How to Find Work in Finland: Complete Guide

Working in Finland is attractive for labor migrants due to the high employment rate of 6.5% and good salaries. The main employment opportunities in Finland for foreigners include information technology, healthcare, construction, and seasonal agriculture.

However, in 2024, Finland’s migration authorities updated their immigration policy, tightening it for low-skilled workers while simplifying it for highly skilled professionals.

In this article, we will thoroughly explore all aspects of employment in Finland, from analyzing in-demand professions to visa procedures.

Brief Overview of the Labor Market in Finland

Finland actively attracts foreign workers to fill labor shortages in key sectors. However, the qualifications required are relatively high, and while English is widely spoken in major cities, to secure a good job, it is essential to have at least an A2-B1 level of Finnish.

Key sectors with high demand for foreigners:

• Information technology (IT). Finland may not be a global center for technological innovations, but it hosts well-known companies such as Nokia, Rovio, and Supercell. These generate demand for software developers, data engineers, cybersecurity specialists, and AI professionals. English is often sufficient, making this one of the most popular job options in Finland without knowledge of Finnish.
• Healthcare. The aging population (25% of residents are over 65) has led to a shortage of medical professionals. According to Finland’s Ministry of Health, by 2025, the country will need around 15,000 nurses and 2,000 doctors. Physiotherapists, dentists, and workers for nursing homes are also in demand.
• Construction. There is constant development in the construction of new buildings, and like in many other countries, Finland faces a labor shortage in this sector as well. The primary demand is for welders, carpenters, electricians, and heavy machinery operators.
• Agriculture. The agricultural sector is not only a major source of seasonal work in Finland, but also hires workers for permanent positions in greenhouses and farms. Foreigners are most often employed for berry picking in Finland. In 2024 alone, the country issued around 20,000 seasonal visas.
• Tourism and hospitality. The growth of ecotourism in Lapland has increased the demand for guides, chefs, and hotel staff, especially during the winter season (November to March).

Popular Finland careers for foreigners:

• Software Developers (Python, Java, C++).
• Machine Learning Specialists.
• Data Analysts.
• Nurses.
• General Practitioners.
• Caregivers.
• Welders.
• Concrete Workers.
• Crane Operators.
• Berry Pickers.
• Greenhouse Workers.
• Guides with English proficiency.
• Restaurant Service Staff.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in Finland

As already mentioned, the main challenge of the Finnish labor market is the language barrier. About 70% of job vacancies require knowledge of Finnish or Swedish. Even jobs in Finland from direct employers typically require at least a basic level of the language, so it’s always advisable to check the language requirements.

Salaries in Finland

Finnish salaries are among the highest in Europe, with an average gross income of 4100 euros/month. After all deductions, the net salary typically ranges from 2800 to 3000 euros/month. The median salary is around 3600 euros/month gross.

Finland does not have a legislatively set minimum wage. Instead, Finland’s minimum salary rates are determined by collective agreements (työehtosopimukset), which are negotiated between trade unions and employers for each sector. These agreements specify base rates, allowances for experience, overtime pay, and other conditions. According to Statistics Finland, in 2025, the minimum wage in most sectors is expected to range from 1,500 to 2,000 euros/month.

Average salaries in Finland by profession:

Taxes in Finland

Any earnings are subject to Finnish income tax. If a person resides in the country for more than 183 days, they become a tax resident and are required to pay taxes on all income, including foreign income. Those who stay for less than the specified period are taxed only on their Finnish income.

Finnish salary tax is the primary form of taxation. For residents, it consists of two parts: the state tax (verotulo) and the municipal tax (kunnallisvero). The Finnish tax rate starts at 0% for incomes up to 21,200 euros/year and increases up to 44% for incomes over 150,000 euros/year. For a salary of 3500 euros/month (42,000 euros/year), the rate is approximately 21%, which means around 8820 euros are withheld annually.

The municipal Finland personal income tax rate varies between 16.5% and 23.5%, depending on the region: in Helsinki, it is 18%, while in Lapland, it can go up to 22%. Therefore, total taxes on a monthly salary of 3790 euros will range between 25% and 35%. Additionally, members of the Evangelical Lutheran or Orthodox Church are subject to a church tax, which is between 1% and 2.2%.

Income tax in Finland for non-residents is 35%. However, if the individual resides in an EU/EEA country or a country with a tax treaty with Finland, they can request progressive taxation, which reduces the rate to 12-30%, depending on the income, and includes deductions for transport and housing expenses.

