From your residence route to registering your address, finding work and settling your family — one clear checklist for your first months in Finland.Visit survivalfinnish.com to learn Finnish for free.
A practical guide for workers, students, spouses and families. Choose your route, get your Finnish identity details in place, and connect to the services that make everyday life work.
Get Hygiene Pass and Tyoturvalisuuskortti before your apply for work.Check at the bottom of the page to get one?
Moving to Finland is easier when you separate the process into three parts: your right to stay, your registration as a resident, and the everyday services you can use. They are connected, but they are not the same application.
Use this as a guide, not as an individual immigration decision. Your nationality, permit type, family situation, length of stay and municipality matter. Always check the linked official page before you submit an application or make travel plans.
Start with the reason you are moving. For most non-EU citizens, this means applying for a residence permit before moving. EU citizens generally do not need a residence permit, but must register their right of residence if staying for more than 90 days. [1] [2]
Non-EU citizens usually need the work-based permit that matches their job. A first permit is normally submitted from abroad through Enter Finland; the employer may supplement the application. [2]
You do not need a residence permit. If your stay will exceed 90 days, register your right of residence with Migri. Nordic citizens have separate moving-registration rules. [1]
Research, entrepreneurship, return migration, a degree completed in Finland and other situations may use different applications. Do not choose by a nickname such as “work visa”; use Migri’s application finder. [2]
A permit or EU registration is only the first step. You may still need to register your personal data, address and municipality of residence with DVV. [3]
A Finnish personal identity code helps you use many services. A municipality of residence (kotikunta) can affect access to municipal services and public healthcare. It is not automatically granted by an address notification alone. [3] [4]
A study permit is for an accepted study place in Finland, normally for degree/qualification studies or an exchange. A first study permit is usually applied for from abroad. The requirements include an accepted place, sufficient funds and appropriate health insurance unless an accepted exemption applies. [7]
Plan your money before you apply. Migri says first-permit applicants cannot rely on future work to meet the initial student income requirement. Keep the funds and tuition evidence in the form required by the official instructions. [8]
Your spouse/partner and minor children may apply on the basis of family ties, but each person’s application is assessed separately. Family funds are assessed by family size and place of residence. A person granted a permit on the basis of family ties has an unrestricted right to work, run a business and study in Finland. [9]
If you complete a degree in Finland and do not yet have a suitable work-based permit, Migri has a residence permit to look for work or start a business. It can be granted for up to two years and carries an unrestricted right to work; applications have timing and funds requirements, so submit an extended-permit application before your current permit expires. [10]
The official route is usually called a residence permit on the basis of family ties, not simply a “spouse visa.” Your family member in Finland is the sponsor. A legal spouse, registered partner, eligible cohabiting partner, and a parent/guardian or unmarried child under 18 can fall within the legal definition of family member. [11]
Use the application that matches the sponsor’s status in Finland — for example Finnish citizen, EU citizen, student or work-permit holder. [11]
Normally you must show that you have lived together continuously for at least two years. There are exceptions, including joint custody of a child or other serious reasons. [11]
An unmarried child under 18 and the person with custody may be included within the family-member definition. Keep custody and birth documents ready. [11]
A valid permit issued on the basis of family ties normally gives unrestricted work and study rights. Read your own Migri decision and card carefully. [9]
Important: family-reunification rules changed in 2025 and have further detail depending on the sponsor’s permit/status. Do not rely on old social-media checklists or a friend’s outcome. Verify your application and income rules on Migri before applying. [11]
Once your immigration route is in place, organise the services below. The exact order may differ, but a Finnish personal identity code will make many later tasks easier.
| Service | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 🪪 DVV | Records personal data, family details and address in the Population Information System. You can also seek a municipality of residence if eligible. | Request a personal identity code if needed, book the foreigner-registration appointment, and bring ID plus evidence of your legal stay, study/work or family situation. [3] |
| 📍 Address & municipality | A kotikunta may give access to municipal services and public healthcare. | You must be in Finland, intend to live here for at least a year and meet a route-specific condition. Apply separately; it is not the same as simply changing an address. [4] |
| 💶 Vero tax card | Your employer needs your tax details to withhold tax correctly. Some construction, installation and shipyard work also requires a tax number. | Apply after you have a Finnish personal identity code. The Tax Administration offers service in English. [5] |
| 🔍 Jobseeker registration | Registration opens access to municipal employment services; it is also necessary before applying for unemployment benefit. | Use the E-services at Job Market Finland or contact your local employment authority. “TE Office” services moved to municipalities/employment areas from 1 January 2025. [12] [13] |
| 🧾 Kela | Kela decides eligibility for social-security benefits and Kela card coverage based on your actual situation. | Apply in OmaKela after you have a Finnish personal identity code and bank account; notify Kela that you moved to Finland. [6] |
Looking for a job? Register at Job Market Finland and check the contact details for your local employment area. The former state TE Offices are no longer the main service provider: municipalities and employment areas organise employment and integration services. [13]
Finland’s healthcare is organised regionally. Your municipality of residence and personal eligibility affect which public services you can use. Kela benefits are also assessed individually, so apply rather than guess. [4] [6]
Digital access usually comes later. MyKanta requires a Finnish personal identity code plus strong identification, such as Finnish online bank codes, a mobile certificate or an electronic ID card. Other portals may also need a Finnish phone number or strong identification. [14]
Start family arrangements early, especially when you need a daycare place. Your municipality’s education and early-childhood services will give the local application form and deadlines.
Contact your local wellbeing services county or health centre to find your clinic. Child health clinics monitor under-school-age children’s growth and development, provide vaccinations and support parents. [15]
Municipal early childhood education begins from the start of the month a child turns nine months. Apply through your municipality; the general recommendation is at least four months before the start date. [16]
Comprehensive school generally begins in the year the child turns 7, lasts nine years and is free. Contact your municipality about enrolling a newcomer and language-support options. [17]
Many schools use Wilma for messages, absences, schedules and parent communication. Ask your child’s school for your parent login and local guidance. [17]
Make a secure digital folder and a paper file. It will save time when different authorities, a landlord, bank, school or employer ask for the same document.
Start with the official application finder, then return to this checklist as each part of your move becomes real.
Find your Migri application → Open InfoFinland checklistRequirements, fees and processing times can change. This guide was checked on 27 August 2026; open the official link below for the latest details.