FinlandWork
Finland job seeker permit for graduates and researchers
Residence permit to look for work or start a business after studies or research
In short
Finland has no general job-seeker visa, but people who have completed a degree or research in Finland can get a residence permit to look for work or start a business for up to two years. It must be applied for within five years of the student or researcher permit ending, requires EUR 800 a month in funds and gives unrestricted access to work.
Apply on Enter Finland – Finnish Immigration Service e-service checked 24 October 2026
Key facts
- Validity
- Up to two years in total, which can be split into parts.
- Fee
- €230As an extended permit in Finland, online (EUR 430 on paper); as a first permit from abroad EUR 750 online or EUR 800 on paper, 2026 fee decree.
- Funds required
- €800 per monthFor example EUR 19,200 for a two-year permit, at your own disposal.
- Work
- Yes, without restrictions and in any field.
- Family
- Family members can apply on the basis of family ties if the general conditions, including income, are met.
- Path to permanent residence
- Time spent counts towards residence if the permit is continuous; a degree from a Finnish university can remove the residence-period requirement for permanent residence.
- Where to apply
- In Finland as an extended permit before your student or researcher permit expires, or from abroad as a first permit within five years.
Who can apply
The permit is for people who have completed a degree in Finland or finished research in Finland on a researcher permit. You can apply while your student or researcher permit is still valid, or later, but no later than five years after it expired. If you already left Finland after graduating, you apply from abroad as a first permit and prove your identity at a Finnish mission or at a VFS Global centre acting for it.
Funds
You must have at least EUR 800 a month at your disposal for housing, food and other costs. Funds are calculated for the period you request: a full two-year permit needs EUR 19,200.
How to apply
Students and researchers can apply online in Enter Finland. In Finland the application is handled as an extended permit (EUR 230 online in 2026), and if your old permit expires during processing you may remain in Finland. From abroad the first-permit fee applies (EUR 750 online) and you must visit the mission within three months.
- Check that your student or researcher permit ended less than five years ago.
- Apply in Enter Finland for the residence permit to look for work and pay the fee.
- If applying from abroad, prove your identity at the mission within three months.
- Look for work or prepare your company; you may work in any field meanwhile.
- With a signed contract, apply for the permit for persons with a Finnish degree.
When you find a job
Once you have a job, you can switch to the residence permit for a person with a degree from Finland, which requires a signed employment contract; it can be applied for even if you left Finland after graduation. Founders can move to an entrepreneur’s or start-up permit. Migri normally gives you a Finnish personal identity code with the positive decision. After moving, book a visit to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) to register your address and, if you qualify, a municipality of residence, which opens access to municipal health, social and integration services. Bring your passport, the residence permit card and your employment contract or proof of studies.
Refusal and appeal
A negative Migri decision comes with appeal instructions. The appeal goes to an Administrative Court, which can uphold the refusal or send the case back to Migri; further appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court needs leave to appeal. If you applied from abroad, you wait abroad while the appeal is pending.
Documents
Required documents
Identity
- Valid passport
Money
- Bank statements showing EUR 800 for each month of the requested permit
Study
- Degree certificate from a Finnish institution or certificate of completed research
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Insurance
- Health insurance if you are not covered by Finnish social security
Frequently asked questions
Does Finland have a job-seeker visa for people without a Finnish degree?
No. The job-search permit is only for people who completed a degree or research in Finland; others need a job offer before applying.
How long is the permit?
Up to two years, and it can be split into parts.
Can I work while I search?
Yes, without restrictions in any field.
What does the job-search permit cost?
In 2026 EUR 230 online when it is an extension in Finland, or EUR 750 online as a first permit from abroad; paper applications cost EUR 430 and EUR 800.
I left Finland after graduating. Can I still apply?
Yes, within five years of your student permit ending, as a first permit from abroad with an identity check at a Finnish mission or a VFS Global centre acting for it.
Official sources
- Migri – residence permit to look for work (students and researchers)
- Migri – degree completed in Finland
- InfoFinland – work in Finland
- InfoFinland – study in Finland
- Finlex – Ministry of the Interior decree 1336/2025 on Migri fees in 2026 (fee annex)
- Embassy of Finland, Ankara – residence permits to Finland
- InfoFinland – registering as a resident
- InfoFinland – negative residence permit decision
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Finland
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.
- Entrepreneur and start-up visa Validity: First permit up to two years if you have funds for two years, otherwise shorter; extensions up to four years for periods with proven continuous income.
- Self-employed and freelancer visa
Study and training
- Student visa Validity: Usually for the duration of studies. Degree students in higher education receive a continuous (A) permit; other students a temporary (B) permit.
- Researcher visa Validity: For the duration of the hosting agreement: B permit under two years, A permit for two years or more.
Work
- Work visa Validity: A fixed-term permit granted for the occupational field of your job.
- Skilled worker visa Validity: First permit for up to two years, or for the length of the employment if shorter.
- EU Blue Card Validity: Up to two years; if the job is shorter, the duration of employment plus three months.
- Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Managers and specialists up to three years; trainees one year. Longer transfers require a permit for an employed person.
- Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Nine months within any 12-month period, counted back from the permit’s end date.
Family
- Family reunification visa Validity: Usually tied to the validity of the sponsor’s permit.
- Spouse and partner visa Validity: Usually aligned with the sponsor’s permit; spouses of Finnish citizens receive a continuous permit.
Residence
- Permanent residence Maximum stay: Unlimited stay; the residence permit card itself is renewed periodically.
Faster processing
- Fast-track and priority visa services Processing time: Target about two weeks from a complete application.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Maximum stay: You may stay while the application is being processed; leaving the country can lead to the application being treated as abandoned.