The citizens of countries outside the EEA in most cases need a worker’s residence permit for work in Finland. The permit is issued for purposes of one or more fields of work and may be temporary or continuous. The permit includes the partial decision of the employment office and the residence permit decision of the Finnish Immigration Service or the city police department of the population register district. Appeals against residence permit decisions are submitted to the Administrative Court.

Only the employee may apply for a worker’s residence permit. The employer’s right to initiate proceedings has been repealed with effect from the beginning of 2012. The application must be submitted to either a Finnish diplomatic mission abroad or the police department for the appropriate district of jurisdiction in Finland.

Employment and Economic Development Office form MEE 0.54 shall be signed by the employer or commissioner and appended to the residence permit application.

Information on the administration fees charged in connection with application for a residence permit can be found on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.

The Aliens Act addresses cases in which work is possible on the basis of a standard residence permit, a visa, or a visa waiver agreement. Further information can be found on the Finnish Immigration Service website.

The work permit units operating in connection with the Employment and Economic Development Offices shall notify the employer or commissioner in writing before granting the employee's residence permit. The work permit units also provide advice on all matters pertaining to an employee's residence permit.