Most of our new employees with a higher education degree fall under the specialist permit category. The permit is fast and easy to get, especially since there is a fast track for such applicants.

If you have family members moving with you, getting a permit at the same time is usually possible. The family member applications are processed together with the same speed so applying together is usually faster than separately. 

Note that you don't necessarily need to be married with your partner; Finland recognises couples that can proof that they have lived at least 2 years together in the same address or have a mutual child.

To prepare for the application, you need to gather at least the following documents (see the up-to-date list on migri.fi):

- Valid passport (preferably one that won't expire soon)

- Passport photos complying with the Finnish standard (see migri.fi)

- Colour copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes

- Document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application (typically a passport if you live in your home country, otherwise a residence permit card or a similar document).

- Higher education degree certificate (translated and notarized if not in Finnish, Swedish or English; see Migri guidance)

- Employment contract

- CV, employment record book (e.g. in Russia), proof of employment from previous employer (these are sometimes requested).

Additional documents are usually needed if your family members apply for a permit at the same time.

After submission, you should also receive information by email about booking an appointment with a Finnish embassy or VFS application centre to proof your identity. You should also receive a "fast track code" in the email which should allow you to skip the waiting queue for the embassy times. Book the meeting as soon as possible as you need to visit the embassy within 5 working days of submission or at the earliest possible date.

If not, you can check instructions from the Finnish embassy websites directly. You can visit the embassy in the country where you are living rather than going back to your home country. However, note that not all countries have a Finnish embassy so you may need travel to another country. 

When making the booking, give the embassy your application number (and fast track number). Take all the original documents used in the application (see step 2) to the meeting.

You can leave your passport at the embassy so that the D-visa will be affixed to your passport when Migri grants you a residence permit and the D-visa. You can also ask the embassy for a second meeting after the permit approval in case you need to keep your passport.

Once the visa has been approved, you can get your passport with the D-visa from the embassy or go to the embassy to get a D-visa affixed to your passport. You may need to contact the embassy to book a meeting for this.

After receiving the passport with the D-visa, you can travel to Finland immediately. We typically cover your flight to Finland. Remember to check the Finnish customs agency's guidance, especially when importing pets, vehicles, and valuable goods. Remember to also take all your documents with you to Finland as they may be needed later for different registrations.

In Finland, you are also allowed to work immediately if your permit is in force (check the decision for the starting date). 

You will also receive your formal residence permit card. It will be delivered to a pick-up point near our office and you will receive a notification about it by email/sms. Note that the card will be sent automatically after receiving a positive decision. This can mean that the card can arrive even before you are in Finland. The card is typically only held at the pick-up point for a couple of weeks, but you can ask someone else to pick it up for you if needed (no need for a power of attorney).

We typically book a month at an apartment hotel near our office for you, so you don't need to find an apartment straightaway. The benefit is taxable.

We also give you a Finnish mobile subscription (taxable benefit) so you get internet access and can make calls. You can also get a prepaid subscription from most kiosks. Getting a post-paid subscription by yourself usually requires that you have lived in Finland for some time already, so it is usually easier to take one from us.

Next you can get a tax card. The tax card is needed so that we know how much tax we need to deduct from your salary (otherwise we need to deduct 60%). You can get a tax card by calling the tax agency or visiting their office. The tax agency will ask for your identity code and an income estimate for the rest of year. If you called the agency, they will send the card by email but they will also tell you the withholding percentage and limits over the phone.

You can adjust your tax card during the year. The adjustment and other tax management is easy to do online at OmaVero but you will need official online credentials for that purpose (see next step). 

It is worth noting that you will tax liable by default for all your worldwide income after moving to Finland. However, tax treaties with other countries may limit taxation rights of states. You can estimate your taxation here.

Once you have a permanent address and an official identity card, you can open a bank account and get online banking credentials. Before the account is open, it is also possible to pay salary to a foreign bank account in most cases.

The three biggest banks (which also offer service in English) are OP, Nordea, and Danske Bank. 

For OP, check their dedicated page for people who have moved to Finland. There are two ways of booking a meeting: 1) Fill in the form, which is linked on the page, and OP will be in touch with you to book an appointment. 2) Book a time on their website. The benefit is that you can book the meeting well beforehand. Check the documents that you must print and fill in before coming to meeting from the dedicated page.

For Nordea and Danske, you can book a meeting by calling them.

For the bank meeting, you will need your identity card, passport, residence permit card and employment contract and other documents specified by the bank. You may, for example, have to bring bank statements from your foreign bank in case you plan to transfer large amounts of money to the account. The bank may also ask about your foreign tax liabilities but typically you will be tax resident only in Finland after moving here thanks to tax treaties. 

Once you have online banking credentials, you can access pretty much all public services online.