Finland•EuropeExploitation by Employer Certificate (Todistus työnantajan hyväksikäytöstä)
At a Glance
Varies
EUR €245
1 year
Renewable
Renewal
Renewable
Family
Dependents allowed
PR Pathway
None
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote work OK
Overview
Residence permit or work certificate for foreign workers exploited by their employer in Finland, granting unrestricted work rights for one year.
The Exploitation by Employer Certificate (Todistus työnantajan hyväksikäytöstä) provides residence and work authorization to foreign workers in Finland who experience significant employer negligence or exploitation. Established in 2023, it decouples work rights from a specific employer, addressing the "dependency trap" that previously left migrant workers vulnerable to wage theft and abuse.
Applicants may request an extended permit (one year) or expanded work certificate, depending on permit status. Fees are €180 for the extended permit (OLE_MUU) or €65 for the expanded certificate (TOD_P_UHKE). Both require evidence of exploitation—employment documentation, police reports, or occupational safety findings. Processing varies based on Migri's assessment of reasonable grounds.
This visa is ideal for migrant workers in precarious sectors—restaurant, cleaning, construction, agriculture—who have endured wage theft or safety violations and need legal protection to seek new employment.
Cost Breakdown
Stay & Extensions
| Initial grant | 1 year |
Conversion Paths
Visas you can typically switch to from this status.
FinlandTTOL — Residence Permit for an Employed Person (Työntekijän oleskelulupa)
FinlandSpecialist Residence Permit (Erityisasiantuntijan oleskelulupa)
Requirements
PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS
Must already hold a residence permit in Finland that includes the right to work.
Must have been a victim of significant employer negligence or exploitation (e.g., underpayment, excessive hours, threats).
Cannot apply if working with a seasonal work certificate or without a residence permit.
Must be in Finland to apply.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Copy of identity document or passport.
Free-form statement describing the employer's negligence or exploitation.
Evidence of employment (e.g., employment contract, pay slips, records of hours worked).
Information on any reports filed with the police or occupational safety authorities.
Advantages & Considerations
Key Benefits
- Grants unrestricted right to work across all sectors and employers in Finland
- Extended permit valid for one year—ample time to find new employment or start business
- Spouse and dependents (up to age 17) can accompany and work without restrictions
- Decouples legal status from single employer, eliminating dependency-based exploitation trap
- No job offer required; applicants can independently navigate Finnish labor market
- Renewable status; successful applicants can extend their legal residence in Finland
- Provides humanitarian protection—dual intent allowed, can remain while seeking normal visa
Worth Knowing
- Must demonstrate reasonable grounds for significant employer exploitation; burden of proof required
- Paper form (OLE_MUU) cannot be submitted via e-service; in-person visit required for identity verification
- Fees apply for extended permit and certificate of expanded right to work (EUR 180, 65)
- Can only be granted once per exploitation case; limited recourse if claim rejected
- Requires existing residence permit in Finland with work rights—cannot apply from abroad or while undocumented
Application Process
Identify the type of application needed
an extended permit (if current permit is expiring) or a certificate of expanded right to work (if current permit is valid).
Prepare a free-form statement detailing the exploitation and any reports made to authorities (police/occupational safety).
Submit the application/request via the Migri portal or paper form.
If applying for an extended permit, visit a service point for identity verification.
Wait for Migri to assess the evidence of exploitation.
Application Forms
| OLE_MUU Residence permit application on other grounds — used when applying for the extended permit as a victim of employer negligence or exploitation. Paper only; cannot be submitted via e-service. | — |
| TOD_P_UHKE Application to expand right to work — used when applying for the certificate of expanded right to work as a victim of employer negligence or exploitation. New employer must complete the supplement form on terms of employment. | — |
Related visas
More visas in Finland
Humanitarian visas in other countries
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