Work in Finland for Spanish citizens

If you are a Spanish citizen, you do not need a residence permit to work in Finland. However, if your stay extends beyond three months, you must register your right of residence with the Finnish Immigration Service.

To complete this registration, you must first find employment in Finland. A valid job offer or signed contract is essential. Without this, you will not be able to register your residence.

Can citizens from Spain work in Finland without a residence permit?

Yes, Spanish citizen can work in Finland legally without a residence permit if:

• They have a valid visa to enter Finland;

• They possess a residence permit issued by another Schengen country;

• They come from a visa-exempt country and are staying within the allowed period.

In these cases, you don’t need a residence or work permit if:

• You have been invited or contracted to work in Finland for no more than 90 days;

• Your job falls under certain professions, such as interpreter, teacher, expert, sports judge or referee, artist, coach, or athlete (including support staff).

Other short-term jobs that do not require a residence permit if under 90 days:

• Acting in films or showcasing products for a non-Finnish employer;

• Working on a foreign-hired ship operating mainly outside Finland;

• Performing temporary tasks for a company based in the EU/EEA, under the freedom to provide services — with valid permits from the home country;

• Driving for a foreign logistics company across the Finnish border (without residing in Finland);

• Leading an international tour group for a foreign employer — entering and exiting Finland with the group.

If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit.

If you are seeking asylum:

• You can work after 3 months if you have a valid travel document;

• Or after 6 months if you don’t.

Details: migri.fi/asylum-seeker-s-right-to-work

Seasonal work for Spaniards

Planning to do seasonal work in Finland? Spanish citizens can apply for a seasonal work residence permit if the job duration is 3 to 9 months.

You don’t need a residence permit if:

• You are from a visa-free country and plan to pick wild berries for less than 90 days outside of an employment relationship;

• You are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland — but you must register your residence after 3 months.

For work under 3 months:

• Citizens of visa-required countries must apply for a seasonal work visa at a Finnish embassy or consulate.

• Visa-exempt Spanish citizens need a seasonal work certificate from the Finnish Immigration Service. Note: this certificate does not extend your stay beyond your visa-free days.

If you plan to work for 3 to 6 months: You’ll need to apply for a seasonal residence permit. This is processed in two parts: a preliminary decision from the Employment Office and a final decision by the Immigration Service.

Apply or read more here.

Work in Finland for Spanish citizens

Spanish citizens are allowed to work in Finland without a residence permit. However, if you intend to stay in the country for more than 90 days, you must complete a registration of your right of residence through the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri).

What is the “registration of the right of residence”?

This registration is a mandatory process for Spaniards staying longer than three months. You must register your stay with the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). It’s not the same as a visa or residence permit — instead, it confirms your legal right to live and work in Finland under the EU’s free movement rules.

What documents are required for registration for Spaniards?

When registering, Spanish citizens must provide:

• A valid ID card or passport

• An employment contract or job confirmation from a Finnish employer

• A completed application (can be done online or at Migri)

• One passport-sized photo

• Proof of payment for the registration fee.

How do citizens from Spain register their right of residence?

The process involves two key steps:

1. Submit your application online

 👉 Go to the Enter Finland service and fill out the form.

2. Attend an appointment at Migri

 👉 Book a visit and bring your original documents.

 👉 Once verified, you’ll receive a registration certificate confirming your residence.

What is the cost of registering for Spaniards?

Registration costs:

- €63 when applying online

- €63 for a paper application

Payment must be made before or at your appointment.

How long does it take?

⏳ Registration is typically processed within 1–2 weeks after your Migri appointment.

📌 Processing time may increase slightly during busy months.

✅ You’re allowed to start working right away, even while your registration is being handled.

Finnish labor law defines the rights and obligations of employees and employers. The main regulatory framework includes the following aspects:

1. Labor rights: Employees have the right to safe and healthy working conditions, including the right to rest, vacation, remuneration, social security and occupational health and safety.
2. Minimum wage: As in most Scandinavian countries, there is no legal minimum wage in Finland, but you can expect a net minimum monthly salary of around €1,800 when working in the country.
3. Working hours: Standard working hours in Finland are 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. For working beyond these norms or working at night, weekends or holidays, employees are entitled to additional pay or time off.
4. Vacation: Employees are entitled to vacation time, which depends on the length of their employment. It is usually 2.5 working days per employee per month.
5. Protection against discrimination: Finnish labor law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, nationality, religion, sexual orientation and other protected characteristics.
6. Protection of pregnant women and parents: Pregnant women and parents are entitled to parental leave, maternity leave and other social benefits.

