How to Get a Residence Permit in Finland Through Work?

Ukrainians who have already formally taken up employment in Finland while holding temporary protection status most often ask one question: how to obtain a work-based residence permit in Finland and maintain a stable status after temporary protection ends. The answer is straightforward: a residence permit for an employed person is required—a type “A” permit issued by Migri upon confirmation of an employment contract and sufficient income.

International Law Firm "Zahist" supports clients at every stage of this transition—from reviewing the employment contract to filing the application via Enter Finland. Our experience shows that a correctly prepared application with confirmed income of at least EUR 1,600 per month receives a Migri decision in an average of 23 days, whereas applicants acting on their own more often face requests for additional documents and delays.

Who is entitled to apply for a residence permit on the basis of employment

The permit is intended for those who have received a confirmed job offer from a Finnish employer or have already concluded an employment contract in Finland. The applicant must confirm the qualifications required for the specific position, and the employer must formally document the terms of employment.

This permit may also be obtained by those who are in Finland under temporary protection and are already formally employed: the transition to a type “A” permit does not require waiting until temporary protection ends.

An exception applies to so-called “light entrepreneurs” who work through a factoring company without their own sole proprietorship—they are not granted an employed person’s permit and must consider a separate entrepreneurial status.

Salary and employment condition requirements

The main condition for obtaining a residence permit in Finland through employment is sufficient income throughout the entire validity period of the permit. In 2026, total gross salary must be at least EUR 1,600 per month, and income may be formed from several places of work.

If the applicant submits documents for an extended permit, Migri retrospectively checks whether income met the terms of employment throughout the entire previous period of residence.

It is therefore important to keep payslips, income certificates, and the employment contract for the entire validity period of the previous permit—these documents will be needed even several years later.

Right to work while the application is under consideration

Work under an employment-based permit may begin only after a positive Migri decision is received, not immediately upon filing the application.

The permit is valid within the field of employment stated in the application; however, the permit holder may hold several jobs within that same field.

If the field is on the list of shortage occupations on the labour market, the employer does not need to undergo a labour market availability check, which significantly speeds up consideration of the application.

Transition from temporary protection to a permit through employment

Migri allows Ukrainians with temporary protection to hold status B and simultaneously apply for a type “A” permit through employment, without losing current protection while the application is under consideration.

This distinguishes the situation of Ukrainians from the general procedure for a first permit, which is usually filed abroad before entry into the country.

Such a transition has practical significance: the period on a type “A” permit counts toward the four-year residence period for a permanent permit (P), whereas time on temporary protection itself is not credited toward that period.

Our experience shows that clients who begin the transition to a type “A” permit immediately after concluding an employment contract, rather than waiting for temporary protection to end, accumulate continuous residence much faster.

Step-by-step procedure for obtaining an employment-based permit

The procedure consists of several sequential steps, each of which affects how quickly Migri issues a decision.

Following the order of actions and completeness of documents at each stage significantly reduce waiting time for a decision.

1. Obtaining a confirmed employment contract or a binding job offer from a Finnish employer.
2. Filing the application online via the Enter Finland service or using the paper form OLE_TY1.
3. Supplementing the application by the employer: terms of employment are submitted via Enter Finland for Employers.
4. If necessary, the TE Office (employment service) checks the availability of labour on the labour market.
5. Migri issues a decision and, if required, invites the applicant to confirm identity at a Finnish mission or service point.

List of documents for filing the application

The set of documents must confirm the applicant’s identity, the lawfulness of stay, and the agreed terms of employment.

An incomplete document package is one of the most common reasons for delayed consideration, so each item should be checked before filing the application.

1. Valid international passport of a citizen of Ukraine.
2. Colour copies of passport pages with personal data and stamps.
3. Photograph meeting police requirements, not older than 6 months.
4. Document confirming lawful stay in the country where the application is filed.
5. Terms of employment confirmed by the employer.

Processing times, fees, and permit extension

According to data as of May 2026, the average processing time for a first application for a work-based residence permit in Finland is about 23 days when filed online.

Speed also depends on the employer’s responsiveness: the earlier the employer supplements the application with the terms of employment via Enter Finland for Employers, the sooner Migri begins full consideration of the case.

An extended permit should be applied for in advance, before the current one expires.

This helps avoid a break in the residence period—the most common reason for refusal of a permanent permit (P), which we covered in detail in the article on transitioning from temporary protection to a residence permit.

Typical mistakes when applying for an employment-based permit

The most common mistake is filing an application without finally agreed terms of employment, when the employer is not yet ready to confirm the position, schedule, and pay level.

Another widespread problem is a zero-hours contract without a guaranteed minimum number of hours: Migri treats it as an insufficient basis for stable income.

Our experience shows that clients who contact International Law Firm "Zahist" before signing the employment contract receive Migri decisions faster and less often face requests for additional documents compared with those who apply on their own.

What next: registration and the path to a permanent permit

After obtaining a type “A” permit, it is necessary to contact the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) to obtain a personal identity code and municipality of residence.

Without registration in the DVV system and Kotikunta, it is not possible to fully use social and healthcare services in Finland.

After four years of continuous residence on a Type “A” permit, the path opens to a permanent residence permit (PMJ).

For qualified specialists and entrepreneurs, there is a separate simplified residence permit for specialists and entrepreneurs, which also counts toward the residence period required for citizenship.

Family reunification after obtaining the permit

After obtaining a Type “A” permit, a spouse and minor children may apply for family reunification and receive their own residence permits on the basis of family ties.

For a family member’s first application submitted at the same time as the principal applicant’s, the employer may arrange a D visa, which allows entry into Finland immediately after the residence permit decision is issued.

Our experience shows that preparing the principal applicant’s and family members’ documents in parallel shortens the overall time to family reunification by several months compared with sequential filing of applications.

Expert insight: how to speed up obtaining the permit

An analysis of our cases shows that decisions are issued faster when the employer submits a complete package of employment terms at the outset, rather than supplementing the application in parts over several weeks.

Another factor is the correct calculation of aggregate income from several side jobs: an error in these figures is one of the main reasons for requests for additional documents from Migri.

We recommend that clients seek advice already at the stage of negotiations with the employer, so that the terms of the employment contract can be aligned with the requirements of the residence permit for employment before the application is filed.