RP for Work - Apply in Finland or abroad?

[mikejlemon]

Moi!

I'm a bit nervous as to how long my permit application would take since I'm a non-EU citizen (Canadian). I will be in Finland in the summer for job interviews... would it be faster to apply at the local poliisi in Helsinki or to apply at the consulate within my home country? It says online (Migri) it could take up to 4 months to be approved... however, I'm reading a lot of people who got it within a month or two.

Any helpful advice as to how to speed up the process?

Kiitos paljon.

[betelgeuse]

I'm a bit nervous as to how long my permit application would take since I'm a non-EU citizen (Canadian). I will be in Finland in the summer for job interviews... would it be faster to apply at the local poliisi in Helsinki or to apply at the consulate within my home country? It says online (Migri) it could take up to 4 months to be approved... however, I'm reading a lot of people who got it within a month or two.

Do you qualify as a specialist?

http://www.migri.fi/working_in_finland/ ... specialist

If you do not, then the law expects you to apply abroad. However, it seems to be the case that they liberally apply this exemption:

"3) refusing a residence permit for an employed or self-employed person applied for in Finland would be unfounded from the alien’s or employer’s point of view;"

Section 49 from http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset ... 040301.pdf

Also don't apply in the consulate, you need to apply in the embassy in Ottawa.

Any helpful advice as to how to speed up the process?

Use the online service to fill the application and be careful in submitting all the required information.

[Pursuivant]

There used to be a time dolation effect, the closer to the Migri office in Helsinki you submitted your application, the longer it took. Logic - how many applications the Embassy in Ottawa gets... 10 a month? How many the Poliisi in Helsinki gets? About 10 an hour?