Destination · European Union

Working in Finland,
permit by permit.

Finland is in the European Union. If you qualified inside the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, free movement replaces this half of the answer entirely and no work permit is involved. Everything below is for a qualification obtained outside that area.

Permits sourced
2
Professions answered
1
Official sources
6
Last checked
2026-08-03

Recognition

Whether Finland has to
approve your qualification.

Only some professions are regulated, and the difference is not a detail: a regulated one needs a decision from a named authority before you may hold the job at all. These are the professions we can answer for Finland today, and no others.

No licence decision

Software developer

Not regulated · no recognition decision required

No authority approves this qualification before you take the job in Finland. That is a sourced finding, not an absence of research.

All destinations for this profession →

Work authorisation

Every permit we can source
for Finland.

Every permit we source →

Residence permit for a specialist

Finnish Immigration Service (Maahanmuuttovirasto, Migri)

Checklist
Salary floor
EUR 3,937 a month (2026 figure)Migri's own specialist page states this as the required monthly salary for 2026. Migri revises the figure periodically without publishing the formula behind it; confirm the amount in force on the date you apply rather than relying on this one.
Qualification
Coming to Finland for expert duties that require special expertise, with a higher education degree — or, failing that, the special expertise your work requires acquired through work experience or other education. You must have confirmed employment before you apply.
Fast-track decision
Two weeks, stated directly on Migri's specialist and fast-track pages — for a first permit only, and conditional on the steps above
Standard decision, outside fast track
Not published as a single stable figure — Migri runs an interactive Processing Time Checker for this permit, updated every 2 months, instead of stating one number on the page
Electronic application, first permit
€530
Electronic application, extended permit
€230
Paper application, first permit
€630
The procedure, step by step →

5 steps · 2 possible outcomes · 4 official sources

EU Blue Card

Finnish Immigration Service (Maahanmuuttovirasto, Migri)

Checklist
Salary floor
EUR 3,937 a month (2026 figure)Migri's EU Blue Card page states the same monthly floor as the specialist permit for 2026. Migri lowered the Blue Card floor to match the specialist floor with effect from 13 May 2024 and has stated the two together on its pages since; confirm the figure in force on the date you apply, since Migri revises it periodically without publishing a formula.
Qualification
Coming to Finland for highly qualified employment, with either a higher education degree that took at least 3 years to complete, or — where you do not hold one — at least 5 years of professional experience, acquired through the actual pursuit of your profession, at a level comparable to a higher education qualification. You must have confirmed employment lasting at least 6 months before you apply.
Fast-track decision
Two weeks, stated directly on Migri's EU Blue Card and fast-track pages — for a first permit only, and conditional on the steps above
Standard decision, outside fast track
Not published as a single stable figure — Migri runs an interactive Processing Time Checker for this permit, updated every 2 months, instead of stating one number on the page
Electronic application, first permit
€530
Electronic application, extended permit
€230
Paper application, first permit
€630
The procedure, step by step →

5 steps · 4 possible outcomes · 5 official sources

Written out in full

Guides for Finland.

Each of these takes one profession into Finland and runs both branches end to end, including the paperwork your country of qualification adds.

Verified route

Finland Work Visa for Software Developers

Finland specialist residence permit salary

Read this one →

Evidence

Every claim on this page, and where it came from.

6 official pages, each with the jurisdiction it speaks for and the date a human last opened it. The oldest of them is 2026-08-03, and that is the date this page is only as fresh as.

Your case, not the general case

What Finland asks of you specifically.

Which permit fits and what your country of qualification adds to it both depend on where you qualified. The planner only offers combinations it can answer.

Check my path →All destinations