Working in Finland After Graduation: The Two-Year Job-Search Permit

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Finland lets non-EU graduates of a Finnish degree programme stay on to find a job or start a business. The rules come from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) and are summarised by Study in Finland, InfoFinland and the universities. Migri's own pages could not be opened by our automatic check, so we give no fee or money figure for this permit: read the current numbers on migri.fi before you apply. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens register their right of residence instead, as described in student visa for Finland.

Three routes after the diploma

Aalto University's guide for international students sets out the options:

You already have a job. Apply for a work-based residence permit before your student permit expires.
You have no job yet. Apply for a residence permit to look for work. It is granted for two years at most.
You want to start a business or freelance. Apply for a residence permit for entrepreneurs. A Business ID is required.

Study in Finland describes the same two-year permit as one that "allows you to look for work or start a business".

The job-search permit in detail

InfoFinland states the main rules:

The permit can be granted for a maximum of two years.
You apply no later than five years after your student or researcher permit expired. You can apply even if you left Finland after graduating.
The University of Helsinki adds that you need a student or research permit and either no job yet or a job that does not earn enough for a work-based permit, and advises applying well before the current permit expires.
Applications are subject to a fee paid when you submit them. The amount is on Migri's fee page.

The University of Helsinki adds that a permit granted for less than two years can still serve as a basis for permanent residence, and that a permanent residence application based on it must be submitted within five years of the student permit's validity.

When you find a job

Once you have an offer, you switch to a permit based on a degree completed in Finland. InfoFinland says this permit needs a signed employment contract.

For specialists, InfoFinland describes a fast-track: IT specialists and higher-education graduates in jobs that need special professional skills. Processing takes at most two weeks. You apply electronically in Enter Finland, pay there, and visit a Finnish diplomatic mission within five working days. Whether this applies to you depends on the job, so ask Migri.

Permanent residence

Study in Finland says permanent residence is possible after four years on a continuous residence permit. Your study period counts towards the four years, which matters most if you are employed after graduating.

How to build a job search during your studies

Study in Finland suggests these steps:

Learn Finnish or Swedish, which can improve your chances.
Use traineeships, cooperation projects and thesis work with companies to meet employers.
Contact your university's career services.
Attend local career fairs. Aalto lists summer job search as busiest from December to February.
Read the work sections of InfoFinland and Work in Finland.

While you are a student, a non-EU permit lets you work up to 30 hours a week on average, with no limit for work that is part of the degree, such as practical training or thesis work. Before the first job you need a tax card and a Finnish personal identity code. See working while studying in Europe and scholarships and student jobs in Finland.

Choosing a programme with this in mind

Study that fits Finnish employers matters. Our catalogue lists 951 programmes at 70 campuses, and 226 bachelor's programmes are taught in English: see the list. Programmes that include a work placement make contacts easier.

Where to look next

Official sources

InfoFinland: work in Finland for non-EU citizens
Study in Finland: opportunities after graduation
Study in Finland: student residence permit
University of Helsinki: staying in Finland after graduation
Aalto University: working in Finland
Migri: seeking work after graduation: the page that holds the current fee and money rules

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.