Many professionals want to live in Finland while continuing to work for a foreign company.
This situation is becoming more common. A software developer may work for a German company but live in Helsinki. A consultant may work for a UK company but move to Finland with family. A manager may want to relocate to Finland without leaving their current employer.
The question is:
Can you live in Finland and keep working for your foreign employer?
In many cases, it may be possible. But the employment, tax and social security setup should be carefully structured.
Why this situation is complicated
At first, the arrangement may look simple.
The employee works remotely. The employer is abroad. Salary continues as before.
But once the employee lives and works in Finland, Finnish rules may become relevant.
The Finnish Tax Administration explains that if you work from home in Finland for a foreign employer, you generally need to pay tax on your wages to Finland.
Social security may also be affected. According to the Finnish Centre for Pensions, if a person works remotely in Finland for a foreign employer, the employer may need to arrange statutory social security in Finland, unless an exception applies.
This can be difficult for a foreign employer that has no Finnish company, payroll provider or HR team in Finland.
Why your employer may hesitate
Your employer may support your move in principle but still have concerns.
Common concerns include:
- “Do we need to open a company in Finland?”
- “Who pays Finnish taxes and contributions?”
- “Can we keep you on our existing payroll?”
- “Will this create legal risk?”
- “Do we need to understand Finnish employment law?”
- “What happens if the arrangement ends?”
These are reasonable questions.
An Employer of Record can help answer them.
What is an Employer of Record?
An Employer of Record, or EOR, is a local company that formally employs a person on behalf of a foreign company.
In this model, TaigaTrust becomes the legal employer in Finland. Your foreign employer continues to direct your work, tasks and projects.
TaigaTrust handles the local employment administration.
This may include:
- Finnish employment contract
- payroll
- salary payment
- tax withholding
- employer contributions
- insurance administration
- HR documents
- compliance support
How to explain EOR to your employer
If you want to keep your foreign job while living in Finland, you may need to explain the EOR model to your employer.
A simple explanation is:
“You do not need to open a company in Finland. A local Employer of Record can employ me in Finland and handle payroll, tax and employment administration. I continue working for you as before, but the local employment structure is managed by the EOR provider.”
This is often easier for the employer than opening a Finnish subsidiary.
When EOR may be useful for employees
EOR may be useful if:
- you already live in Finland;
- you want to move to Finland;
- your employer is outside Finland;
- your employer has no Finnish entity;
- you want a Finnish employment contract;
- you want local payroll and social security handled properly;
- your employer wants to reduce administrative risk.
What about residence permits?
If you are not an EU/EEA citizen, immigration status must be checked separately.
The Finnish Immigration Service states that remote work for a foreign employer is allowed when a person is staying in Finland legally, but remote work alone does not automatically mean that a residence permit can be granted for that purpose.
This means that immigration planning should be reviewed case by case.
Conclusion
Living in Finland while working for a foreign company may be possible, but it should be structured carefully.
An Employer of Record can make the arrangement easier for both the employee and the employer.
TaigaTrust helps foreign companies employ Finland-based professionals through a local EOR model.
If you want to move to Finland or already live in Finland while working for a foreign employer, contact TaigaTrust to discuss the available options.
