Criminal records for the Finland Working Holiday Visa

Volare Editorial | April 2, 2026

The security process for obtaining a Working Holiday in Finland is based on a trust-based declaration system, simplifying the initial procedures for applicants. For detailed information on the full process, you can visit Volare's Finland Working Holiday section.

Declaration in the application form

Unlike other visas that require police certificates from the very beginning, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) does not systematically request a physical criminal record certificate as part of the initial documentation.

The standard procedure requires the applicant to declare their criminal status directly on the Enter Finland form. It is mandatory to honestly report any history of convictions, offenses, or ongoing criminal investigations. Authorities evaluate each case individually, cross-referencing the information provided with official international records.

Power to request physical documents

Although the initial declaration is electronic, Migri reserves the absolute right to pause the evaluation process and formally demand the presentation of an official police certificate. This request usually occurs if:

1. There are discrepancies between what was declared and the data obtained by the authorities.

2. The applicant's history requires an exhaustive legal verification.

3. It is considered necessary to guarantee security within Finnish territory.

In these exceptional cases, the certificate must be duly legalized or apostilled to be accepted by the Nordic administration.