How to immigrate to Finland? - Immigration Finland 2024

Finland, immigration and visas The complete guide

To avoid unpleasant immigration surprises, it's best to be well informed. Whether it's about the country's history, climate, customs, language or administrative management, all information is good to know. Finland is a destination that is attracting increasing interest because of the opportunities it offers. The aim of this guide is to answer all your questions about Finland, so that you can make the most of your visit. immigration easy.

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Finland is open toimmigration. To this end, it has taken steps to facilitate this activity. To enter the country, you need to comply with the law. For questions relating to housing, studies, social security and daily life in Finland, several sites are available. And if you want your immigration to go smoothly, the information listed in this guide is essential. You can access further information as required. 

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Discovering the Republic of Finland

Finland is a country in Northern Europe. It joined the European Union in 1995, and covers an area of 338,145 km² with a population of just over 5,527,000. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish. The majority ethnic group is Finnish. These inhabitants are generally Christians, and members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Its main cities include Vantaa, Oulu, Tampere, Turku and Espoo. Some of these cities are famous for their special features. Finland's capital is Helsinki, the country's main cultural, political and educational center. Espoo, meanwhile, is renowned for its technological industries. The city of Oulu is a living laboratory, witness to many experiments.

Learning the language is an asset

You can learn Finnish before you come to the country, to make your integration easier. If this is the case, you can take advantage of general educational establishments that offer a wide range of courses. They offer language courses for immigrants at reasonable cost.

immigration to Finland for work

To work and live in Finland, you need a work permit.
To obtain a residence permit to live in Finland, you must first find a job and then apply for residency.

You can obtain a residence permit if you have a firm job offer and a signed employment contract. It usually takes between two and four months to process a residence permit. The procedure is relatively straightforward, but it's important to remember that it's not automatic. It is important to apply for a residence permit before coming to Finland. You can extend your residence permit before it expires if necessary, but you can only obtain a new one after two years of continuous residence.

What types of work permits are available in Finland?

Residence permit for self-employed workers

This situation may be suitable for certain people working for Finnish companies, notably private entrepreneurs and associates or partners. In this case, the company must be registered with the National Patent and Registration Office.

Residence permit for a salaried worker

These are the most popular types of visa. There are three categories of visa:

• Class A renewable type.
• Class B temporary.
• Class P permanent.

If you're looking to immigrate to Finland, or work here for the first time, opt for a temporary work visa.

Procedures for obtaining a work permit in Finland

It all starts when you receive a job offer from a Finnish company. An employment contract is required before you can apply for a work permit to live and work legally in the country.

You must apply for a work permit before traveling to Finland, where you can do so via enter Finland's online service.

Three months after submitting your application, you must go to the Finnish embassy in your country to present the originals of the documents attached to the application, which, in addition to the above-mentioned documents, include fingerprinting.

If you can't submit your application online, you can print it out and go directly to the Finnish embassy in your country. In this case, be sure to bring the enclosed documents with you.

Your application will be examined by the Finnish Labor and Economic Development Office, and the final decision will be taken by the Finnish Immigration Service Migri after checking that you meet all the conditions for the issue of a residence permit. You will be informed of the decision by post.

Once your application has been accepted, you will receive a one-year renewable residence permit from the Finnish embassy, which you can renew at any local police office in Finland.

How to find a job in Finland

You can use job boards to find jobs in Finland and apply online. Most of these sites allow candidates to search for jobs, post their CVs and apply for specific vacancies. These sites are mainly employment and recruitment agencies, but some will take you directly to the careers pages of major companies. While most job offers are in English, some may be in Finnish only.

Eezy.fi for example, is a supplier of labor in most fields in Finland, and throughout Europe. The site is available in Finnish and English. We also recommend a visit to expat-finland.com.

If you hold a TEFL certificate and a licence pro and are looking for a job in Finland, you may be in luck - the TEFL certificate can open up job opportunities in almost every country in the world.

In Finland, many sectors are currently experiencing a shortage of qualified personnel. While a professional diploma and TEFL certificate can be useful for some positions, experience is an excellent asset for others.

Even if you're not a citizen of the European Union, a simple tip is to search for job vacancies on the European Commission's EURES portal, which enables EU citizens to find work in other European countries and then contact the companies offering these jobs directly. Social media are also an excellent resource for finding a job in Finland.

Obtaining a visa for Finland

The visa you need to travel to Finland is the Schengen visa. You can apply for one at a consulate or a specialized center affiliated to Finland. You'll need a valid passport and the following documents:

• Visa application form duly completed and signed.
• Proof of payment of visa fees. The standard cost of a Schengen visa for adults is 80 euros.
• Passport with your signature, a minimum of 2 blank pages, issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the expiry date of your requested visa.
• Two photos of you (3.5 x 4.5 cm) that faithfully represent reality and taken recently (within the last 6 months) with a plain white background and full face.
• Photocopy of passport page showing personal details.
• Proof of travel medical insurance, with minimum coverage of 30,000 euros for medical repatriation, medical care and/or hospitalization Valid for the duration of the visa and in all Schengen countries.
• Flight booking/travel schedule.
• Hotel booking to be confirmed (booked), with complete hotel address (location, contact number, booking reference number).
• Proof of the applicant's financial means in the country of residence, such as several months of personal bank statements issued 3 months prior to application, assets and/or other personal property.

