Scandinavia is the most popular destination for labor migration among Russians. The Finnish state legislation in relation to foreigners who want to find work on its territory is no different from that in the neighboring European powers. In other words, everyone who intends to work here legally will need a work visa to Finland. Violators will face problems with further entry into the country, and employers who accept such an employee cannot avoid a fine.
General concept and types of a work visa to Finland
To be able to carry out any type of labor activity, including an individual business, you will need to obtain a working category visa. A regular Schengen tourist or visitor will not be enough. The only exception is the practice of students in their specialty. However, this direction is strictly controlled by local authorities, especially in terms of the correspondence of the type of work activity to the future diploma.
Given the high standard of living in the Finnish state, it is necessary to remember about the high competition among potential candidates, who, moreover, can apply only for those vacancies that are allowed to be occupied by foreign citizens and for which there were no applicants among local residents.
It is necessary to apply for a visa in the following cases:
- for seasonal work in agricultural enterprises;
- for permanent employment in one of the Finnish companies;
- when carrying out scientific activities;
- to inspect real estate before a possible purchase;
- to accompany close relatives;
- for the carriage of goods or passengers within the country and abroad.
Today, there are three types of documents that our compatriots will need in order to legally work on Finnish territory:
- work visa (for seasonal work or national category D);
- Residence permit, giving the right to work in a given state;
- "Blue Card".
The temporary permit for seasonal work is limited to a short period of time and obliges the holder of such a stamp to leave the country immediately after its expiration.
For long-term employment in a Finnish enterprise, a migrant will need a long-term visa and a work permit.
After entering the country, you must obtain a residence permit. This document is a plastic certificate containing a photo of a foreign citizen, his personal data and professions available to him.
There is no possibility to change the place of work after obtaining a residence permit or to work in another country, but you can freely travel throughout the Schengen area.
Professionals of the highest category can receive a Blue Card - a document that equates their status with a resident status and makes it possible to enjoy all the benefits of an EU resident. The main condition: the salary of such a candidate must exceed 4,578 euros for 1 month.
What is a business visa
Many citizens traveling to Finland tend to confuse the two types of entry permits - a business (business) visa and a work permit. The difference between them is that a work visa allows its holder to receive a monetary reward (salary) for work in the company in which he works, and a business visa is opened to partners of Finnish enterprises who come to the country for the purpose of negotiating or establishing a business contacts. At the same time, we are not talking about making a profit or paying for labor.
In other words, a business visa does not entitle you to work.
The key condition for obtaining a business entry permit is an invitation from Finnish partners, which must indicate how long the foreign guest will spend in the country, for what purpose he comes and where he will stay during the visit.
Work visa application procedure
To find a good job, you need to properly present yourself to Finnish employers. And the best place to start is with a resume and motivation letter. Before the labor visa appears in your passport, you will have to go through several stages:
- Finding a company that will be ready to hire you, passing an interview, receiving confirmation of admission to the state. Next, the employer will have to submit an application to the State Employment Service for issuing a residence permit to the future employee (if it is about long-term cooperation). All papers received from the department must be sent to the Finnish consulate in the country where the visa stamp will be requested.
- Submission of a package of documents to the diplomatic mission of Finland. This procedure is carried out by appointment only.
- Consideration of the request and making a decision.
- Receiving a response from representatives of the Finnish state. If it turns out to be positive, your next action should be to visit the consulate to obtain a passport with a visa permit.
To submit an application, the applicant must prepare certain documents. Their list will depend on the purpose of the trip and the type of employment to which he will be involved. The language for drafting the papers is Swedish, Finnish or English. All documents in other languages must be accompanied by a translation.
The package of documents should include:
- Visa application.
- A photo that meets the requirements of the Schengen migration legislation.
- Foreign passport (and its copy) with a validity period of three months after the end of the legitimacy of the visa.
- A copy of the internal civil passport.
- Medical insurance.
- Confirmation of the availability of funds for the first time in the country.
- Consent to the processing of personal data.
- Receipt for payment of visa fee.
