Finland: Relaxed Rules for Employers and Employees to Streamline Work Permit Process
March 1, 2023
At a Glance
- The Finnish government has implemented several changes to streamline the work permit process.
- Key changes include a new trusted employer certification program to expedite work permit processing and a new pathway to a residence permit for graduates of Finnish universities.
The situation
The Finnish government has implemented several changes to streamline the work permit process.
A closer look
Key changes include the below:
Change | Previous rule | Impact |
New trusted employer program. Employers who hire many foreign workers can apply for certification to become eligible for expedited residence permit/work permit application processing. Initial employer certification is granted for two years, with the possibility of an extension for three years at a time. |
There was no certification program available to expedite applications. |
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New terms of employment requirement. Non-certified employers must add terms of employment to work permit applications using a standard form on the Enter Finland for Employers online portal or on a paper ‘Terms of Employment’ paper form. The form must be signed by an individual with signatory power from the Finnish entity and can be provided either on the employer’s EnterFinland account or with the employee’s application submission. Affected employers should work with their immigration professional to complete this form. |
The copy of the employment contract was previously sufficient for the application submission. |
|
Shorter passport validity allowed. Foreign nationals no longer need to have a passport valid for the entire period of their work permit. | Foreign nationals’ passports had to be valid for the entire period of the work permit for which they were applying. |
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New work permit for graduates. Foreign nationals with a Finnish university degree and proof of income of at least EUR 1,000 per month will be eligible for a new type of work permit that is valid for two years and can be extended if the foreign national has found a job or has started a business. (It cannot be extended for job seeking purposes). The fee, application process and document requirements are the same as for a Specialist Permit. | There was no specific route for graduates of Finnish universities. |
This provides a new pathway for foreign nationals to work in Finland, which will help expand the pool of eligible candidates. Benefits of this new pathway include:
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Background
These changes are intended to help the Finnish government attract talent to the country through streamlined processes.
These changes build upon those implemented recently to streamline visa processes, and those from 2022 when the D visa and Fast Track Service were initially introduced.
Looking ahead
The Finnish government is likely to continue its efforts to revitalize the economy and welcome foreign nationals as the country struggles with labor and skills shortages.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].