Tax in Finland for foreign seasonal workers (C-category visa) is a special one. It is paid instead of the regular income tax at a fixed rate of 510 euros for 3 months or 17 euros/day.

Employers withhold taxes directly from salaries based on the tax card (verokortti), which can be obtained on the official Finnish Tax Administration website. There, individuals can also calculate their individual tax rate using a calculator. Without a tax card, the tax rate is 60%.

Other mandatory taxes and contributions:

• Pension contributions (TyEL). 6.35% of the salary for individuals aged 17–52, and 7.85% for those over 53 years old.
• Unemployment insurance contributions. 1.9% of the salary, which amounts to approximately 66 euros for a monthly salary of 3,500 euros.
• Television and radio tax (Yle-vero). Around 163 euros/year, regardless of media usage.

Finland’s tax for foreigners that counted as self-employed persons differs slightly from that for employees. The income tax is also calculated on a progressive scale:

• 0% for profits up to 21,200 euros/year
• 12.64% for profits between 21,200 and 32,500 euros
• Up to 44% for profits exceeding 150,000 euros

However, the entrepreneur is required to pay these taxes independently through advance payments (ennakkovero). These are made monthly or quarterly based on estimated profits, which can be calculated using the Finnish Tax Administration’s online calculator. If the actual profit turns out to be lower than the estimate, any overpayment will be refunded after submitting the declaration through OmaVero (between March and May).

Another important tax for self-employed individuals is VAT (ALV). This must be paid only if the individual’s turnover exceeds 15,000 euros per year, at a rate of 24% (10% for tourism services and 14% for food products).

Social security contributions (YEL) are also required, set at a rate of 24.1% of the estimated annual income. The minimum income for contributions is 9,010 euros/year, and the maximum income is 204,625 euros/year.

Average income in Finland after taxes (net income):

Tax Refunds in Finland

Finland income tax refunds (veronpalautus) are possible if you have overpaid taxes or are eligible for deductions. In 2024, the average refund was between 500 and 1000 euros.

Between March and April, the Finnish Tax Administration sends out tax declarations (veroilmoitus) via OmaVero or by mail. If you have overpaid, the refund will be transferred to your bank account (as specified in OmaVero) or sent as a postal transfer to Nordea. If you underpaid, you will need to pay the remaining tax (jäännösvero).

Work Visa for Finland

To understand how to obtain a finland job seeker visa, it’s important to first understand how the Finnish migration system works. Finland does not have a traditional “work visa.” Instead, the system relies on residence permits that include the right to work.

In the conventional sense, a work visa is a document that allows a foreigner to enter a country and work there. In Finland, this process works differently. You can only work based on a residence permit that grants you the right to work. A visa (usually a Type D visa) is issued only after the residence permit has been approved, allowing you to enter the country and collect your residence card.

The process is as follows:

1. Obtain a residence permit (via Migri).
2. Obtain a visa for entry (if you are not from the EU).
3. You can legally work in Finland.

Types of Finland work permit visas:

• Employee residence permit (työntekijän oleskelulupa). This is the basic permit granted after receiving a job offer in Finland. A signed employment contract with a Finnish employer is the primary basis for obtaining the permit.
• Specialist permit. For IT specialists, engineers, researchers, architects, and other highly qualified professionals.
• EU Blue card. This permit allows workers to apply for a job across the EU. The Blue Card is intended for highly skilled workers with a salary of at least 5,209 euros per month. It serves as a kind of equivalent to the Specialist Permit but is valid across the EU, not tied to a specific country.
• Self-employment permit. The Finnish self-employed visa is for those planning to open a business, work as a freelancer or as a self-employed individual. You must present a business plan, register a toiminimi (the Finnish equivalent of self-employment), and prove that your business will be economically sustainable and beneficial to Finland.
• Seasonal work permit (Finland seasonal work visa). For short-term employment in sectors like agriculture, berry picking, or tourism. This permit is valid for up to 9 months. It can be issued as a regular residence permit or in a simplified form, such as a certificate or visa.
• For graduates of Finnish universities. If you have completed your studies in Finland, you can apply for a special permit that allows you to stay for up to 2 years to find a job in Finland, even without prior professional experience.

The application for a work visa in Finland is submitted online through the Enter Finland portal. The cost of processing a work visa is 690 euros for an electronic application or 740 euros for a paper application. The following documents and steps are required:

• Employment contract with a Finnish employer.
• Submit the application in the online EnterFinland system.
• Biometric identification at the Finnish embassy.
• Wait for a decision from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) — processing time ranges from 1 to 3 months, with expedited processing taking about 2 weeks.
• Receive the D visa (if you are outside of Finland).
• Upon arrival, obtain the residence permit card (oleskelulupakortti).

