Finland Company Registration | Set Up a Company in Finland (Oy)
Planning a Finland company registration or looking to set up a company in Finland to reach Nordic and EU markets? The most common company type in Finland is the private limited liability company, the Oy (Osakeyhtiö). You file a start-up notification online through ytj.fi with the Trade Register of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH), and the same notification also registers the company with the Tax Administration. There are no nationality limits on shareholders, so foreign founders can own shares, but at least 1 ordinary board member and the managing director must live permanently in the European Economic Area (EEA) or obtain a permit from PRH.
A private limited company can be set up without share capital, and the standard start-up notification fee is EUR 400. Corporate income tax is 20%, the general VAT rate is 25.5%, and VAT registration is required once annual turnover exceeds EUR 20,000. NSS Group (戰國策集團) provides one-stop Finland company formation, from assessing the director residence requirements, preparing the memorandum of association and articles of association, and applying for the PRH permit, to filing the online start-up notification and reminding you of annual financial statements and tax returns, so you can complete your Finland Oy setup.
Profits of Finnish limited companies and cooperatives are taxed at a flat 20% income tax rate. The calculation is simple, which makes it easier to plan Nordic operating costs.
A private limited company can be set up without share capital and registered with share capital of EUR 0. Only a public limited company must have at least EUR 80,000.
A single start-up notification through ytj.fi completes the PRH Trade Register entry and the Tax Administration registrations, such as prepayment and VAT.
Finland joined the EU in 1995 and uses the euro. A company set up in Finland can operate directly in the EU single market.
company in Finland
Finland joined the EU in 1995 and uses the euro, so a company set up in Finland has direct access to the EU single market. A private limited company (Oy) can be set up without share capital, and one online notification through ytj.fi completes both the Finnish Patent and Registration Office Trade Register entry and the Tax Administration registration. The standard notification fee is EUR 400. Corporate income tax is a flat 20%, and the general VAT rate is 25.5%. Note that at least 1 ordinary board member and the managing director must live permanently in the EEA, otherwise a permit from PRH is required. Finland suits companies with plans for Nordic or EU operations.
in 3 steps
In Finland, the most common company type is the private limited company (Oy). Shareholder liability is limited to their investment, and the company can be set up without share capital. Within 3 months after the shareholders sign the memorandum of association, the start-up notification must be filed through ytj.fi with the Trade Register of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office. From 2026, only online notifications are accepted, and the company receives its Business ID once registration is complete.
The Finland Oy setup process is clear, but you need to plan ahead for the EEA residence requirement for board members and the managing director, the beneficial owner notification, and the deadlines to file the tax return within 4 months and the financial statements within 8 months each year. NSS Group helps you assess the management arrangements, prepare the documents and plan annual maintenance, so your Finland company stays clear and compliant from setup to operation.
First check the company name with the PRH name search service. The shareholders then sign the memorandum of association and draw up the articles of association, stating the shares and the members of the board and the managing director. If a board member or the managing director lives outside the EEA, a permit must first be obtained from PRH.
Within 3 months after signing the memorandum of association, file the start-up notification in Finnish or Swedish through ytj.fi together with the articles of association. The standard notification fee is EUR 400, and paper filings are not accepted from January 1, 2026. The same notification can also register the company with the Tax Administration for prepayment, as an employer and for VAT.
Once registered, the company receives its Business ID (Y-tunnus). If you did not use the guided start-up service, you must separately notify the Trade Register of the beneficial owners. VAT registration is required once turnover exceeds EUR 20,000, and tax returns and financial statements must then be filed by their deadlines each year.
end-to-end service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Finnish bank account documents and process advice
- Account opening document preparation
- Appointment scheduling and accompaniment
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filing services
- Document custody and management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfer support
- Company dissolution
- Legal advisory support
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- Assessment of company type and director residence requirements
- Preparation of the memorandum and articles of association
- PRH permit application for non-EEA residents
- ytj.fi start-up notification and beneficial owner notification
- Tax registration and reminders for annual financial statements and tax returns
Official fees: limited company start-up notification EUR 400 (guided service EUR 300); permit for a non-EEA resident EUR 150 per person plus an invoicing fee of EUR 6.50; other items as quoted
Finland company registration at a glance
The points people ask about most when registering a company in Finland, checked against official notices (updated November 2026).
