourism, or hospitality industries (no longer than nine months).
- Startup Permit – This is intended to assist startups that intend to start operations in Finland.
- Training Permit or Internship or Training Permit: used by students or recent graduates who are on internship or training programs.
Eligibility
You ought to take into account that you qualify as per the minimum requirements before you apply for the Finland Work Visa. These include:
- An authentic job application or job contract by a Finnish employer.
- Evidence that the position provided satisfies the labour requirements in Finland.
- Applicable education, training or working experience on the job.
- Adequate funds to sustain you in Finland.
- Sound criminal record and valid passport.
- Health insurance to stay.
- Adherence to Finnish employment and wage legislation.
Documents Required
It is mandatory to have all the documents ready when one is applying for a Finnish Work Visa.
Failure to fill in or to fill in wrongly can slow down or lead to rejection of your application.
Some of the documents required include a general list as stated below:
- An authentic passport containing two or more free pages.
- Filled in the residence permit application form.
- Two new sizes for passport photographs.
- a replica of the employment settlement or legitimate activity offered by a Finnish organisation.
- evidence of educational and professional excellence (levels, certificates, transcripts).
- Cover letter with your reason for travelling and employment history.
- Evidence of adequate financial ability or income.
- Finland has valid health insurance.
- Police clearance certificate or a background check.
- Evidence of accommodation in Finland.
- Processing of the visa/residence permit application fee.
- Marriage certificate (where necessary).
- Dependent birth certificates (when with).
- Defamiliarization of qualifications (where Finnish authorities require the same).
Follow the steps below to get the visa
##. Find a Job in Finland
- You need to find an offer of employment in Finland before you can apply to be given a work visa.
- The employer has to prove that there was no qualified local or EU candidate to fill the vacancy (labour market test), except in an exemption job such as IT or research.
##. Select an Appropriate Work Visa
- Identify the kind of work visa that fits you.
- To get a residence permit, which would be needed for long-term employment, apply to get a residence permit for an employed person.
- The seasonal permit can be good enough in case of brief-term or seasonal employment.
##. Accumulate the vital files
- Gather all the documents mentioned above.
- They need to either be translated into Finnish, Swedish, or English with the aid of a certified translator in case they’re in a distinctive language.
##. Application Online through the Enter Finland Portal
- The migration policy in Finland is completely digital. Register with the online service Enter Finland, complete the application form, attach the required documents, and pay the fee of processing.
##. Look forward to a selection
- After the application has been acquired, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) will manage the software.
- The processing time is commonly 1 to a few months, regarding the type of visa.
- The organisation can be contacted, which allows you to verify throughout this period.
##. Receive the Decision on the Residence Permit
- In case your application is accepted, you will be provided with a residence permit card.
- The permit will indicate the nature of employment and its term duration.
##. Travel to Finland
- After securing your residence permit card, you will be able to enter Finland.
- Once there, start registering your address at the local Digital and Population Data Services Agency and get a Finnish tax number where necessary.
##. Begin Employment
- Now you’re capable of doing the work legally in Finland according to your employment agreement.
- Usually, make sure that you adhere to the local labour legal guidelines and renew your permit as soon as it has expired, in case you want to keep working.
Processing Time and Process Validity
- Processing Time: It normally takes 1-3 months based on work and type.
- Validity: Generally, in the life of your employment, 2 years. It is renewable, provided the employment is still in existence.
Fees for Finland Work Visa
The expatriate processing fee on Finland Work Visa varies with the mode of application:
- Online application: about EUR490.
- Application of paper: around EUR690.
These are non-refundable fees even in case of a visa rejection.
After you get a work visa, you can have a legal right to:
- Employer, as stated in your application.
- Switch employers in case your permit allows it
- Access to healthcare and social services.
- Request family reunification (spouse and children may accompany you).
- The permanent residence application occurs after the fourth year of employment.
Work Visa Renewal or Extension
In case you are still employed, you will need to seek an extension of your current permit before it runs out. It can be renewed online on the Enter Finland system. Make sure that you are employed and have new documents to renew.
- Typical Visa Rejection Dismissals.
- Inadequate or counterfeit records.
- Unrecognized qualifications.
- Lack of financial documentation.
- Unacceptable or ambiguous job contract.
- Security problems or a criminal record.
- Medical issues or lost insurance.
Tip for a Successful Application
- Make sure your employment opportunity is within the salary and labour requirements in Finland.
- Redo your document translations and certifications.
- Be transparent with the information submitted.
- Store copies of every documentation.
- Book early before you intend to travel so as not to be held up.
Finland Life and Work Culture
- The career in Finland is an area where the professional and personal lives are nicely balanced.
- The Finnish work subculture stresses equality, punctuality, and work-existence stability.
- The employees are furnished with generous vacations, flexible work timings, and desirable operating conditions.
The most popular industries that employ foreign nationals are:
- Information Technology (software creators, cybersecurity professionals)
- Engineering and manufacturing.
- clinical staff
- education and studies
- Hospitality and Tourism
Permanent Residence and Citizenship
- A permanent residence permit can be applied for after four years of living and working in Finland with a continuous residence permit.
- Continuous residence refers to the fact that you have been legally employed and residing in Finland continuously.
- In five years, you can be considered a Finnish citizen, but you must meet language and integration criteria.
