All about the working holiday in Finland!

Northern lights, reindeer, saunas, and white nights... there's nowhere else quite like Finland. Discover the beauty of this Nordic wonderland on a year-long working holiday.
Wherever you are in the process of working holiday preparation, pvtistes.net provides free information and resources to help with your planning and big move.
Working Holiday Visa travel insurance.

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…).

1 Eligibility requirements
Age limit

Between 18 and 30 or 35 years old

Read more

Valid passport

A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday

Read more

Sufficient funds

At least €2000 or equivalent in another currency

Read more

First participation

This must be your first participation

Read more

Mandatory health insurance

Must cover illness and hospitalisation

Read more

Qualifying citizenship

Must be a citizen of a partner country

Read more

Contents
2 FAQ

01. What is the Working Holiday Permit?

Working Holiday Permits or Visas (WHV) are bilateral accords signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.

02. Which nationalities are eligible?

Young adults from the following countries can apply for the working holiday in Finland:

Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand.

03. What is the application fee?

New Zealand applicants are exempt from the application fee.

All other applicants:

  • Electronic application fee: €380
  • Paper application fee: €480

04. What documents are required for the application?

These are the standard supporting documents:

  • Passport (and colour photocopies of pages)
  • ID photo
  • Proof of residence in the country of application
  • Proof of funds (€2000)
  • Return ticket, or additional funds
  • Health insurance (if from Canada, Japan, or New Zealand)

05. How long is the visa good for?

The WH permit allows its holder to stay up to one year in Finland.

06. How long is the processing time?

According to the official Finnish website, the processing time is approximately

  • 1 month for electronic applications and
  • 2-3 months for paper applications.

07. Do I need to buy health insurance?

Yes. Unless you are Australian, you must submit proof of insurance that covers illness and hospitalisation for the duration of your stay.

08. Are there any work restrictions?

If you are from Canada, Japan, or New Zealand, there are no work restrictions.

If you are from Australia,

  • You can work for a total of up to 9 months
  • You cannot work more than 3 months for any single employer

09. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?

We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday in Finland and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.

We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.

10. Where can I apply?

You can start your electronic or paper application on Finland’s official website.

The website indicates that it is possible to apply from your country of citizenship, Finland, or a third country in which you legally reside.

Contents
3 Buying health insurance

As mentioned earlier, all working holiday makers (except Australians, who are covered by a reciprocity agreement) must have health health insurance for the duration of their stay. It should cover at least illness and hospitalisation.

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.

Learn more about Globe WHV
Useful links
Contents
4 Opening a euro account

Finland’s currency is the euro (€). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.

If you want to have a euro debit card in hand before even arriving in Finland, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your euro account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in Finland. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Finland. Learn more about Wise.

There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in Finland.

Learn more about Wise
Contents
5 Finding housing in Finland

Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Finland before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.

For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.

Find a hostel on Hostelworld
Useful links
Contents
6 Getting ready for departure

After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, starting with the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot, but don’t worry, one step at a time!

Useful links
Contents
7 Read up on other important topics

As you prepare for your working holiday in Finland, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, and so everything we write is from personal experience.

Library of free articles and guides on the working holiday
Useful links
Contents
8 Check out language courses and other deals

This is also the perfect chance to learn or brush up on a foreign language. Finland has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our some other deals for working holiday makers.

Learn more about Babbel (-20%)
Our special offers
Take advantage of our special offers for flights, banking, money transfers, and language courses.
Read more
Contents
Age limit

All applicants must be at least 18. The age limit varies by nationality.
– Australians: 30
– Canadians: 35
– Japanese: 30
– New Zealanders: 35
Source

Valid passport

You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.

Sufficient funds

At least €2000 or equivalent in another currency, to show that you can support yourself for at least the first three months of your stay. If you don’t have a return ticket yet, you should show additional funds sufficient for the purchase of one later on.

See our chapter on budgeting for an idea of how much more savings you should have for a working holiday.

First participation

This must be your first participation. If you have already been granted a Finland Working Holiday Permit before, then you cannot apply again.

Mandatory health insurance

Health insurance is required of all nationalities except Australians (who are covered by a reciprocity agreement).

Official text: You have insurance that covers illness and hospital care and that is valid for your entire stay in Finland.

Qualifying citizenship

You must be a citizen of a partner country to apply. Finland currently has bilateral accords with Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand.