Working in Finland

For those who would like to find a job or a traineeship in Finland, we recommend visiting these sites that offer general information about working in Finland:

• Information about working and living in Finland (brochure, pdf-file)
• Info Bank - Important basic information for immigrants on the functioning of society and opportunities in Finland.
• Aarresaari - Finding a job in Finland
• Ministry of Labour - Information on working life rules in Finland
• Suomi.fi - Information and public services necessary in everyday life in Finland
• FinlandForum.org - open bulletin and discussion board about living, studying and working in Finland
• Expat-Finland.com - provides information aimed at making moving to Finland, living in Finland, and working in Finland easier

In most jobs, a good command of the Finnish language is required. To increase your possibilities in finding a job or a traineeship in Finland, you should start learning Finnish as early as possible. Try to speak Finnish in all kinds of situations with the Finns and with other international students.

Students who are citizens of the EU/EEA countries: The citizens of EU/EEA countries are allowed to work just like Finnish workers. However, you must register at Tampere Police Station (= Tampereen poliisilaitos) if you stay more than three months in Finland.
Students who are not citizens of the EU/EEA countries: With a valid residence permit you can work part-time (max. 25 hours per week) during the academic year and full-time during the holidays without a separate work permit. Exchange students cannot be issued a work permit for full-time employment.

For more information: Employment Office /Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy and Finnish Immigration Service

Employment office (= Tampereen työvoimatoimisto)

Employment offices provide jobseekers and employers with information about vacancies, job seeking processes, education, different occupations as well as entrepreneurship. Please note however that some of their services are only available for graduate students.

Employment Contract (= työsopimus)

• Finnish Employment Contracts Act

Please note that you need a bank account in a Finnish bank in order to receive your salary (= palkka). In Finland, the salary is not paid in cash but into a Finnish bank account.

Taxation

In Finland all income is taxed income. You can get a tax card (= verokortti) at the Tampere Tax Office. You need to give the original tax card to your employer, who then will withhold the tax.

More information on taxation in Finland: vero.fi

Civil registration

Basic information (name, address, nationality and date of birth) on people permanently residing in Finland is recorded in the Population Information System. The Population Information System provides data to the administrative authorities and courts of law as well as for statistical and research purposes.

Based on registration, a foreigner is given the Finnish personal identity number, which is used in banks, hospitals and the registers of different authorities. If you reside in Finland for over a year, you must be registered in the Population Information System. The registration takes place in the local Register Office. You should take with you your passport, a valid residence permit, a possible certificate of marriage and birth certificates of any children you have.

Legal matters

The Finnish law applies to everybody living in Finland. You can find translations of Finnish acts and decrees at FINLEX and the Constitution of Finland at the webpages of the Finnish Ministry of Justice.