Circular Note, 31 March 2026: Changes regarding gainful occupation of family members of members of missions

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs present their compliments to the Diplomatic Missions accredited to Helsinki and wish to inform about the following changes regarding gainful occupation of family members of members of missions: the amended Finnish legislation and procedure. 

Finland has concluded bilateral agreements with several states on gainful occupation of family members of members of missions with view to facilitating their employment in the receiving state.

Previously in accordance with Finnish practice, if a family member has wanted to engage in gainful occupation the person has been required to file an application for a residence permit for an employed person with the Finnish Immigration Service. In addition, as a person may not hold two residence permits simultaneously, once the Immigration Service has issued the family member a new residence permit, the Ministry has canceled the temporary residence permit and issued the person a new diplomatic ID card which does not include a residence permit.

On 1 February 2026 an amendment to Section 81 a of the Finnish Aliens Act entered into force. According to the amended Section 81 a, family members /dependents referred to in bilateral agreements on gainful occupation have the right to work with the residence permit that they already possess (meaning the temporary residence permit issued by the MFA).  Therefore, there is no longer need to apply for a separate residence permit for an employed person from the Finnish Immigration Service.

If a family member wishes to engage in gainful occupation an official notification regarding authorization to engage in gainful occupation shall be made by the Embassy in Helsinki to the Protocol Services of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The Protocol Service will answer to the Embassy’s notification concerning the employment by a verbal note.

When engaging in gainful occupation, the family member always needs to apply for an identity number from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency for tax purposes unless the person already has an identity number.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs avail themselves of this opportunity to renew to the Diplomatic Missions accredited in Helsinki the assurance of their highest consideration.

 

Helsinki, 31 March 2026

 

To:
Embassy of Canada
Embassy of the United Kingdom
Embassy of the United States of America
Embassy of Hungary
Embassy of the Republic of Chile
Embassy of the Republic of Serbia
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Embassy of Israel
Embassy of the Argentine Republic
Embassy of the Republic of Colombia
Embassy of the Republic of Peru
Embassy of the Republic of India
Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil
Embassy of the Republic of Namibia
Embassy of Ukraine