FINLAND
Citizens of countries outside of the European Union (EU), Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein will need to apply for a residence permit before working in Finland. The type of permit employees will need depends on the nature of the work they’ll be doing for your company.
In June 2022, Finland also introduced a fast-tracked D Visa for specialists, startup entrepreneurs, and their family members. As of Dec. 22, 2022, the D Visa also includes employees in managerial positions, researchers, students, and their families. This visa allows international workers to enter Finland and start working within 10 days.
Requirements to obtain Finland work visas, to obtain a working visa in Finland, employees need:
- An employment contract
- A valid passport and passport photo
- A residence permit for an employed person application
- Color copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes
- Document showing that the individual is legally staying in the country where they submit the application
- Application process
The process begins when employees are offered a position with a company in Finland. An employment contract is necessary to live and work in Finland legally.
If employees are moving to Finland, they’ll need to apply for a residence permit, which can be done online through the Enter Finland service. If the employer has obtained employer certification, employees can apply for a D visa at the same time they apply for a residence permit. The D visa allows individuals to travel to Finland immediately after they’ve been issued with a residence permit and a D visa sticker has been attached to their passport.