Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

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JHutch
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2021 9:53 pm

Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

Post by JHutch » Mon Aug 02, 2021 10:00 pm

Hello everyone,

I am planning on visiting my Finnish friend later this year.

My work place in the UK allows remote working in another country for up to 20 days.

Am I allowed to work in Finland for my UK company for up to 20 days without needing a work visa or some other kind of legal documentation? I would be working from my friend's house.

I am unsure of what I'm allowed to do now since the UK left the EU.

Thank you in advance!



Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

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betelgeuse
Posts: 4350
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2013 1:24 am

Re: Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

Post by betelgeuse » Tue Aug 03, 2021 10:32 am

JHutch wrote:
Mon Aug 02, 2021 10:00 pm
Hello everyone,

I am planning on visiting my Finnish friend later this year.

My work place in the UK allows remote working in another country for up to 20 days.

Am I allowed to work in Finland for my UK company for up to 20 days without needing a work visa or some other kind of legal documentation? I would be working from my friend's house.

I am unsure of what I'm allowed to do now since the UK left the EU.

Thank you in advance!
If the work qualifies for the requirements here:

https://migri.fi/en/work-without-residence-permit

Being a specialist would be the most common.

https://migri.fi/en/specialists

FinlandGirl
Posts: 1322
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:43 am

Re: Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

Post by FinlandGirl » Tue Aug 03, 2021 11:03 am

JHutch wrote:
Mon Aug 02, 2021 10:00 pm
I am planning on visiting my Finnish friend later this year.

My work place in the UK allows remote working in another country for up to 20 days.

Am I allowed to work in Finland for my UK company for up to 20 days without needing a work visa or some other kind of legal documentation? I would be working from my friend's house.

I am unsure of what I'm allowed to do now since the UK left the EU.
In practice it is mostly ignored by authorities when people work remotely during a short vacation, at least as long as this is remote work where it does not make any difference whether you are in Finland or somewhere else.

FinlandGirl
Posts: 1322
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:43 am

Re: Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

Post by FinlandGirl » Tue Aug 03, 2021 11:06 am

betelgeuse wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 10:32 am
JHutch wrote:
Mon Aug 02, 2021 10:00 pm
Hello everyone,

I am planning on visiting my Finnish friend later this year.

My work place in the UK allows remote working in another country for up to 20 days.

Am I allowed to work in Finland for my UK company for up to 20 days without needing a work visa or some other kind of legal documentation? I would be working from my friend's house.

I am unsure of what I'm allowed to do now since the UK left the EU.

Thank you in advance!
If the work qualifies for the requirements here:

https://migri.fi/en/work-without-residence-permit

Being a specialist would be the most common.

https://migri.fi/en/specialists
Does an invitation from a third party unrelated to the employment fulfil the legal requirement of an invitation to work in Finland?

betelgeuse
Posts: 4350
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2013 1:24 am

Re: Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

Post by betelgeuse » Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:39 pm

FinlandGirl wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 11:06 am
betelgeuse wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 10:32 am
JHutch wrote:
Mon Aug 02, 2021 10:00 pm
Hello everyone,

I am planning on visiting my Finnish friend later this year.

My work place in the UK allows remote working in another country for up to 20 days.

Am I allowed to work in Finland for my UK company for up to 20 days without needing a work visa or some other kind of legal documentation? I would be working from my friend's house.

I am unsure of what I'm allowed to do now since the UK left the EU.

Thank you in advance!
If the work qualifies for the requirements here:

https://migri.fi/en/work-without-residence-permit

Being a specialist would be the most common.

https://migri.fi/en/specialists
Does an invitation from a third party unrelated to the employment fulfil the legal requirement of an invitation to work in Finland?
Probably not but one does not need an invitation necessarily ”or you have signed a contract to work in Finland”. The employer is also required to apply for an A1 certificate to deal with social security.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-in ... witzerland

betelgeuse
Posts: 4350
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2013 1:24 am

Re: Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

Post by betelgeuse » Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:46 pm

FinlandGirl wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 11:03 am

In practice it is mostly ignored by authorities when people work remotely during a short vacation, at least as long as this is remote work where it does not make any difference whether you are in Finland or somewhere else.
Though this is mainly because there’s no realistic way to catch these people. A vacation is also a bit different since the employer is not requiring the employee to work on those days.

FinlandGirl
Posts: 1322
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:43 am

Re: Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

Post by FinlandGirl » Tue Aug 03, 2021 1:06 pm

betelgeuse wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:46 pm
FinlandGirl wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 11:03 am

In practice it is mostly ignored by authorities when people work remotely during a short vacation, at least as long as this is remote work where it does not make any difference whether you are in Finland or somewhere else.
Though this is mainly because there’s no realistic way to catch these people.
The main problem is that there is no sane way to do it legally in many cases.

You are proposing the government should try to catch these evil business people who are illegally working during a night in a Vantaa hotel between two long-distance flights.
betelgeuse wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:46 pm
A vacation is also a bit different since the employer is not requiring the employee to work on those days.
Especially with current remote working recommendations, making such a clear distinction between vacation and working is pretty out of touch with reality

betelgeuse
Posts: 4350
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2013 1:24 am

Re: Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

Post by betelgeuse » Tue Aug 03, 2021 1:28 pm

FinlandGirl wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 1:06 pm
betelgeuse wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:46 pm
FinlandGirl wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 11:03 am

In practice it is mostly ignored by authorities when people work remotely during a short vacation, at least as long as this is remote work where it does not make any difference whether you are in Finland or somewhere else.
Though this is mainly because there’s no realistic way to catch these people.
The main problem is that there is no sane way to do it legally in many cases.

You are proposing the government should try to catch these evil business people who are illegally working during a night in a Vantaa hotel between two long-distance flights.
I don't think the government should do that. Ideally the laws would be changed to account for this situation better. However, my personal opinion is different from what the government would do if it was aware of the working under current laws.
FinlandGirl wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 1:06 pm
betelgeuse wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:46 pm
A vacation is also a bit different since the employer is not requiring the employee to work on those days.
Especially with current remote working recommendations, making such a clear distinction between vacation and working is pretty out of touch with reality
It is but laws are what they are. At least in Finland they introduced the flexible working hours system.

"Employees’ regular working hours can also be flexible. Flexible working hours allow employees to choose, within certain limits, the start and end times of their workdays themselves."

https://www.tyosuojelu.fi/web/en/employ ... king-hours

FinlandGirl
Posts: 1322
Joined: Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:43 am

Re: Remote working in Finland (UK resident)

Post by FinlandGirl » Tue Aug 03, 2021 1:47 pm

betelgeuse wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 1:28 pm
FinlandGirl wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 1:06 pm
betelgeuse wrote:
Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:46 pm
A vacation is also a bit different since the employer is not requiring the employee to work on those days.
Especially with current remote working recommendations, making such a clear distinction between vacation and working is pretty out of touch with reality
It is but laws are what they are. At least in Finland they introduced the flexible working hours system.

"Employees’ regular working hours can also be flexible. Flexible working hours allow employees to choose, within certain limits, the start and end times of their workdays themselves."

https://www.tyosuojelu.fi/web/en/employ ... king-hours
Which is completely irrelevant for cases like the OP, where an employee is for a few weeks or months combining remote working and vacation.


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