For seasonal work jobs in Finland, a residence permit for seasonal work is issued, valid for up to 9 months. This type of residence permit does not require high qualifications or language proficiency, but the employer must register the worker in the Migri system and provide a contract specifying the work conditions. Seasonal Finland work permit processing time is 2–4 weeks, and the cost is 400 euros.

For EU/EEA citizens (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), no work visa or permit is required. This is governed by the EU legislation on the free movement of workers. However, if the stay exceeds 90 days, registration at the local magistrate office (Maistraatti) is required within 3 months. In this case, Finland work permit requirements are a passport or ID card and an employment contract with you when registering.

Challenges in Obtaining a Work Permit in Finland

At first glance, it may seem that obtaining a Finnish work visa or residence permit is straightforward—just secure a job contract. However, Finland is not a country where foreigners are quickly hired. Even if you are an expert in your field, there are strict regulations, and employers are quite cautious, especially when it comes to non-EU citizens.

Main challenges when securing Finland job opportunities for foreigners:

• Indifference from employers. Finnish companies are often reluctant to hire someone from outside the EU because they will have to issue an invitation, sign a contract, and wait 1–3 months for a decision from the immigration service (Migri). Additionally, employers have no guarantee that the candidate will meet visa requirements. As a result, if there is a local candidate for the same position, the foreign applicant will likely not be considered.
• Legal obligations. Once the employer signs a contract for work in Finland to a foreigner, they cannot simply break it, even if you have not yet arrived. They must guarantee your working conditions, salary, taxes, and contributions. If something goes wrong, the employer will be held responsible. Therefore, employers are very careful when selecting candidates, only choosing those who are the best fit for the job.
• Competition and the job market. There is intense competition for common positions such as cooks, salespeople, couriers, construction workers, caretakers, and farm assistants from both local residents and EU migrants. There are more opportunities in IT, engineering, healthcare, and transport, but the requirements for language skills and experience are also higher.
• Language barrier. Some positions are available in English, especially in IT and startups. However, for typical jobs (construction, elderly care, factories, restaurants), at least conversational Finnish is often required, and more commonly, an advanced level (YKI test or A2-B1).
• Refusal by the immigration service. Even if you manage to find work in Finland and sign a contract with an employer, the local immigration service may still refuse to issue the permit if the salary is below the industry minimum (a common mistake) or if the position is not recognized as being in high demand.

[/uploads/images/428/15821f6e62b3e8a708f93642ee8f2.webp|Aerial panoramic view of the city waterfront of Helsinki, capital of Finland]

Ways to Find a Job in Finland

The internet is the primary tool for finding Finland job opportunities. The Job Market Finland portal, managed by the Finnish Employment Service, remains the main resource. Registration is free, but in order to apply for vacancies, you must create a profile and upload your resume in the European format (Europass).

You can also search for work in Finland for English speakers through the European EURES network. On this platform, international companies mostly post their vacancies, meaning that English is usually sufficient. You can also consult on obtaining a residence permit (VNH) through EURES.

Popular websites for job search in Finland include portals from large local companies such as Nokia, Kone, and UPM. LinkedIn is also widely used in Finland. The Mol.fi platform, although less popular, is suitable for finding unskilled work where knowledge of Finnish is minimal.

Finland’s employment agency specializes in specific sectors. It’s best to clarify the agency’s specialization right away. For example, if an agency works with IT companies, they won’t help you find a job in the hospitality industry. The key factor in choosing an agency is its reputation, so read reviews, search for company information on forums, and check social media.

An employment agency performs several key tasks to assist job seekers:

• Job search and offer selection. The agency searches for job openings, including part-time jobs in Finland, that match your profile and qualifications.
• Resume and cover letter preparation. If you haven’t prepared your own resume and cover letter, the agency can help you craft them to meet local standards.
• Representation to employers. The agency can advocate on your behalf with employers, often negotiating better terms for you.
• Interview coordination and organization. The agency can schedule your interview and handle the organizational details, making the process smoother.
• Workplace consultations. They can provide advice on labor-related matters, such as work permits, salaries, and contract conditions.

When working with agencies, it’s important to remember that you should never pay for job search services. Agencies receive their commission from the employer if they hire you. If an agency asks for payment for services like resume writing or interview preparation, be cautious, as this could indicate a potential scam.