With no retirement route, a job is how most non-EU nationals get to live in Finland — and Finland genuinely recruits in health care, IT, and engineering. The 2026 thresholds: €1,600/month for a standard work permit, €3,937 for the specialist fast lane.
Figures verified 9 July 2026| Permit | Salary requirement (2026, gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Employed person (TTOL) | €1,600/month — or €1,463/month if no collective agreement applies or the work is part-time | Standard route; labour-market test applies in some sectors |
| Specialist | €3,937/month | Expert duties + higher-education degree or equivalent expertise; faster processing |
| EU Blue Card | €3,937/month (2026) — same threshold as the specialist permit, reviewed annually | EU-wide mobility perks |
| Entrepreneur | No fixed sum — viability assessed by the ELY Centre, then Migri | Real trading businesses, not paper companies |
Qualifying foreign specialists earning €5,800+/month (2026) can take a flat 25% on salary instead of progressive rates — for up to 84 months. Apply within 90 days of starting work.
The US–Finland and Canada–Finland social security agreements stop double contributions and let work credits in both countries count together toward pensions. Keep records from both sides.
Work in Finland and you accrue a Finnish earnings-related pension (TyEL) from day one — payable later even if you leave. Employee contributions are withheld automatically.
Migri's e-service from a US or Canadian address — documents, biometrics, fees, timelines.
The two-stage viability test, YEL insurance, and what counts as a real business.
Finland's shortage occupations, English-first employers, and realistic salary bands.
We'll sanity-check the salary against the permit thresholds and the tax picture — or introduce an immigration lawyer we've independently vetted.