Every winter hundreds of temporary workers from abroad and other parts of Finland come to Lapland to work. In this way, many people also find the opportunity to live permanently in Finland. There are many seasonal jobs in Lapland, mostly related to tourism: Tour guides, hospitality jobs, cleaning, customer service and many other types of jobs.
Several private employment agencies and employment offices offer many jobs on their English language websites at the beginning of the recruitment season. Some of them are:
In addition, other seasonal job opportunities in Lapland can be found on the Employment Service website. The portal is in Finnish, but there are also some jobs in English.
The high season starts at the end of November and lasts until the beginning of March.
Companies start hiring for the following winter at the end of summer, so it is better to be proactive and apply early.
Citizens of an EU member state do not need a residence permit to stay in Finland for up to three months. They only need the health card and ID.
Salaries and working conditions are based on the Finnish collective agreement. The salary depends on your previous work experience, language skills and education.
For example, the minimum wage for waiters with less than two years of work experience is about €11 per hour and for younger safari guides with less than three years of work experience it is about €9 per hour. Sundays and Finnish holidays are paid double and you are entitled to two days off per week.
For seasonal jobs in Lapland, the employer will usually also provide housing within walking distance of the workplace. If not, he will help you find accommodation.
As for the climate, keep in mind that winters in Lapland are cold and there are very few, if any, daylight hours. -20 degrees Celsius is also normal, but it must be said that most of Lapland is far from the sea, so icy winds almost never blow.
Fortunately, electricity and heating provide a comfortable life, and the beauty of the endless snowy landscapes, the tranquility of the polar night and the northern lights make the landscape magical.
In contrast, in summer the sun is present 24 hours a day.
Although Lapland is located far in the north, it is easy to reach from Helsinki, either by train or by plane. The flight time from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is less than 2 hours, and the train ride on the same route takes between 10 hours.
It is also possible to get to Lapland by bus lines that cover the entire territory of Finland.
Please note that in most cases the cost of travel to Lapland is not covered by the employer.
Those interested in moving to Finland or finding a job in Finland can find all the information in the relevant articles.