Work in Finland as a Nurse: Permit, Licence

Your Nursing Career Can Grow in Finland

Finland’s health care system needs nurses, and nursing there comes with good working conditions, respect for the profession and a high quality of life. Nurses from outside the EU and EEA can work in Finland with a residence permit for an employed person, based on a job offer from a Finnish employer. But before you can work as a nurse, you need the right to practise from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira), which includes proving your Finnish or Swedish skills. It takes planning, but the steps are clear, and starting early makes the whole process faster.

What You Need to Qualify

Valvira asks for officially certified copies of your documents, including your legalised nursing degree certificate, the degree appendix, employment certificates, and a certificate of your current professional status that is no more than three months old. Documents must be translated into Finnish, Swedish or English by an authorised translator. You must also prove your language skills, for example with the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) in Finnish or Swedish at intermediate level, levels 3 to 4, in all parts. Valvira may ask you to complete extra studies before giving you the right to practise. For the work permit, your salary must be at least EUR 1,600 a month before tax (2026 level), and your employer must confirm your terms of employment.

How to Get Started, Step by Step

First, contact Valvira and start the process of getting your nursing qualification recognised, and begin learning Finnish or Swedish as early as possible. Next, prepare your language certificate and your certified, translated documents. Then search for nursing jobs on Job Market Finland with terms like “Sairaanhoitaja” (registered nurse), “Registered Nurse” or “Nurse Finland”, and check the language requirements in each job ad. When you get a job offer, your employer adds your terms of employment online, and you apply for your residence permit in Migri’s Enter Finland service and prove your identity at a Finnish embassy or visa centre. Finally, wait until both your permit and your licence are approved before you resign from your current job or book travel. Emig can also help you find relevant opportunities, improve your CV and prepare stronger job applications.

Check if you qualify →