Starting a Business · Finland
Starting a business in Finland: foreigner's guide (2026)
Finland shaded by its starting a business status
Finland is one of the easier EU/EEA jurisdictions for foreigners to start a business: there is no minimum share capital for a private limited company (Oy) and no general restriction on foreign ownership, so a non-resident may own 100% of the shares. Registration is a single online filing at ytj.fi that simultaneously enters the company in the Trade Register and the Tax Administration's VAT/prepayment/employer registers, and online filing became mandatory from 1 January 2026. The main practical hurdle for non-EEA founders is a residency rule for management: at least one board member must reside in the EEA, otherwise a PRH permit is required.
Key points
The minimum share capital requirement for a private limited company (Oy) was abolished in July 2019, so an Oy can be founded with no share capital.
There is no general restriction on foreign ownership of the main Finnish legal entities; foreign persons or companies may hold all shares in a Finnish limited liability company.
At least one board member must permanently reside in the EEA; if none do, a PRH permit is needed for non-EEA-resident board members or managing directors. The test is permanent residence, not citizenship.
Permits are granted to persons living in Lugano Convention countries (in practice Switzerland) and to US citizens resident in the United States under the Finland–US Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Rights.
The start-up notification is filed online at ytj.fi and registers the company simultaneously with the PRH Trade Register and the Tax Administration's VAT, prepayment and employer registers; online filing is mandatory for limited companies from 1 January 2026.
PRH's start-up notification fee for a limited company filed online via ytj.fi is €400 (€370 if the filer has no Finnish personal identity code). A Business ID is typically issued within about two working days, with full registration commonly completing within a few weeks when documents are correct.
Timeline - major decisions & events
From 1 January 2026 limited liability companies, co-operatives and registered branches must file Trade Register notifications and applications electronically (via ytj.fi or online forms); the PRH no longer processes paper notifications, speeding up incorporation. Sole traders, associations and foundations are exempt.
PRH (Finnish Patent and Registration Office) ↗The Council adopted the directive 'upgrading company law for the digital era,' creating an EU Company Certificate, a Digital EU Power of Attorney and a 'once-only' principle to ease cross-border company and branch set-up; Finland must transpose it by 31 July 2027.
Council of the EU (Consilium) ↗A general reform of register law gave the PRH power to impose negligence fees for late filings and introduced phased obligations (annual data verification from 2027) and re-registration rights, tightening the duty to keep company data current. Parts apply only from 2026–2027.
Finlex (Ministry of Justice) ↗Amendments to the Trade Register Act and Business Information Act implementing the EU Digitalisation and anti-money-laundering directives took effect, requiring that most limited-liability-company register data—including officers and electronic extracts—be available free, lowering the cost of verifying and starting a business.
Finnish Government (valtioneuvosto.fi) ↗EU member states including Finland had to enable fully online formation of limited liability companies and online filing/branch registration without founders appearing in person, using e-identification—cementing Finland's digital-by-default incorporation route.
EUR-Lex (European Union) ↗Following Government Bill 238/2018, the EUR 2,500 minimum share capital for a private limited company (Oy) was removed, so founders no longer need to deposit capital or open a bank account before registration—affecting an estimated 85% of new companies. Public companies still require EUR 80,000.
Waselius (citing Govt Bill 238/2018) ↗Finland's current company-law framework replaced the 1978 Act, modernising and simplifying formation—companies come into being upon Trade Register registration, can be founded by one or more shareholders (including foreigners), and the rigid founder concept was dropped.
Ministry of Justice (oikeusministerio.fi) ↗Prepared through Nordic legislative collaboration, this comprehensive Companies Act entered into force on 1 January 1980 and provided the modern statutory basis for Finnish limited liability companies for nearly three decades until the 2006 reform.
Finlex (Ministry of Justice) ↗Finland - other topics
Last verified 5/23/2026 · Orientation, not legal advice - verify against the primary sources linked above. Explore the full world map →