Residence Permit to Look for Work After Graduation (Finland)

This permit lets people who have studied in Finland stay on after graduating so that they can look for work in Finland or start a business. Migri announced in June 2022 that it can be applied for online in Enter Finland.

It is a bridge between studies and a work permit. You do not need a job to get it, but you do need to show that you can support yourself while you search. When you find work, you can move to a permit based on your degree, on research or on entrepreneurship.

You may get the permit for two years at most. Plan this period as a project. A job search can take months, and you will also need time to arrange the follow-up permit when you find an employer. Do not leave the search until the final months of the permit.

Migri says you must apply within five years of the date your residence permit for studies expired, and only if you have not yet found a job. Migri's student FAQ says you can apply for the permit right after graduation or no later than within five years of graduation, and that if you apply for an extended permit to look for work you must submit the application before your current permit expires.

If you have passed all your courses but are still waiting for your degree certificate, the FAQ explains that you can apply for a permit based on the degree and submit the certificate once you receive it. Check the current instructions before you apply.

During this permit you can work as many hours as you like in any sector. This differs from the student permit, which limits you to an average of 30 hours a week. That makes the job-search permit useful for taking temporary or part-time work while you look for a role that fits your degree.

The two permits suit different stages. The student permit lets you work in paid employment for an average of 30 hours a week, which is 120 hours a month or 1,560 hours a year, and Migri says you can no longer work without restrictions during holidays. The job-search permit has no such cap.

Funds also work differently. For an extended student permit, Migri says funds can come from work, provided your studies progress normally. For the job-search permit, Migri says only that you must have sufficient funds for living in Finland, so plan how you will pay your costs if work is slow to start.

Ask yourself three questions before you apply. Do you have a realistic plan for the two years? Do you have the money to support yourself while you search? And do you know what permit you will apply for when a job offer arrives?

Applicants must have sufficient funds for living in Finland. The pages checked for this guide do not state an amount or a fee. Migri's student income requirement says that, for an extended student permit, funds can come from work and that a deposit in a Finnish bank account is the easiest and most reliable evidence. Apply the same logic here, and keep your bank statements and any employment records clear and complete. Confirm the requirement on the current Migri page.

Once you find work, you can apply for a degree-based, research-based or entrepreneur residence permit. For employment in a specialist role, see our guide on the specialist permit and the EU Blue Card. For ordinary employment, see our guide on the residence permit for an employed person, and note that a salary of at least EUR 1,600 per month applies in 2026.

If you want to start a business instead, see our guide on the start-up entrepreneur permit.

Treat the permit as time to build contacts. Many international graduates stay by moving from internships and thesis work to jobs. Use your institution's career services, register with the public employment service and keep a record of your applications. If you hope to settle, remember that time on some permits counts towards permanent residence, so keep your documents in order. See our guide on permanent residence.

Do not let your student permit expire before you apply for the next one. Do not assume the permit extends automatically. Do not wait until the end of the five-year window. And do not forget to apply for the follow-up permit as soon as you have a job offer.