Registration instructions for citizens of EU and EEA countries and Switzerland

If you become unemployed or are laid off, register as a job seeker as soon as possible. The registration can be made in advance before the unemployment or lay-off begins. However, do so no later than on your first day of unemployment, because you can only receive an unemployment benefit from the registration date.

You can register as unemployed in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland. If you do not have online banking codes, a mobile certificate or a smart ID card, you can register as a job seeker using an online form, the telephone service, or at the TE Office's premises.

Registration in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland

If you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland and you have online banking codes, a mobile certificate, or a smart ID card, it is recommended that you start your job search in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland.

Log into the service

Log into the service using your online banking codes, a mobile certificate or a smart ID card.

Fill in the requested information carefully

• Check that your contact information is correct. It is important that the TE Office or the local government pilot can contact you.
• Report any changes that you are aware of, such as your employment relationships or studies beginning in the following three months. Report only changes that are fully confirmed.
• Describe your employment history. Please complete the employment end dates and reasons. Also mention your possible previous or current entrepreneurial activities in your work history. Any incomplete information may need to be checked by means of a request for clarification or by telephone, so the processing of your matter may be delayed if you have not provided the information carefully.
• Complete your education history and study completion dates. You must also report incomplete studies for which you do not have a diploma or a notice of discontinuation of studies.
• Answer the questions about the service needs assessment. Based on your answers, the most suitable services will be evaluated for you.
• Remember to also report working as a family caregiver or being self-employed, such as freelance work. If necessary, use the ‘Additional information’ field.

Please note that after registration, you will no longer be able to change the work history or education information you have provided.

You must also indicate where you are applying for unemployment security. If you are a member of an unemployment fund and the employment condition is met, you apply for unemployment security from your fund. Otherwise, Kela will pay you an unemployment benefit. The TE Office or the local government pilot issues a labour policy statement to the payer regarding your right to unemployment security.

Once you have submitted the registration, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt that will include the information you submitted, the period for which your job search is valid, and instructions on how to proceed. It states that you will be contacted without delay. Read it carefully. 

Once you have submitted the registration, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt that will include the information you submitted, the period for which your job search is valid, and instructions on how to proceed. It states that you will be contacted without delay. Read it carefully. 

Your job search will be valid until further notice after you have received the notification of receipt. 

You can also see in the notification of receipt whether you are a customer of a TE Office or a local government pilot. You are a customer of a TE Office if the notification of receipt you have received does not state that you will be transferred to a local government pilot on employment. 

Service specialists will offer guidance if necessary in the chat of Job Market Finland's 'E-services' section. Currently, the chat service is only available in Finnish.

Registration if you cannot use the E-services at Job Market Finland

If you do not have online banking IDs, a mobile certificate or a smart identity card, or you cannot log in to Job Market Finland for some other reason, you can register as a job seeker using an online form.

You can use the form if

• you do not have access to the E-services at Job Market Finland,
• you have not been a customer of TE Services before, and
• you are at least 16 years old.

If you cannot use the online form, register as a job seeker on the telephone service or at the TE Office's premises.

If you are a new job seeker and you do not have the opportunity to complete an online form, visit the TE Office in person. Bring your ID.

Note the following matters

• We try to process your registration within 14 days.
• You do not need to send attachments. The TE Office or the local government pilot will request appendices, such as diplomas and employment certificates, if necessary.
• If your employment relationship has ended during a trial period or at your own request, or if you have been dismissed, the TE Office or the local government pilot will submit a clarification request to you. You will be notified of this in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland, by mail, or by text message.
• If necessary, the TE Office or the local government pilot will request additional information on your studies or business activities by means of a clarification request. You will be notified of this in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland, by mail, or by text message.
• Processing is faster if you respond to any clarification requests in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland. The response time is 14 days. The clarification request will be processed within 30 days of your response.
• You can monitor the progress of your situation i in the ‘E-services' section of Job Market Finland. You will also find your statement there when it is ready.
• If necessary, submit a contact request through the E-services' section of Job Market Finland. Registrations will be processed in the order of arrival, so a request to contact you will not speed up the process.

First visit to the TE Office

When you first come to the TE Office, take with you

• a passport or a certificate from the police of temporary passport seizure,
• a residence permit or a certificate of registration of an EU citizen's right of residence, or if you are a British citizen and have applied for a right of residence under the Withdrawal Agreement, a certificate of this,
• an extract from the population register from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency or a Kela card or other document that you use to prove that you have a Finnish personal identity code, and
• certificates of employment and education translated into Finnish, Swedish, or English.

Always actively seek work yourself. When you are a job seeker in TE Services, be prepared to accept the work or training that your expert offers you.

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