Finland- popular overseas career destination in Europe

Finland offers a high quality of life. It has been ranked the “Happiest Country in the World” for the third year in a row. Residents of the country can benefit from universal healthcare and a successful public-school system. The working conditions here are well regulated. The country offers a safe and secure environment.

The current population of Finland is 5.5 million and its GDP is 45,700 USD. Finland has become a top destination for overseas jobseekers and migrants. Working conditions in Finland are well regulated and employee well-being is vital to employers .Finnish employers are usually flexible and working hours are limited to a maximum of 40 hours a week. Around 80% of foreign employees feel Finland is a safe and secure place to work, they also agree that workplaces give them enough opportunities to develop their skills and talents.

Job opportunities in Finland

The job opportunities will be in the technology, IT and healthcare sectors. Job opportunities will also exist in the automobile manufacturing and maritime sectors. According to reports, Finland will need around 50,000 technology workers by 2021, more than 10,000 new software developers in the next 4 years and more than 30,000 workers for the maritime and automobile manufacturing sectors.

The country is looking at hiring many foreign employees for these vacant positions to help continue the path to economic growth.

To encourage more foreign workers to come and work here, the Finnish government has introduced many changes that include:

No language requirements: Foreign employers no longer need to know Finnish to be able to work here. Finnish is a tough language to learn and this condition discouraged many foreign professionals to come to the country. But with the relaxation of this rule, Finland hopes overseas professionals will be willing to work in the country.

Reduced visa processing time: The government plans to reduce the processing time for residence permits to 2 weeks. The processing time earlier was 52 days.

Assist overseas workers and their families to settle down: Provide easy access to housing, daycare and schooling facilities to expats and their families.

Work visa options

Citizens of countries outside of the European Union (EU) are required to apply for a residence permit before working in Finland. The type of permit depends on the nature of the work they’ll be doing for their employer. The following three categories of Finnish work visas are available:

• Business visa: A business visa allows the employee to live as long as 90 days in Finland. This visa does not permit the employee to interact directly with the job. This visa helps the person to attend the seminars and conferences. This visa could be applicable to employees during the onboarding process who will not stay back in Finland to work in the country.
• Residence permit for self-employment: This permit can be given to individuals within a company, including private businessmen, associates, and cooperative leaders. Before this permit can be granted has to be registered with the Trade Register at the National Patent and Registration Board.
• Residence permit for an employed person: This visa is the most common type of work visa. There are three types of visas in this category-
• Continuous (A), Temporary (B), and Permanent (P). Employees who are seeking residency for the first time in Finland will apply for a Temporary Permit.

A temporary residency permit is issued as a fixed-term (B) or continuous residence permit, depending on the duration of the stay. The first permit is usually given for one year, unless you apply explicitly for a shorter validity period. Ongoing residence permits may be extended at a time for a maximum of three years.