Finland Internship Residence Permit 2026 — Maximum 18 Months
Paid internship, unpaid training programmes, 18-month maximum, employment relationship and the 90-day exception.
Short answer
An internship residence permit can cover an internship in Finland or an unpaid traineeship through a training programme such as Erasmus+, for up to 18 months. A paid internship always requires a residence permit. Migri requires the internship to take place in an employment relationship, with an employment contract, and it must not replace a normal job. Paid internship salary must meet the collective agreement or, if none applies, at least EUR 1,463 gross/month in 2026. A qualifying unpaid training programme may be possible for up to 90 days without a residence permit during lawful short stay.
1. Paid internship vs unpaid training
A paid internship requires a residence permit. An unpaid traineeship is assessed only under qualifying training-programme conditions. The label 'unpaid intern' alone does not create a 90-day exemption.
2. Internship cannot replace a job
The employer must assure or document that the internship does not replace a normal job. The employment contract must contain the principal employment terms, including salary.
3. Checklist
Checklist
- Internship/training-programme basis
- Employment contract
- No-job-replacement assurance
- Salary/collective agreement or programme support
- Maximum 18 months
- Paid/unpaid classification
- First permit abroad
Common questions about this topic
Can a two-month paid internship be done without a residence permit?
According to Migri, a paid internship always requires a residence permit. The 90-day exception concerns qualifying unpaid training programmes.
Official sources
The following official or public sources were checked for this guide. Current authority instructions always take precedence.
Work Permit in Finland
For employees, specialists and employers who need to prepare a Finnish work-based residence permit file correctly before submission.
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