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  • Home
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  •  /  Country Overviews
  •  /  Finland
  • Country Overviews

Finland

At a Glance

Capital Helsinki
Language Finnish, Swedish
Population 5,541,000
GDP Total $276.9 billion
GDP Per Capita $50,135.70
Assessing Travel and Visa Obligations

 

When traveling to Finland, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if work authorization will be required. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.

 

Traveling for Business

 

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

As a business visitor to Finland, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:

  • » Attend business meetings
  • » Tour a company facility
  • » Attend a trade show or seminar convention

 

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for Finland?

Nationals of the European Union, the United States, and many other select countries are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa to enter and conduct business activities in Finland.

Finland is a member of the Schengen Area, a free-travel zone comprised of 26 European countries. If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver in the Schengen Area, you will be required to obtain a Schengen Short-Stay Visa prior to travel. Visa-waivered nationals, as well as those who are required to obtain a visa, are authorized to travel to Finland and throughout the Schengen Area. Please note that travelers may not spend more than 90 days within any 180-day period inside the Schengen Area.

 

Working in Finland

 

What types of activities require work authorization?

The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Finnish law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Finland, even if conducted for a short duration.

  • » Technical training
  • » System installation
  • » Consulting
  • » Software development

 
In limited circumstances and under various exemptions, foreign nationals may engage in specialized professional activities for a limited period without obtaining work authorization, although strict preconditions must be met. An individual assessment is required before deciding whether an assignment exemption is applicable.
 

If I am traveling to Finland for work, what type of work authorization do I need?

The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work, and on whether your employer has an entity in Finland. The most common forms of work authorization for Finland are:

  • » Worker Residence Permit (work authorization for non-specialists)
  • » Residence Permit for Special Experts (work authorization for highly-skilled specialists)
  • » ICT Permits (Directive 2014/66/EU):
    • » Intra-Company Transfer Residence Permit (work and residence authorization for the transfer of managers, specialists, or trainees of a company located outside the EU to a local branch belonging to the same company or group of companies)
    • » Mobile Intra-Company Transfer Permit (work authorization for third-country nationals who already hold an EU ICT Card from another EU member state)
  • » Visiting Consultant Residence Permit (work authorization for non-specialist consultants)
  • » EU Blue Card (work authorization for highly-skilled direct hires)

 

Is it possible to be exempted from work authorization requirements?

Nationals from the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland are not required to obtain a work permit to work in Finland. However, registrations or other formalities may be required prior to working or residing in Finland.

Additional work permit exemptions are available in Finland under Vander Elst rules. In this case, a legal assessment to determine the possibilities for a work permit exemption should be obtained prior to traveling.

 

What else should I know?

 

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which governs post-Brexit relations between the EU and the United Kingdom, has altered immigration regulations in the affected countries. Please be sure to contact your immigration representative for full details regarding the TCA's impact in Finland.

Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.

 

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date information. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.


News and Events

9 May 22

COVID-19: Border measures extended

COVID-19 Finland

28 Apr 22

Residence rules relaxed for international students, researchers

Finland

19 Oct 21

Requirements for posted worker reporting changed

Finland

22 Jul 21

COVID-19: Travel restrictions for vaccinated travelers reduced

COVID-19 Finland

5 Oct 20

Brexit: Authorities publish updated Brexit information

Brexit Fiinland

15 Sep 20

COVID-19: Immigration services return to normal operations

COVID-19 Finland

1 Sep 20

COVID-19: Deadline extended for ID confirmation

COVID-19 Finland

27 Jul 20

COVID-19: Residence permit income requirement updated

COVID-19 Finland

18 Jun 20

COVID-19: Residence permit identification visit deadline extended

COVID-19 Finland

31 Mar 20

COVID-19: Deadline extended for ID confirmation extended

COVID-19 Finland

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At a Glance

Capital Helsinki
Language Finnish, Swedish
Population 5,541,000
GDP Total $276.9 billion
GDP Per Capita $50,135.70

Related News

  • COVID-19: Border measures extended

    FINLAND   9 May 22

  • Residence rules relaxed for international students, researchers

    FINLAND   28 Apr 22

  • Requirements for posted worker reporting changed

    FINLAND   19 Oct 21

  • COVID-19: Travel restrictions for vaccinated travelers reduced

    FINLAND   22 Jul 21

  • Brexit: Authorities publish updated Brexit information

    FINLAND   5 Oct 20

  • COVID-19: Immigration services return to normal operations

    FINLAND   15 Sep 20

  • COVID-19: Deadline extended for ID confirmation

    FINLAND   1 Sep 20

  • COVID-19: Residence permit income requirement updated

    FINLAND   27 Jul 20

  • COVID-19: Residence permit identification visit deadline extended

    FINLAND   18 Jun 20

  • COVID-19: Deadline extended for ID confirmation extended

    FINLAND   31 Mar 20

  • Immigration services limited to those with appointments

    FINLAND   24 Mar 20

  • Labor market testing waived for residence permit holders...

    FINLAND   8 Aug 19

  • No-deal Brexit contingency plans

    FINLAND   5 Mar 19

  • Salary threshold increases for work-based residence permits

    FINLAND   15 Jan 19

  • ICT directive introduces new permit categories

    FINLAND   22 Mar 18

  • Finland implements EU posted worker directive

    FINLAND   30 Aug 17

  • Same-sex marriage now recognized

    FINLAND   5 May 17

  • In-country processing to be handled by Immigration Service...

    FINLAND   18 Nov 16

  • Finnish Embassy in UK announces changes to Schengen...

    FINLAND, UNITED KINGDOM   28 Oct 16

  • Finland makes it easier to obtain ID numbers

    FINLAND   4 Dec 14

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