Practical information about Finland for people planning to migrate to the country.

If you are moving to Finland, it may be comforting for you to know that over 140,000 foreign citizens live there permanently. Helsinki is the capital. Of the country’s total population of 5.3 million, over 1.25 million live in the metropolitan area of Helsinki.
Finnish is the language spoken by over 90% of the population.

People moving to Finland should be aware that the country has a climate of great extremes. Despite the common notion that Finland is a land of ice and snow, you could see warm summers of about 30ºC. However between November and March (winter), you have around -20ºC. If you are relocating to Finland, especially to the north, you may find Gnats and mosquitoes a bother in June and July.

If you are an EU citizen, moving to Finland is fairly simpler. With your passport or ID card, you can enter without a visa. You can reside for a maximum period of three months and thereafter you need to register, which is done at the police at the municipality of residence. This registration has an eternal validity and entitles you to permanent residence if you complete continuous five years of residence.

If moving to Finland is employment oriented, one needs to know that normally it requires a residence permit applicable to employed persons. Similarly those relocating to Finland for self-employment or independent business or profession also require a residence permit applicable to a self-employed person is required.

EU citizens or their family members moving to Finland for work do not require such permits; the family members should have residence cards as applicable to EU citizen’s family member.

If you are moving to Finland from another EU country, you can transport your personal belongings (with some exceptions) without payment of duty and without imposition of restrictions which usually apply for other imports.

When you are moving to Finland with vehicles or pets, it would be advisable to check the latest provisions. Special care is required for movement of pets as an animal disease outbreak may cause change in the regulations. These are different for different species and differ as between EU and others.

For moving to Finland from outside the EU, import of personal belonging may get exemption from duty on certain conditions.

When you consider moving to Finland, you realise that about 50% of foreign citizens live in Helsinki alone. If you are relocating to Finland, you may find your home to be relatively smaller in size.

Moving to Finland, apply for health insurance cover under KELA card; even in cases of persons who are working for over four months, the cover will be available.

On moving to Finland, it is necessary for you to apply for a tax card. As all payments are electronic in Finland, a bank account is required, for opening which your passport or identification card is enough.

When you're ready to relocate, click here to book your removal to Finland.

Whether you are moving to Finland or any other country, some of the other documents which you should possess would include marriage certificates and birth certificates of children