In addition to the listed papers, you must attach:
| Visa category | What needs to be prepared |
|---|---|
| Temporary entry permit for seasonal work | An invitation from a Finnish employer, which must indicate what kind of work the employee will perform, under what conditions, with what remuneration and where he will live. |
| "Blue Card" | Agreement with the host company for at least 1 year. Proof of wages from EUR 4,578 (data for 2018) Higher education diploma. Employment book confirming the availability of work experience in the specialty. |
| Residence permit | An employment contract for a period of three months. Consent of the Finnish Employment Center for babysitting, janitorial or cook jobs. Form TEM 054 completed by the employer. |
The applicant can submit a petition in person, or he can entrust this issue to his representative, having previously issued a general power of attorney.
Where to submit the package of documents
A Finnish visa is issued at the diplomatic missions of this state in the applicant's country of residence. Russians, in particular, can contact the following addresses:
| Institution name | Address | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy of the Republic of Finland in the Russian Federation | Moscow, Kropotkinskiy lane, 15-17 | +7 (495) 787 4174 |
| consulate-General | St. Petersburg, Preobrazhenskaya square, 4 | +7 (812) 331 7600 |
| Petrozavodsk Branch of the Consulate General | St. Petersburg, Gogol street, 25 | +7 (8142) 555 025 |
| Murmansk branch of the Consulate General in the Russian Federation | Murmansk, Zavodskaya street, 2 | +7 (8152) 44–53–82 |
Belarusians and Ukrainians can apply to the following authorities:
| Institution name | Address | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Branch of the Finnish Embassy in Belarus | Minsk, Revolutionary street, 15 | +375 29 302-27-72 |
| Embassy of Finland in Ukraine | Kiev, Streletskaya street, 14 | +380 44 278-70-49 |
How much does a Finnish visa cost, its validity period and processing time
The consular fee for the CIS in 2021 is:
| Permission type | Printed statement (price in euros) | Electronic application (price in euros) |
|---|---|---|
| Work stamp without a residence permit | 35 | |
| Urgent stamp without permission | 70 | |
| For business | 500 | 450 |
| For Au Pair employees, vacation work and internships | 455 | 425 |
| For any other kind of work | 455 | 425 |
The terms for issuing a visa permit are due to the completeness of the required package of documents and circumstances that can speed up the consideration. This usually takes 14 to 30 days.
In some cases, the visa is issued faster. For example, if the applicant is invited to Finland to resolve issues important for the country. If we are talking about obtaining a "Blue Card", then the review process can take up to three months.
The period of validity of a visa permit depends on the duration of the employment contract. Usually it is indicated on the stamp and is:
- 3 months;
- 6 months;
- 1 year;
- 2 years (for the “Blue Card”).
The cost of a visa stamp does not depend on its validity period.
Why they may refuse to issue a visa and what to do in such a situation
The representatives of the Finnish state have the authority to refuse an applicant to open a visa. There may be several reasons:
- violation of visa rules during previous trips;
- violation of the law in Finland;
- incorrect filling of the visa application;
- unconvincing purpose of the visit;
- incomplete package of papers.
If the consulate's response is negative, the applicant will receive a notification letter stating the reasons for the refusal. The ability to correct the situation will depend on what exactly was the reason for the negative decision.
If some documents are missing, you need to prepare them and try to apply again. But in the case of existing offenses, another attempt will not be beneficial. However, in any case, you have the right to appeal. This must be done within 1-2 months after receiving the refusal.
Most often asked by applicants
Applicants for a Finnish visa often have many questions, the answers to which I would like to know before going to the consulate.
Is it possible to extend the visa?
Yes, such a procedure is provided, but only subject to the prolongation of the employment contract. You must apply for an extension to the migration police department at your place of residence in the country. To be able to continue working while the application is being considered, you must contact the department in advance.
What papers will the family members of a labor migrant need?
The most important document is confirmation of kinship with him. It can be a birth certificate for children and a marriage certificate for a spouse. In addition, you will have to prepare evidence of the availability of funds for the maintenance of their relatives in Finnish territory, as well as the availability of housing for cohabitation.
Conclusions
The Finnish state today is of great interest to labor migrants. To carry out your plans for employment in this country, you will need a work visa.
Its type will depend on how long the candidate plans to work in Finland. He can apply for a temporary permit for seasonal work, a residence permit with the ability to work or for a Blue Card.
The procedure begins with finding an employer and receiving an invitation from him. Further actions involve collecting documents and submitting an application to the consulate.
The outcome of the consideration of the application will depend on the completeness of the package of documents provided, the expediency of entry, the previous visa history and the applicant's behavior in the Schengen area as a whole.
