Student work rights in Finland
Rules for working while studying in Finland, including work limits, internships, tax steps and post-study routes where covered by the guide.
Read the complete Finland study abroad guide.
Part-time Jobs
Students may work an average of 30 hours per week across the year: intensity can vary week to week as long as the average holds, and there is no restriction on the field of work. That average structure suits exam rhythms better than a hard weekly cap.
Pay follows collective agreements; there is no statutory minimum wage because the agreements are the floor. The identity code and tax card come before the first shift.
Source: https://migri.fi/en/working-during-studies
Post-study Work
Finland grants graduates a residence permit to look for work or start a business for up to two years after the degree, and it need not be used immediately: you can claim it in parts within five years of graduating, which allows a trip home before the job hunt.
Time on the A permit counts toward permanent residence, and the degree plus language skills is the established route into it.
Budget for it as well as counting on it. The job seeking permit carries the same EUR 800 a month means test as the study permit, applied across the whole period you request, so a two year permit means showing EUR 19,200. The permit can also be drawn down in up to three separate parts within the five year window rather than having to be used in one continuous block, which makes it far more useful if you want to try the market, leave, and come back.
Source: https://migri.fi/en/looking-for-a-job-in-finland
Common questions
What should international students know about work in Finland?
30 hours per week on average, any field, averaged over the year.
What should international students know about post study in Finland?
Up to two years of job-seeking permit, claimable within five years.