| Company type | Private limited company Oy (Osakeyhtiö) |
|---|---|
| Registry | Trade Register of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) |
| Foreign ownership | No nationality limits on shareholders; board members and the managing director must live in the EEA or obtain a permit |
| Minimum capital | None for a private limited company (EUR 0) |
| Corporate income tax | 20% |
| VAT | General rate 25.5%; registration required once annual turnover exceeds EUR 20,000 |
| Setup time | Depends on the review; the notification must be filed within 3 months after the memorandum of association is signed |
| Annual filings | Tax return within 4 months, financial statements within 8 months |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
Finland company formation cost: fee breakdown
The main government cost of registering a company in Finland is the start-up notification fee paid to the Finnish Patent and Registration Office. If a board member or the managing director lives outside the EEA, a PRH permit fee also applies. The official 2026 figures are listed below so you can check every line of a quote.
| Item | Fee | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Limited company start-up notification | EUR 400 | Standard start-up notification filed through ytj.fi; paper filings are not accepted from January 1, 2026. |
| ytj.fi guided start-up service | EUR 300 | Only with standard articles of association and share capital of EUR 0, and the people involved must have Finnish personal identity codes. |
| Permit for non-EEA residents | EUR 150 per person + invoicing fee EUR 6.50 | Required for each board member or managing director who does not live in the EEA, applied for with PRH. |
| Share capital | Can be EUR 0 | A private limited company can be set up without share capital; a public limited company needs at least EUR 80,000. |
| Filing of financial statements | Quoted by bookkeeping volume | File with the Trade Register within 8 months after the financial year ends; late fees range from EUR 150 to 600. |
| Income tax return | Quoted by bookkeeping volume | File online within 4 months after the end of the last month of the financial year. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the shareholder structure, board arrangements, bank account needs and tax planning. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Fees follow the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) price list for start-up notifications in force from January 1, 2026 and its permit application guidance. The latest official notices prevail.
Finland company tax and compliance: 20% corporate tax and annual filings
Finnish corporate income tax is a flat 20%, and the general VAT rate is 25.5%. Each year the company must file its income tax return online with the Tax Administration and its financial statements with the Trade Register by the deadlines. Foreign shareholders should also check dividend withholding tax and any controlled foreign company (CFC) rules in their home country.
| Item | Rule | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | 20% | Applies to the profits of limited companies and cooperatives. |
| VAT (ALV) | General rate 25.5% | Raised from 24% on September 1, 2024; reduced rates of 13.5% (from 2026) and 10%; registration required once annual turnover exceeds EUR 20,000. |
| Dividend withholding tax | 20% for corporate shareholders, 30% for others | Applies to dividends paid to non-residents; a lower rate under a tax treaty applies where available. |
| Income tax return | Within 4 months | Must be filed electronically within 4 months after the end of the last month of the financial year. |
| Financial statements | Within 8 months | Filed with the Trade Register; late fees are EUR 150 within 2 months, EUR 300 for 2 to 4 months and EUR 600 for more than 4 months. |
| Director residence requirement | At least 1 ordinary board member and the managing director | Must live permanently in the EEA, otherwise a permit from PRH is required. |
Tax rates and rules follow notices from the Finnish Tax Administration (Vero) and the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH). Have an accountant review how they apply to your actual structure.
Oy, Oyj or branch: which should you choose in Finland?
When foreign founders set up a company in Finland, they usually compare a new private limited company (Oy), a public limited company (Oyj) or a branch of their existing company.
| Item | Private limited company Oy | Public limited company Oyj | Branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Separate legal entity | Separate legal entity | Not a separate legal entity; part of the foreign parent company |
| Minimum share capital | None (EUR 0) | EUR 80,000 | Not stated in the official setup guidance |
| Director residence requirement | At least 1 ordinary board member and the managing director live in the EEA or obtain a PRH permit | Same as Oy | Not stated in the official setup guidance |
| Shareholder liability | Limited to their investment | Limited to their investment | Borne by the parent company |
| Start-up notification fee | EUR 400 (guided service EUR 300) | Ask our consultants | EUR 400 |
These are general principles. Base the actual choice on your shareholder background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know about setting up a company in Finland
- Finland is a Schengen country. Visa-free short stays are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period, and anyone planning to live in Finland for more than 90 days must apply for a residence permit from the Finnish Immigration Service.
