1. I wish to move to Finland to work and earn income. I am not an EU citizen or equivalent person. What should I do?

You must find a job in Finland before you can move to Finland on the basis of employment.

It is recommended that a first residence permit on the basis of employment should always be applied for abroad before entering Finland, because you may not work in Finland during the application process. In such cases also notification of the decision is, in general, given abroad.

It is possible to start work only after you have been granted a residence permit for an employed person or some other residence permit on the basis of employment.

As a rule, it is recommended that you submit your application for a first residence permit to a Finnish diplomatic mission in your home country before entering Finland. If, however, you have found a job while visiting Finland, you may apply for a residence permit by submitting your application (forms OLE_TY1 and TEM054 including appendices) to the local police or employment and economic development office of your place of residence or, alternatively, your employer may start the process without separate authorization. The Finnish Immigration Service will process and consider the application.

3. I have lived in Finland for a few years with a residence permit for studies (permit B), and now I have a temporary residence permit for an employed person. What are the conditions for being granted a continuous residence permit (permit A)?

When you have resided in Finland for an uninterrupted period of two years with a temporary residence permit granted on the basis of employment, you may apply for a continuous residence permit. Such a permit may be granted if you still meet the requirements for granting a residence permit.

The type and duration of a residence permit for an employed person are based on the employment contract made. If an employment contract is valid indefinitely, even the first residence permit on the basis of employment may be granted as continuous (with the letter A) unless the intention is temporary residence. A temporary permit (permit B) is granted for temporary employment, i.e. where the employment contract has been made for a fixed term.

4. Am I allowed to work while waiting for a decision on my application for a residence permit on the basis of employment?

You may travel to other parts of the Schengen area for a short period with a Finnish residence permit, but the permit does not give you the right to gainful employment. If you wish to reside or work in another Schengen country you must apply for a national residence permit.

Regardless of the type of permit (letters A, B or P) and grounds for granting the permit, a Finnish residence permit allows you to spend a maximum of three months at a time in the Schengen area outside Finland. This means total time spent in the Schengen area, not just an individual state.

You can travel to Finland for a short period of a maximum of three months under a residence permit granted by another Schengen country. You are not allowed to stay longer or work without a residence permit granted by Finland.

The purpose of the Schengen Agreement is to facilitate the free mobility of people in the European Union. In addition to citizens of Schengen countries, free mobility applies to citizens of third countries exempt from visa and citizens of third countries residing legally in the Schengen area with a visa or residence permit for a Schengen country. These people may travel in the Schengen area without applying for a separate visa for other countries in the area.

Your residence permit for an employed person entitles you to work in one or more occupational sectors. If you wish to move to an occupational sector other than the one to which your permit entitles you, you must submit an application for a new residence permit for an employed person to the local police of your place of residence.

You may change your employer in the same occupational sector, if your residence permit for an employed person has not for some special reason been restricted to apply to work only in the employment of a specified employer.

Yes, you may. Any residence permit grants entitlement to studying in Finland. You should note, however, that if the purpose of your stay in Finland changes from work to studying, for instance, you must inform the authorities of the changed grounds for your residence in the country at the latest when applying for an extended permit. At that point also the grounds for the extended permit will be considered.

9. I am entering Finland to work in scientific research. I am not an EU citizen or an equivalent person. What permit do I need for carrying out research in Finland? How do I apply for such a permit?

You must apply yourself, since your employer is not allowed to submit an application for you. Appendices referred to on the application form must be appended to the application. Additional clarification required includes

• an invitation or agreement proving that you are going to carry out research
• your employment contract indicating the salary to be paid and other terms of contract or, alternatively, information about a grant
• the duration of your stay in Finland.

If your work continues after the date given in the invitation or agreement, you may submit an application for an extended permit to the local police of your municipality of residence.

If you come to Finland to carry out research using your own means (for instance for the purpose of preparing a doctoral dissertation), you will be regarded as a post-graduate student.

You will not need a residence permit for an employed person for lecturing if you are coming on the basis of an invitation or agreement. You may work for a maximum of three months as long as your visa or exemption from visa is valid.

If you are coming to do the said work for a period longer than three months you will have to apply for an ordinary residence permit. You will have to append the following additional clarification to your residence permit application and the appendices referred to in the application form

• an invitation or agreement as evidence of your work as a lecturer
• your employment contract indicating the salary to be paid and other key conditions of the contract, the duration of your residence in Finland and any description of expert duties requiring special expertise.