Over 400 pre-registrations received for tax card events in Saariselkä and Ylläs for foreign seasonal workers

The Finnish Tax Administration has received over 400 pre-registrations for landing events scheduled to take place in Saariselka and Ylläs in late November. These events are designed for foreign seasonal workers who do not have a Finnish personal identification number. Obtaining one for a tax card requires a tax official to meet with the seasonal worker in person and verify their identity using travel documents.

Pre-booking for the Saariselka event closes today, while reservations for the Ylläs event will be open for another week. Lapland Safaris, which operates over ten destinations in Lapland and employs around 400 seasonal workers, is among the participating companies. Niina Kangosjärvi, the team leader at Lapland Staff from Muonio, reports that nearly 70 seasonal workers will attend the Saariselka event, with around 60 expected at Ylläs.

Workers require a tax card to receive their wages, as many tourism businesses will commence their winter season by late November, creating an urgent need for these cards. Some workers will arrive in mid-November, and customer service will be fully operational. Consequently, arrangements are being made for over ten employees to visit the Rovaniemi tax office, as the landing event occurs too late for them.

To facilitate the process, either the worker or the employer must fill out an online form before attending the event. This form must be accompanied by a copy of the passport or ID card, an employment contract, and a document proving residence and work rights. Kangosjärvi notes that the employer will handle the electronic forms to ease the burden on workers.

Workers with an existing identification number have a somewhat simpler process but must still complete a paper form that their employer can submit at the events or via postal service.