How to apply for a Finland Seasonal Work Visa and its Validity

With a Finland Seasonal Work Visa, you can work in Finland for a specific period if you know the proper steps to take. Apart from knowing if you are eligible to apply for a visa or if you are from a visa-free country, it is necessary to see the validity period for this type of Work Visa and its requirement. With the required information, you can join the queue of people waiting to enter Finland for work.

If your work in Finland will last for less than three months, a Seasonal Work Visa for Finland is what you will need. You can obtain this at a Finnish embassy or consulate. You are not authorized to get a Finland Seasonal Work Visa from any other Schengen member state office.

Getting a Finland Seasonal Work visa would help if you first secured a job. Also, you need to know about the country you wish to visit for work. So let’s look at some things that make Finland a desirable destination for seasonal work. This is an excellent insight into the country of the midnight sun.

About Finland

In 2021, Finland ranked as the World’s Happiest Country, a position it held from 2018 to ’21. A visit to Finland would tell you why it has held on to this title. The country is located in Northern Europe, with a population of about 5.5 million people.

Finland shares borders with Sweden, Russia, and Norway, and its capital city is Helsinki. Its official languages are Swedish and Finnish, but the younger generation of Finlanders speak English quite fluently. Euro is the official currency of Finland.

About Finland’s Seasonal Work Visa

A Seasonal Work Visa for Finland is a permit granted to an applicant who wants to travel to Finland for the purpose of work. However, the holder is not permitted to stay more than three months or 90 days in Finland. Usually, a Seasonal Work Visa is for jobs done at particular times of the year. For example, they can be Festivals, Agricultural, Tourism, and Manufacturing. In 2019, Finland admitted about 17,000 foreigners for Seasonal Employment.

Who is Eligible for a Finland Seasonal Work Visa?

About 108 countries must obtain a Finland Seasonal Work visa for no more than 90 days to work in Finland. They include:

• Equatorial Guinea
• Namibia
• Vietnam
• Eritrea
• Nepal
• Yemen
• Ethiopia
• Niger
• Zambia
• Fiji
• Nigeria
• Zimbabwe
• North Korea

Who does not need a Seasonal Work Visa to Finland?

Finland grants free access to the following people to work without a visa for 90 days:

• Citizens of Schengen Member Countries and the European Union
• Citizens of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland (Nordic countries)
• Citizens of the US, Australia, the Vatican, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Andorra, and San Marino.

These citizens can stay for a maximum of 90 days without a visa, but after 90 days, they must register at the local police department.

Requirements for Visa-Free Entry Into Finland

Although you do not need a Seasonal Work Visa if you are from a visa-free zone, you need the following to enter Finland:

• A Valid Passport or an acceptable travel document not older than ten years must be valid for at least 90 days after you depart Finland.
• When you arrive in Finland, you must prove that you will not be a danger to the public or a security risk.
• You must also prove that you will not endanger Finland’s relationship with other nations.

Requirements to Apply for a Finland Seasonal Work Visa

You will need the following:

• The Visa Application Form, which you will fill out and sign
• One photo of yourself which will be colored and must show your features clearly
• A Passport that is not older than ten years and must be valid for at least three months after you leave Finland
• Travel Insurance with an Insurance Policy of EUR 30,000
• Invitation Letter indicating the address of your host (employer) and the details of the person they are inviting (you)
• Confirmation of Accommodation
• Proof of Financial Stability. You must prove that you have a daily expense of at least EUR 30 for the duration of your stay.

The Visa Office may request a personal interview to find out the purpose of your intended visit to Finland.

Border Check

At the border, the visa officer may deny you entry for the following reasons:

• Inability to produce a valid passport or travel document, an insurance policy for the duration of your stay, or any of the other supporting documents
• Insufficient proof of enough funds to support yourself (30 Euros a day)
• Inability to convince the authorities that you will not harm public security, public health, or international relations between Finland and other countries.
• A suspicion that you plan to earn money in Finland through dishonest acts.

Apply for A Finland Seasonal Work Visa

Here’s how to apply for a Finland Seasonal Work Visa:

1. Find a job in Finland

It would help if you secured a job before you applied for a visa to Finland. This is because the visa office would demand the details of your employer on the day of your interview.

2. Apply for a Finland Seasonal Work Visa

Now that you have a job offer waiting, you can print and fill out a Finland Seasonal Work Visa Application Form. It is just the same as a Schengen Visa Application Form. The only difference is that your visa will be marked with the word ‘kausityö,’ which stands for seasonal work.

3. Submit your Application to the Finland Mission Office

This is where you will submit all your documents as well as the application form. This is also where you will pay your visa fees and submit your biometrics.

4. Await a response to your application

This shouldn’t take more than 15 days, but if it does, the outcome will most likely be positive. Congratulations!

Validity Period For A Finland Seasonal Work Visa

A Finland Seasonal Work Visa is valid for Ninety days. This period starts counting from the day you obtain the visa. You must not overstay the period given to you. However, if your work exceeds the given period, you must apply for a Finland Seasonal Work Permit before your visa expires.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Visa Fee for a Finland Seasonal Work Visa?

The application Fee for a Finland Seasonal Work Visa is EUR 80. Please note that it is a non-refundable fee, no matter the outcome of your application.

How long will it take for my Seasonal Work Visa Application to be processed?

Usually, your visa is processed 15 days before your travel date. However, it may take longer to process your application, depending on the period when it is submitted.

When Can I Submit my Application for a Finland Seasonal Work Visa?

You can apply for a Finland Seasonal Work Visa at least six months before your intended visit.

Where can I apply for a Finland Seasonal Work Visa?

You must apply at the Finland Mission Office in your country. You are not permitted to apply at the mission office of any other Schengen state. This is because this visa is meant for Finland alone, and you cannot use it to work in any other Schengen country.

What happens if my Seasonal Work lasts for more than 90 days?

If your Seasonal Work in Finland lasts for more than 90 days, please apply for a Seasonal Work Permit from the Finnish Immigration Service. You must do this before your visa expires. Most often, Seasonal Work lasts more than 90 days. This is quite usual.

Why should I get a Finland Seasonal Work Visa?

There are so many reasons why Finland should be your first choice for a Seasonal Work Visa. First, when compared to other Eastern European Nations, Finland’s salary structure is considerably higher. In 2021, the country’s minimum wage was around 2,583.61 euros.

Secondly, Finland is a very safe country in terms of crime. You would hardly experience any form of violence except for the minor pickpocketing that happens in public places.

Thirdly, Finland is a great contributor to innovations in many sectors. These innovations include Angry Birds, Linux, Ice Skates, and Nokia, among others.

Lastly, Finland’s education system is one of the best in the world. This is because they have shorter school hours and less homework. Also, they focus on the total development of their students.

Conclusion

Be prepared to have lots of fun in Finland. Although the Finnish people are quiet and mind their business, they are quite friendly and take their festivals and traditions seriously. One of such traditions is the wife-carrying competition. Here, men are made to carry their wives or partners around an obstacle. The winner gets a beer that is the same as his partner’s weight! They enjoy this occasion, and you would too if you get to Finland.

A Finland Seasonal Work Visa is a ticket to a better life. If you’re lucky, you can get a work permit that will allow you to stay for up to a year. Who knows, you may be able to put down roots in Finland if you work hard at it.

Read also: Finland Work Visa – Requirements, Application, and Documentation.