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Country guide · Finland
Living and working in Finland
A guide for international candidates
Unless you're an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you'll usually need a work-based residence permit from Migri. Specialists and EU Blue Card holders need at least €3,937 a month in 2026. Other employed people need at least €1,600 a month, or €1,463 where no collective agreement applies. Fast-track handling for specialists aims at about two weeks.
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Euro
Currency
€, EUR
Helsinki
Capital
EET
Time zone
UTC+2, summer UTC+3
112
Emergency number
Types C and F
Plug
230 V
Last checked 12 October 2026. Estimates are labelled.
Where the jobs are
All regions lets you pick a place and see rent, jobs and the sectors in this guide. Choose a sector to see that industry in every place.
Cyan is the region you picked. Navy is everywhere else.
Region
Uusimaa
Pay €3,967.
€19.19/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland)
- Rent
- €19.19/m²
- Vs regions in this guide
- +46%
- People in work
- 869k
- Strongest sector
- Tech
Sector strength vs average for Finland
- Tech1.66×
- Healthcaren/a
- Engineeringn/a
- Finance1.63×
- Hospitality1.05×
Job links open all Finland roles for now. Rent compared with the other regions in this guide.
View the map as a table
| Region | People in work | Sectors above average (LQ 1.05 or more) | Pay | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uusimaa | 868,675 | Tech 1.66, Finance 1.63, Hospitality 1.05 | €3,967 | €19.19/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Southwest Finland | 207,169 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.23, Healthcare 1.07 | €3,435 | €14.63/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Satakunta | 85,277 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.56, Healthcare 1.06 | €3,434 | €10.48/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Kanta-Häme | 63,916 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.32, Healthcare 1.06 | €3,444 | €13.14/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Pirkanmaa | 230,746 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.18, Tech 1.16 | €3,558 | €16.00/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Päijät-Häme | 75,266 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.34, Healthcare 1.13, Hospitality 1.09 | €3,435 | €12.78/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Kymenlaakso | 58,589 | Healthcare 1.20 | €3,547 | €11.41/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| South Karelia | 46,362 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.26, Healthcare 1.09, Hospitality 1.08 | €3,539 | €13.22/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| South Savo | 48,464 | Healthcare 1.40, Engineering and manufacturing 1.12 | €3,348 | €11.22/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| North Savo | 98,543 | Healthcare 1.24 | €3,400 | €13.80/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| North Karelia | 59,750 | Healthcare 1.21, Engineering and manufacturing 1.15 | €3,315 | €13.02/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Central Finland | 106,247 | Healthcare 1.12 | €3,471 | €13.72/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| South Ostrobothnia | 76,800 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.44, Healthcare 1.23 | €3,286 | €11.21/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Ostrobothnia | 81,307 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.96 | €3,475 | €12.25/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Central Ostrobothnia | 28,357 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.30, Healthcare 1.21 | €3,434 | €11.80/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| North Ostrobothnia | 170,344 | Healthcare 1.14 | €3,526 | €13.64/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Kainuu | 27,030 | Healthcare 1.15 | €3,442 | €11.84/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Lapland | 74,760 | Hospitality 1.72, Healthcare 1.16 | €3,467 | €13.10/m² a month, non-subsidised rental flats, Q2 2026 (Statistics Finland) |
| Åland | 15,831 | Finance 1.97, Hospitality 1.17 | €3,683 | €13.88/m² a month (Estimate: Statistics Finland figure for the whole country outside Greater Helsinki, Q2 2026, used as a proxy) |
Cities
Pay, rent and the share of pay that rent takes. Estimates stay labelled.
Estimate
Helsinki
- Rent
- €1,078
- Pay
- €2,882
- Rent share
- 37%
Estimate
Tampere
- Rent
- €861
- Pay
- €2,482
- Rent share
- 35%
Estimate
Turku
- Rent
- €718
- Pay
- €2,388
- Rent share
- 30%
Tools
Step 1 of 2
Visa route finder
A route to read about, not a decision on your application. Figures are the ones in this guide.
Rent and pay
The pay and rent figures already in this guide. This is not a tax calculation.
Rent a month in Helsinki
€1,078
- Pay
- €2,882
- Rent share of pay
- 37%
Take-home pay
The Vero calculator shows a withholding rate. The employer also withholds insurance contributions, so it is not a full payslip.
Open the Vero calculatorVisa routes to read about
These describe the route. They do not say whether you qualify.
- Source
Specialist
At least €3,937 a month gross in 2026; expert duties; usually a higher education degree. In force; fast track aims at about two weeks.
EU Blue Card
At least €3,937 a month in 2026; job of at least six months; higher education qualifications (see Migri). Migri
Employed person
At least €1,600 a month; €1,463 where no collective agreement applies or for part-time work. Migri
2027 amounts
Not announced yet. Migri
Little-known facts
Daily life
- Good to knowSauna culture, quiet public transport, very dark winters and light summer nights, lunch at 11, summer cottages.
- HealthcarePublic healthcare through the wellbeing services counties once you have a municipality of residence.
- Good to knowEmergency 112; medical helpline 116 117. Åland is Swedish-speaking; Ostrobothnia's coast is largely bilingual.
Family, school and pets
- FamilyFamilies can usually join; check Migri.
- SchoolEarly childhood education fees depend on family income and size, with a national maximum fee set in law (Act on Early Childhood Education and Care Fees; Ministry of Education and Culture ).
- SchoolBasic education is free.
From job offer to settled in
Questions
Does a Finnish employer need a sponsor licence?
No. The employer makes the job offer and fills in its part of the application.
What's the salary for a specialist permit?
At least €3,937 a month gross in 2026. Fringe benefits and daily allowances don't count.
What will 2027 amounts be?
Not announced yet. Migri usually updates them at the start of the year.
Where are tech jobs concentrated?
Uusimaa (1.66 times the national share) and Pirkanmaa (1.16).
Is Åland different?
Yes. It's autonomous and Swedish-speaking, with its own rules in some areas.
Does every employer on Global Sponsor Hub sponsor visas?
No. Each listing shows the support the employer or agency has stated, such as visa sponsorship or relocation support. Confirm it with the employer before you apply.
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