Finnish Immigration Service Sets Work Rules for Students

The Finnish Immigration Service has outlined new regulations for foreign students holding study residence permits regarding paid employment. Students may work an average of 30 hours per week across all fields, with flexibility allowing for more than 30 hours in a week, provided the annual average does not exceed this limit.

This translates to approximately 120 hours monthly or 1,560 hours annually. During holiday periods, students can work full-time without restrictions, as long as the yearly average is maintained.

Internships and diploma work, which are mandatory for degrees, are exempt from the 30-hour limit if credit arrangements were established prior to the internship. Both students and employers share the responsibility to ensure compliance with these working hour limits.

Additionally, students who received residence permits before 15 April 2022 retain the same working rights as those under the new regulations, allowing them to work up to 30 hours per week on average.