Everything You Need to Know About a Finland Work Visa from India

Want to work in the happiest country in the world? Then, you can apply for a Finland work visa. The Finland work visa is also called the D visa. It is given for different types of work in Finland. You can apply for this visa after you have applied for the Finland residence permit.  A D visa is given for a stay longer than 90 days. You need to know the visa requirements, application process, and other details before you apply. This blog covers everything you need to know about getting a work visa.

What is the Finland Work Visa?

The Finland work visa/D visa is given for the long term (more than 90 days). This is the visa that you need to apply for employment in Finland. You need to apply for a Finland residence permit and then only apply for a D visa. Otherwise, you can apply for a D visa and a residence permit together. The D visa validity period is for 100 days. You can be issued this visa before the residence permit becomes valid. Generally, the residence permit and the visa must overlap for at least 1 day. 

A visa sticker will be affixed to your passport after the D visa application is approved. After you are given the D visa, and the residence permit, a residence card will be issued within 2 weeks. You can travel to Finland for work, and obtain the same.

Do I need a Finland Work Visa?

Applicants from the Schengen area, the EEA/EU, or the Nordic countries do not need a Finland work visa. Similarly, applicants from New Zealand, the US, Australia, the Vatican, the Republic of Andorra, and Japan are excluded from the visa requirements. Those coming from a country where Finland has a visa facilitation agreement also do not need a visa. All other foreigners require a Finland work visa. That is, if you are an Indian you need to apply for a work visa.

Finland Work Visa Types 

A Finland work visa is given to applicants under the following categories. A different residence permit is issued for each category, Each residence permit has different requirements and duration.

 A D visa is issued if your employer has employment certification.

• An employed person
• If you have completed a degree in Finland
• If you have completed research in Finland 
• Secured employment  in the field of culture or the arts
• Working in the service of a religious community
• Employed with international organisations or cooperation between states
• Working in the field of mass media
• Preparing for the company’s arrival in Finland and supervising orders
• Working as an athlete or a coach
• Employed for the delivery of a machine or system
• Working as a consultant
• Employed based on an intergovernmental agreement
• Employed as a visiting teacher, lecturer or trainer in Finland

Aside from this, you can obtain a D visa, if you hold any of the following residence permits. Each residence permit has different requirements and duration.

• EU Blue Card
• Residence permit for a specialist
• Residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur
• Residence permit for a specialist/manager based on intra-corporate transfer (ICT residence permit)
• Residence permit for studies
• Residence permit for work in the top or middle management of a company
• Residence permit for a researcher

To learn about selecting the right residence permit application based on employment, watch this video:

Finland Residence Permit Types 

To engage in a business activity or employment in Finland you need a residence permit. The residence permit is divided into 2 categories: Residence permit based on duration, and residence permit based on the purpose of your stay. 

Residence permit Based on Duration 

The following are the residence permit types based on the duration of your stay. 

• First Residence Permit: This is a residence permit you get when to travel to Finland for the first time. A First residence permit can be an A or B residence permit.
• Extended Residence Permit: You apply for an extended residence permit only when the current residence permit is about to expire. An extended residence permit will extend your duration of stay. 
• Permanent Residence Permit: A Permanent residence permit is given for an indefinite period.

Residence Permit Based on Purpose of Stay

The following residence permits are given based on the purpose of your stay: You need to apply for a residence permit before applying for a Finland work visa. 

• Fixed-term residence permit; There are three types of Fixed-term residence permits. That is, an A permit is given for a continuous period of time or a longer period of stay like 4 years. On the other hand, a B permit is given for up to 1 year and is granted for short-term work.  There is one more residence permit but that is only meant for Ukraine nationals fleeing the country.
• Permanent Residence Permits:  There are two types of Permanent residence permits. The P Permanent, and P-EU and P-EY permits. You can apply for these permits if you have stayed in Finland for 4-5 years. 

Documents Required for a Finland Residence Permit 

The documents required for a Finland Residence Permit depend on the type of residence permit you want to apply for. However, some documents are general and you need them for every permit you apply for. These documents are provided below:

• A completed visa application form 
• A passport that is issued within the last 10 years and that is valid beyond the duration of your stay in Finland 
• Passport-size photographs taken on a white background as per Finland’s guidelines.
• Proof of citizenship like your Voter ID/Aadhar card
• Proof of educational qualifications, and employment experience 
• A medical insurance (applicable in all Schengen countries) that is valid for the duration of your stay. Typically, EUR 30,000 insurance is needed for 3 months.
• Updated CV/Resume 
• An employment contract or offer letter to work in Finland 
• Proof that you have sufficient funds for the duration of your stay
• If you want to visit the country for business purposes or need you need to have active contracts with clients or provide an explanation of how wil you earn income through your business or trade activity.

