Your degree is finished. Your next chapter starts now.
Graduation day is exciting — but international graduates also need to act quickly on residence permits, work, tax, registration and job search. Here is the simple order that keeps the transition manageable.
Do not wait for your student permit to expire. Your next step depends on whether you already have a job. Migri’s live application page is the final authority for your route, documents, income requirements, fees and deadline. Check Migri’s after-graduation page →
Finishing a degree in Finland gives you a valuable foundation, but a degree certificate does not automatically create a job, a new residence permit or Kela benefits. Think of graduation as a changeover: first protect your legal stay, then organise your documents, then build your job and career plan.
The big pictureFollow this order
Confirm your graduation documents
Get your degree certificate or an official statement from your institution. Save transcripts, diploma supplements, certificates and references in one secure folder.
Choose your residence-permit route
If you have no qualifying job, investigate the permit to look for work or start a business. If you have a job, investigate the permit for a person with a degree completed in Finland.
Make yourself employable
Register as a job seeker when needed, update your CV and LinkedIn, use Finnish job portals, contact your career services and apply consistently.
Update your practical records
Check DVV registration, your municipality of residence, tax card, Kela situation, health care access and any family member’s permit position.
Choose your routeWhich residence permit fits after graduation?
What the job-search permit means in practice
Migri says you can apply within five years from the expiry of your study or research permit, but an extended-permit application must be submitted before the current permit expires. The permit requires sufficient funds for living costs; the current Migri page states at least €800 per month. Because permit rules and fees can change, use the live application page rather than an old social-media post.
Your first monthTurn your degree into a job search
| Action | What to do | Useful place to start |
|---|---|---|
| Build two CVs | Keep one skills-focused English CV and one version adapted to a Finnish employer. Add projects, thesis results, tools, language skills and measurable outcomes. | Job Market Finland |
| Register as a job seeker | If you become unemployed, register as soon as possible and no later than your first day of unemployment. Registration affects when unemployment benefits can begin. | Jobseeker registration |
| Use your university network | Contact career services, thesis supervisors, alumni, internship contacts, student organisations and employers who attended campus events. | Your university career service |
| Search beyond one title | Your degree may fit several job families. Search by skills and Finnish keywords, not just the exact English title of your degree. | Jobs in Finland |
| Learn Finnish or Swedish | Keep applying in English, but basic local language can widen opportunities and make workplace communication easier. | InfoFinland language guide |
Do the paperworkYour practical after-graduation checklist
Money and servicesWhat changes when student life ends?
Your student status, employment, permit basis and municipality of residence can affect different services. These systems are connected in everyday life, but one registration does not automatically activate every benefit.
| Area | What to remember | Official guide |
|---|---|---|
| Tax | Your tax card shows the tax rate on income. Request a new card when income or deductions change, and check your pre-completed tax return later. | Vero tax card |
| DVV | Keep your address, personal identity details and municipality-of-residence information correct. Follow DVV’s foreigner moving instructions. | DVV moving guide |
| Kela | Kela assesses entitlement based on factors such as permanent residence and work. Working in Finland can create rights to some benefits, but Kela does not mean every benefit is automatic. | Kela moving guidance |
| Health care | A municipality of residence can affect access to public health care. If you do not have one, Kela can explain your position based on work and other circumstances. | Kela health-care information |
| Unemployment | Register with Job Market Finland on time. Unemployment security depends on several conditions and is decided through the employment-service process. | Job Market Finland |
Questions graduates askQuick answers
One step at a time
You do not need to solve your entire Finnish future in one week. Protect your permit first, then organise your documents, then keep building your career.
Start with Migri →Find job-search help