When starting a business, you need to choose an organizational and legal form, a company name, and a field of activity. Factors affecting the choice of company form include the number of founders, capital requirements, distribution of responsibilities and decision-making, financing and taxation.

General partnership (toiminimi)

Limited liability company (osakeyhtiö)

Partnership (avoin yhtiö)

Limited partnership (kommandiittiyhtiö)

Cooperative association (osuuskunta)

Property (toiminimi)

The easiest and most popular way to start a business is to work as a sole proprietor using a company name. The decision-making and responsibility in the company belongs to the entrepreneur, and the company can hire employees, just like in other forms of business. For part-time businesses, it is often advantageous to start as a sole proprietorship. Starting a business this way is quick and easy.

Limited liability company (osakeyhtiö)

A limited liability company is the most common form of company in Finland. A limited liability company is suitable for all types of business activities. You can establish a limited liability company on your own or together with other shareholders. The voting rights, profits and liability of a shareholder depend on the number of shares he or she owns.

Partnership (avoin yhtiö)

A partnership is formed when two or more persons agree to do so by signing a partnership agreement. The partners have equal status in all of the company's operations and are personally liable for the company's decisions, obligations and debts.

Limited partnership (kommandiittiyhtiö)

A limited partnership differs from a general partnership in that, in addition to one or more responsible partners, there is at least one sleeper partner, i.e. a member of the partnership who usually acts as an investor.

Cooperative association (osuuskunta)

A cooperative association is an enterprise owned by its members. There can be one or more members. Each member has one vote at the meeting of the cooperative association. The liability of members for the obligations of the cooperative association (e.g. for debts) is limited to their share capital.

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Finland has very high business taxes. In general, entrepreneurs have to pay the following taxes: 

1. VAT if the annual turnover exceeds 10,000 euros: 

• 24% for most goods and services;
• 14% - for food and catering;
• 10% - for medicines, printed materials, passenger transportation and some others.

2. corporate income tax:

• 20% - for joint stock companies and cooperatives;
• 30% - for individual entrepreneurs and partnerships;
• 34% - for individual entrepreneurs and companies, if the income exceeds EUR 30,000.

3. employer's insurance contributions (social and pension insurance, unemployment insurance) - depending on the type of activity and other features, from 18 to 21% of the payroll.  

But there may be other peculiarities. For example, in some municipalities, companies pay corporate property tax.

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Open a company in Finland

A foreigner can open a company in Finland by registering it in the Trade Register of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office, having at least three members of the Board of Directors. In addition to the main foreign founder of the Finnish company, in order to obtain an entrepreneur's residence permit, the Board of Directors must include a Finnish (or European) resident who is a resident of Finland. An applicant for an entrepreneur's residence permit must have a business identifier.

If a foreigner plans to work as a private entrepreneur, he/she must be a resident of the EEA region. The process of obtaining an entrepreneur's residence permit consists of two stages. First, the company's profitability is assessed by the ELY Center (Center for Economic Development, Transport and Environment). Then the Finnish Immigration Service makes its decision.

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The process of registering a company in Finland

1. Draw up a detailed business plan that includes the business idea, competencies, products/services, customers, partners and sources of business financing.
2. Choose the most appropriate form of business entity for your business activities in Finland.
3. Register the company with the Finnish Chamber of Commerce PRH and the three tax registers.
4. The entrepreneur must take out pension insurance or employee pension insurance.

More information is available here: https://www.suomi.fi/company, https://www.ytj.fi/

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Another type of business activity in Finland is the opportunity to become a startup entrepreneur. In order to become a startup entrepreneur, you also need a residence permit.

You must receive a positive eligibility statement from Business Finland before you can apply for a residence permit. We recommend that you check the Business Finland website for information on what type of newly established company can obtain a positive declaration of eligibility.

Apply for a statement of eligibility from Business Finland online at Enter Finland. Only one person in your startup team needs to apply for the application and share it with the rest of the team.

1. Learn Finnish: Finnish language skills can be a big advantage when looking for a job in Finland. Consider learning the language through courses, self-study or immersion in a language environment.
2. Employer-employee relations in the country are based on equality, equality, initiative, straightforwardness and responsibility. Finns do not consider their bosses to be the final authority and expect respect from them.
3. You should start looking for a job in Finland before you leave. We recommend looking for offers from direct employers to avoid encountering scams. Before starting your job search, learn more about the local culture and traditions, and decide on your field of activity. Get acquainted with the regional needs in advance with the help of the Professional Barometer.
4. Dress code: Most Finnish work environments have an informal dress code. Clothing is usually quite conservative and formal, with an emphasis on cleanliness and neat appearance.