Documents Required for a Finland Work Visa

Once you have applied for a residence permit, you can apply for a work visa. The documents required for a work visa are as follows:

• Completed D visa application form 
• Copy of a valid passport, and 
• Your passport-size photograph based on the photo guidelines provided by the police in Finland 

How Do You Apply for a Finland Work Visa?

The application process for a Finland work visa is provided below. Note: You can apply for the work visa and residence permit together or first fill residence permit application, and then apply for a work visa.

Fill Out the Residence Permit Application

You can fill out the application form online (Enter Finland website) or on paper (after printing out the form from the Enter Finland website). Follow the instructions provided, and fill out the D visa application form. OR 

Apply for a D visa online and upload the necessary documents for the same

Pay the Visa Fee

Next, pay the D visa processing fee either on the Enter Finland website or at a Finnish Mission. The visa application fee is EUR 120.

Visit the Finnish Mission/VFS office. 

You need to visit the Finnish Mission or VFS office in person. This is required to prove your identity.  You can pay your visa application fee if you haven’t paid already.

Leave Your Passport 

You can leave your passport with an official at the VFS office or the Finnish mission. It is recommended that you do not apply for a visa if you do not intend to leave your passport with the visa official.

Application Processing 

At this stage, your visa application will be processed. The processing time for a Finland work visa is the same as the processing time for a residence permit.

Outcome of Your Application

If you are applying for a residence permit and a D visa application together then you will get the decision for the residence permit and D visa at the same time.

On the other hand, if you are applying for a residence permit, and a D visa separately, the decision for the visa application will take around 2-4 weeks. After you have obtained the residence permit and the D visa,  the D visa sticker will be affixed to your passport.

To learn more about the Finland work visa application process: watch the video below

Finland Work Visa Fees for Indians

The Finland work visa fees for Indian nationals is provided below. You can pay the fee online or at a Finnish Mission/VFS office.

Visa Name	Work Visa Fees
D visa/ Finland work visa	EUR 120

How Much Bank Balance is Required for a Finland Work Visa?

To get a Finland residence permit you need to meet the financial requirements. The financial requirements are applicable for all residence permit applications. Without getting a residence permit you cannot get a D visa. The bank balance you need is as follows:

Visa	Minimum Bank Balance
Finland work visa	EUR 50 per day for the duration of your stay

Learn about the cost of living in Finland 

Minimum Salary Requirement

Generally, you need a salary equal to the salary specified in the collective agreement that applies to your employment.  In case, there is no collective agreement or you are a part-time worker your gross salary must be a minimum of EUR 1399 per month. 

Some of the  income requirements for different types of residence permit applications are provided below:

Residence Permit Type	Income Requirement
Residence Permit for an Employed Person	EUR 1,399 per month
Specialist	EUR 3,638 per month
Seasonal Work	EUR 1139  per month
EU Blue Card	EUR 3,638 per month
Internship	EUR 1,399 per month

Finland Work Visa Processing Time

The Finland work visa processing time is the same as the processing time for the residence permit you are applying for. A few examples are given below:

Residence Permit Name	Residence Permit Processing Time	Finland Work Visa Processing Time
Residence permit for a specialist	1 month	1 month
Residence permit for an employed person	1 month	1 month
Residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur	2 months	2 month
Residence permit for a researcher	3 months	3 months
Residence permit for studies	1 month	1 month

5 Things to Keep in Mind While Applying For A Finland Work Visa 

Here are a few things that you need to know while you are applying for a D visa. 

• After you get a D visa, and a resilience permit, a residence card will be issued for you in Finland 
• The D visa is valid for 100 days. Therefore, you can go to Finland before the residence permit becomes valid
• To get a residence permit card you need a Finnish address 
• During the visa validity period, you can travel without restrictions in the Schengen area.
• You cannot start working before you get a residence permit 
• If you cannot travel to Finland within 2 weeks of getting the visa, or there is no one in Finland to collect the residence card on your behalf, then you cannot apply for this visa

Can I Extend a Finland Work Permit?

Yes. You can extend your Finland work permit. A visa extension application can be submitted annually or every 4 years. A temporary permit needs to be extended annually. If you have a continuous residence permit you can extend the permit after 4 years. However, you need to apply for a visa extension 4 months before the expiry of your current visa. After staying for 5 years on a residence permit you become eligible for a permanent residence.

Can I Bring My Family on a Finland Work Visa?

Those who hold a work visa can bring their family members with them. However, you must have sufficient funds to cover the expenses of your dependents. 

• You can bring a spouse/children below the age of 18
• Application must be applied based on family ties 
• Even if you are an underage student your family members can apply for a D visa based on family ties.

Learn about the Finland student visa application

How Can I Get a Permanent Residence in Finland?

You can get a Finland residence permit after staying in Finland for 4-5 years on a temporary residence permit. That is, an A permit, However, you need to meet the permanent residence requirements. Moreover,  you need to pay the application fee, and even undergo a background check. If you are not eligible for permanent residence your visa can be extended for a fixed time.

FAQs

We hope you now understand what is the Finland Work Visa. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!