- If there is no tax treaty between your country and Finland, dividends paid by a Finnish company to a corporate shareholder are subject to 20% withholding tax, and any double taxation must be handled under each country's domestic law.
- If a Finnish company is controlled by a foreign parent and has no real operations, its profits may be taxed in the parent's country under controlled foreign company (CFC) rules. Check the rules where you are based.
- If all board members and the managing director live outside the EEA, each person needs a PRH permit at EUR 150 plus an invoicing fee of EUR 6.50. The guided start-up service requires Finnish personal identity codes for the people involved; without them, use the standard start-up notification (EUR 400).
Why work with NSS Group on your Finland company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a Taiwan-based global company registration and corporate advisory brand with more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 companies served. It provides company formation, bank account opening, accounting, tax and annual maintenance in many countries and regions, including Finland, and can apply for the PRH permit for non-EEA residents and file the online start-up notification. Service fees are quoted in writing after a free assessment. Call the toll-free line 0800-003-191 or use the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: PRH: Start a limited liability company and file a start-up notification; PRH: Fees for start-up notifications (updated 2026-01-01); PRH: Permits to persons living permanently outside the EEA; PRH: Limited liability companies financial statements late submission fee; suomi.fi: Setting up a limited liability company; Vero: Income taxes assessed on limited liability companies; Vero: Tax return for limited companies; Vero: Rates of VAT; Vero: VAT for small business; Vero: Withholding tax at source on dividends; European Union: Finland. The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Finland in 2026?
Under the Finnish Patent and Registration Office fees in force from January 1, 2026, the standard start-up notification for a limited company is EUR 400, and the ytj.fi guided start-up service is EUR 300 (only with standard articles of association, share capital of EUR 0 and Finnish personal identity codes for the people involved). If a board member or the managing director lives outside the EEA, each person also needs a permit costing EUR 150 plus an invoicing fee of EUR 6.50. A private limited company can be set up without share capital. Bookkeeping and annual filing fees are separate.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Finland company?
Yes. The official setup guidance sets no nationality limits on shareholders, and PRH states that nationality is not the deciding factor; residence is. The real restriction is on management: at least 1 ordinary board member, 1 deputy board member (if any) and the managing director must live permanently in the EEA. If all of them live outside the EEA, a permit must be obtained from PRH in advance.
Do I need to be in Finland in person to set up a company?
From January 1, 2026, start-up notifications are filed only online through ytj.fi and paper filings are no longer accepted. The official guidance does not require shareholders to come to Finland in person. The notification must be filed within 3 months after the memorandum of association is signed, otherwise the formation lapses. We recommend confirming the identification method needed for online signing before you prepare the documents.
What taxes and financial statements does a Finland company file each year?
The corporate income tax rate is 20%. The income tax return must be filed online within 4 months after the end of the last month of the financial year; for a financial year ending in December 2025, the deadline is April 30, 2026. Financial statements must be filed with the Trade Register within 8 months after the financial year ends, with a late fee of EUR 150 to 600. VAT registration is required once turnover exceeds EUR 20,000, and the general VAT rate is 25.5%.
Do the directors of a Finland company have to live in Europe?
Under PRH rules, at least 1 ordinary board member, 1 deputy board member (if any) and the managing director must live permanently in the EEA. If you have no one who qualifies, you must apply to PRH for a permit for each person, at EUR 150 per person per application plus an invoicing fee of EUR 6.50, with documents such as a copy of the passport, a personal details form and the appointment decision. Documents in other languages need a Finnish or Swedish translation.
Who can help me register a company in Finland?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. With more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 companies served, NSS Group offers one-stop Finland company registration, including assessment of the company type and director residence requirements, preparation of the memorandum and articles of association, PRH permit applications for non-EEA residents, the ytj.fi start-up notification and beneficial owner notification, and tax registration with reminders for annual financial statements and tax returns. Service fees are quoted in writing after a free assessment. Toll-free phone: 0800-003-191.