---
title: "Finland Post-study job search requirements 2026: 2-year stay"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/jobseeker-graduate-permit/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Finland · Work

# Finland Post-study job search

**First stay:** 2 yrs

Residence permit to look for work or start a business after studies or research

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Savings needed:** €800 a month ≈ $890 (Savings of at least EUR 800 a month (≈ $890) · At the applicant's disposal for each month of the permit, for example EUR 19,200 for a 2-year permit; on an extended permit the amount can be secured with work. A fee of EUR 750 (≈ $840) · Online first permit (paper EUR 800); extended EUR 230 online (paper EUR 430).)
- **First stay:** 2 yrs (Up to 2 years; can be used in parts of at least 6 months, the last ending within 3 years of the first part starting.)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit.)
- **Work:** Yes (Unrestricted right to work.)

## Key facts

Post-study job search is a work route for Finland. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

- **Government fees:** €750 ≈ $840
- **First stay:** 2 yrs

## Cost, time and long term

**Government fees: €750 ≈ $840**

- EUR 750 (≈ $840) Online first permit (paper EUR 800 (≈ $890)); extended EUR 230 (≈ $260) online (paper EUR 430 (≈ $480)).

**Shown, not spent: €800+/mo ≈ $890**

- EUR 800 a month (≈ $890) At the applicant's disposal for each month of the permit, for example EUR 19,200 (≈ $21,400) for a 2-year permit; on an extended permit the amount can be secured with work.

**Renewal: 2 years max in total**

Up to 2 years, usable in parts of at least 6 months; apply within five years after the previous permit ended.

[Finnish Immigration Service](https://migri.fi/en/application-for-students-and-researchers-residence-permit-to-look-for-work)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Time on this route is capped at 2 years in total
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Finland
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- Applicant has or has had a residence permit for studies or research in Finland.
- Applicant completed a degree in Finland, or finished research or a doctoral degree there.
- Researchers on a national research permit qualify only after completing a degree in Finland.

#### What you must show

- At least EUR 800 (≈ $890) per month is at the applicant's disposal, for example EUR 19,200 (≈ $21,400) for 2 years.

#### Documents

- A degree certificate or research completion document and proof of funds are submitted.

#### Steps

1. The application is made within five years of the end of the studies or research permit.
2. The first permit is applied for abroad; an extended permit is applied for in Finland.

#### After you arrive

- The permit includes an unrestricted right to work, so no new permit is needed when a job is found.

## When you become tax resident

How Finland decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 2 years in total**
- **Tax residence:** A person is resident with a main abode and home in Finland, or after a continuous stay of more than six months (exactly six months is not enough); temporary absences do not interrupt the stay.
- **Foreign-source income:** Progressive state tax plus municipal tax on worldwide income of residents; example effective rate on pay of EUR 30,000 (≈ $33,500) is 8.5% and on EUR 70,000 (≈ $78,200) is 25.0% (Helsinki resident, Lutheran church member).

[All tax rules for Finland](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

For graduates or researchers who completed a degree or research in Finland and have no job yet; apply within five years after the previous permit ended. (sources 1, 2)

#### What you must show and pay

- Savings of at least EUR 800 a month (≈ $890) · At the applicant's disposal for each month of the permit, for example EUR 19,200 (≈ $21,400) for a 2-year permit; on an extended permit the amount can be secured with work. (source 1)
- A fee of EUR 750 (≈ $840) · Online first permit (paper EUR 800 (≈ $890)); extended EUR 230 (≈ $260) online (paper EUR 430 (≈ $480)). (source 1)

#### Requirements

- Applicant has or has had a residence permit for studies or research in Finland. (source 1)
- Applicant completed a degree in Finland, or finished research or a doctoral degree there. (source 1)
- Researchers on a national research permit qualify only after completing a degree in Finland. (source 1)
- At least EUR 800 (≈ $890) per month is at the applicant's disposal, for example EUR 19,200 (≈ $21,400) for 2 years. (source 1)
- A degree certificate or research completion document and proof of funds are submitted. (source 1)
- The application is made within five years of the end of the studies or research permit. (source 1)
- The first permit is applied for abroad; an extended permit is applied for in Finland. (source 1)
- The permit includes an unrestricted right to work, so no new permit is needed when a job is found. (source 1)

#### Stay

- Up to 2 years; can be used in parts of at least 6 months, the last ending within 3 years of the first part starting.
- First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

#### Nationality

Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

#### Work

Unrestricted right to work.

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [Residence permit to look for work or start a business](https://migri.fi/en/application-for-students-and-researchers-residence-permit-to-look-for-work) · Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) · checked 2026-10-12
2. [Income requirement for work-based permits](https://migri.fi/en/working-in-finland/income-requirement) · Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) · checked 2026-10-11

## Post-study job search and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Post-study job search | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
| [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/eu-blue-card/) | Needs income of €3,937+ a month ≈ $4,400 | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [Intra-company transfer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/ict-permit/) | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [Consultant permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/consultant-permit/) | Needs income of €1,463+ a month ≈ $1,630 | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| [Researcher permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/researcher-permit/) | Needs income of €1,463+ a month ≈ $1,630 | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Post-study job search?

Savings of at least EUR 800 a month (≈ $890). At the applicant's disposal for each month of the permit, for example EUR 19,200 (≈ $21,400) for a 2-year permit; on an extended permit the amount can be secured with work. A fee of EUR 750 (≈ $840). Online first permit (paper EUR 800 (≈ $890)); extended EUR 230 (≈ $260) online (paper EUR 430 (≈ $480)).

### How long can I stay on the Post-study job search?

Up to 2 years; can be used in parts of at least 6 months, the last ending within 3 years of the first part starting.

### Can I work on the Post-study job search?

Yes. Unrestricted right to work.

### Who can apply for the Post-study job search?

Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

## More in Finland

[Start-up founder permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/startup-permit/) [Entrepreneur permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/entrepreneur-permit/) [Specialist permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/specialist-permit/) [Visiting teacher](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/visiting-teacher-permit/) [Employee permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/employed-person-permit/) [Athlete or coach](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/athlete-coach-permit/) [Internship permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/internship-permit/) [Seasonal work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/finland/seasonal-work-permit/)

## Work visas elsewhere

[🇵🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) [🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 2 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Residence permit to look for work or start a business](https://migri.fi/en/application-for-students-and-researchers-residence-permit-to-look-for-work) · Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) · checked 2026-10-12
2. [Income requirement for work-based permits](https://migri.fi/en/working-in-finland/income-requirement) · Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.