Finnish Visas and Work Permits
Our tax guide for freelance contractors working in Finland
Citizens of all EU Member States (including those from the 12 new Member States) do not need a work permit to take up employment in Finland. Nevertheless, details regarding the employment of citizens of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia must still be supplied to an employment office in order to be registered. Employment details to be registered may be supplied by either the employer or the foreign worker concerned. Notification must be sent no later than 14 days after the start of employment. Notification is not required if the employment is for less than 14 days, or if the police have already registered the worker's residence permit.
Citizens from all other countries need to go through a full work permit and residence permit application and it is fair to say that the increased size of the EU has made it even more difficult to obtain work permits for non-EU nationals.