If you become unemployed

You should personally visit an employment office no later than on your first day of unemployment. You should also do this after you have completed a period of labour market training or employment subsidy. Your jobsearch will be valid as of the date you register with an employment office. You can also register before your period of unemployment begins.
Registration form for new jobseekers (in Finnish)

As a jobseeker registered with an employment office, you will be taken into consideration when candidates are searched for job vacancies, you can utilise the employment services and start applying for unemployment security.

You can fill in the registration form online. (See the link on the right. The form is in Finnish.) You can also fill in the form at an employment office. To register as a jobseeker in order to be eligible for unemployment security, you must always personally visit an employment office.

At employment offices, you will find information about our services and your eligibility for unemployment security. The condition for unemployment security is that your registration as a jobseeker is valid. Also the waiting period during which you will not be paid unemployment security will only begin once you have registered with an employment office. You will find more information about issues related to unemployment security from the menu on the left.

You can avoid extra visits to the employment office if you bring with you the documents listed below that apply to you. You can, however, also come and register without the documents and call in and show them later on.

Please bring with you:
Employment references
- all of the references from your work career
- if you are still employed, a temporary reference or your employment contract
Proof of layoff (applies to those laid off) 
School and study certificates
- school leaving certificates, qualification certificates, etc.
- if you have left an educational institution or discontinued your studies, please present a certificate of this
- if you are still studying, please bring a certificate specifying the starting date and scope of your studies
Proof of having completed the Finnish national military service or non-military service, if applicable
Your passport or a certificate of your passport being held by the authorities as well as your work and residence permits (applies to immigrants only)
Any results of applications for student admission under the joint application system (applies to under-25s only)