Opportunities for education and employment

The baccalaureate and basic vocational diploma are required to take part in entrance examinations for higher education establishments. It is possible to attend basic school and high school for adults. Studies are generally free of charge. Cimo, the Center for International Mobility, offers advice and information on admission requirements and courses. Some schools and other educational establishments offer preparatory courses and Finnish or Swedish language courses for immigrants.

Recognition (equivalence) of foreign diplomas in Finland

If you are school or university graduate located outside Finland, the procedure for recognition of your foreign qualifications in Finland will be somewhat more or less complex. For employment in the public sector, you will need to have your foreign qualifications assessed by a Finnish educational establishment. In some fields, such as the legal profession, professional recognition is also required. You should contact the Finnish National Agency for Education to find out about specific requirements. In addition, some professions may require you to obtain professional recognition before obtaining the right to practice that profession.

To obtain official recognition of your foreign diplomas, you must meet certain admission requirements at the university of your choice. Firstly, your high school diploma is assessed against the level of study required for admission. Secondly, the authenticity of your university degree must be verified. The entire process is governed by the university's procedure for academic recognition of foreign qualifications (Patent Act) and the Quality Assurance System for Decision-Making (QASDM). If your diploma meets the requirements, it will be accepted.

Study grants and international internships

It is possible to receive a study allowance if it is demonstrated that the student has no other resources. This allowance includes a scholarship, a housing allowance supplement and a state guarantee of the student loan. Students work part-time to finance their studies. The Kela Study Allowance Center provides information on how to apply. social benefits immigrants to Finland.
People who need work placements can contact Cimo. These internships are designed to complement studies, and students must have completed advanced studies in order to participate. Students wishing to come to Finland for an internship must apply through the office in their home country. They are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.

Practical tips for better integration

Good preparation and a good start from the moment you arrive in Finland will make all the difference to you.

Preparing your arrival in Finland properly

Preparing in advance makes it easier to settle in and adapt when in a new country. Several sites provide information to this effect. For important information for immigrants, the Infopankki pages are available. They provide information on how society works and how to live in Finland. Make sure your permits and documents are in order and valid. Your most recent work and study certificates will come in very handy.

Things to do in Finland

As soon as you set foot in Finland, here are five important things to do.

Registration
It's essential that you present yourself to the municipality of your place of residence. You'll need your passport and a valid residence permit. Other documents required for registration are a marriage certificate and birth certificates for your children. Fill in and sign the registration form for foreigners at the municipality.

Social security
Life in Finland is protected by public health and social services and by social security benefits. These institutions are financed by taxes and social insurance contributions. The Social Insurance Institute is Kansaneläkelaitos or Kela. It is responsible for the basic protection of residents of Finland in the various circumstances of their lives. For this service, 263 Kela offices are open throughout Finland to satisfy everyone.

Insurance
This formality is carried out at Kela, and entitlement to health insurance is granted according to your place of residence. If the decision is favorable, Kela will send you a Kela card valid for Finnish social security.

Withholding tax certificate
To meet tax requirements, you'll need a certificate of deduction at source. You can request one from your local tax office.

Opening an account
Salaries and benefits are paid electronically in Finland. You'll need a bank account, which you can open with your passport or identity card.

Permanent residence card for Finland

You can obtain a permanent residence permit in Finland in class P, if you meet the following conditions:

• You have been in the country for at least 4 years and have a Class A residence permit.
• During this period (four years), you have never lived outside Finland for more than two years.
• The old residence permit must still be valid.

Your application for a permanent residence permit may be rejected in the following cases:

• Commission or suspicion of a felony or misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment.
• Committing two or more crimes or being suspected of committing two or more crimes.

the permanent residence permit remains in force until further notice and may be revoked if you leave finland permanently, if you live abroad for more than two years or if false or erroneous information is given at the time of application.

How to obtain Finnish citizenship

There are several ways to obtain Finnish citizenship, but here we'll focus on the way to obtain it by applying for it after ordinary, legal immigration.

Finnish citizenship is granted to a foreigner residing in Finland if his/her permanent residence permit has been effective for five consecutive years without interruption (i.e. without leaving Finland). In this case, his/her permanent residence has been effective for seven consecutive years, and his/her stay during the last two years has not been uninterrupted. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in Finnish or Swedish, and may in some cases be granted citizenship after only four years' residence in Finland.

A further condition is that the person has not committed a punishable act and has not materially failed to meet his or her obligations to the entitled persons, or to meet his or her financial obligations under ordinary law.

Applicants must be able to provide a reliable report on their financial means and prove that they have satisfactory oral and written skills in Finnish or Swedish, or similar skills in Finnish-Swedish sign language.

Documents required to obtain Finnish citizenship

• Valid passport.
• Certificate of competence to prove language skills.
• Declaration of current income.

For more details and information on applying for citizenship and all the other documents required, visit the special application page on the official website of the Finnish Immigration Service.

Link : Citizenship application | Maahanmuuttovirasto (migri.fi)