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Aerial image of Kuopio Campus area in Savilahti.

After arrival

There are several official matters to take care of after your arrival in Finland. After arrival procedures are dependent on the length of your intended stay in Finland. Also, find out which of the registrations you are required to complete. You can use the list of places to visit and documents to bring with you as your "compass" that helps you to navigate through the jungle of official matters after your arrival in Finland.

Learn more about arriving to our campuses, parking and public transportation:

Social security is adminstered by the The Finnish Social Insurance Institution (KELA). Kela manages social security services and benefits, such as the national pension, child benefit, basic unemployment security, sickness and parenthood allowance, income support and rehabilitation. Kela also provides health care benefits paid for private health care.

Kela does not offer health care services as such. Health care services are the responsibility of municipalities and are generally provided through local health centres and hospitals.

Entitlement to Finnish Social Security Coverage

Employees

Coverage by the Finnish social security system requires that you are either moving permanently to Finland or working in Finland for at least four month. The scope of social security coverage of employees is also determined by the citizenship of the employees and the intended length of their employment.

For more precise information, please see https://www.kela.fi/web/en/from-other-countries-to-finland-employees-and-self-employed-persons

Researchers working on a grant

Researchers working on a grant are usually not covered by the Finnish social security system since their stay in Finland is considered temporary. However, if the research work continues for more than a year, you have financing for more than a year and all other circumstances also indicate permanent residence in Finland, you can, as a rule, be covered by the Finnish social security system on the basis of permanent residence.

For more precise information, please see https://www.kela.fi/web/en/from-other-countries-to-finland-students-and-researchers

Family members

If you move to Finland with your family member, your family members eligbility to Finnish social security is usually assessed on the basis of whether the family member who comes to work in Finland.  For more information, please see www.kela.fi/web/en/from-other-countries-to-finland-family-members

If you work in Finland but your family does not move to Finland with you, you may be entitled to family benefits from Finland for your children if they live in another EU or EEA country or Switzerland. For further information, please see www.kela.fi/web/en/family-benefits-from-other-countries-to-finland.

Local Kela Offices

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12:00-16:00

  • Joensuu: Koulukatu 24.
  • Kuopio: Suokatu 40. 

Further information:

Kela Card

To apply for Kela's social security coverage, please submit the Y77e form to your local Kela office. You will receive a written decision about whether you have been enrolled in the Finnish social security system. If the decision is positive, you will be sent a personal health insurance card (Kela card). Unfortunately, decisions of Kela are only issued in the official languages of Finland (i.e. Finnish or Swedish). If you have difficulties with understanding the decision, please contact Kela. If you cannot find a common language, Kela's customers are entitled to interpreter services free of charge.

If you have been enrolled in the Finnish social security system you will get a KELA card. It proves that you belong to the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme of Finland.  By presenting your KELA card at pharmacies or many private medical clinics, you can get a direct, on-the-spot reimbursement for your costs.

Further information:

Taxation in brief

As a rule, all employees working in Finland must pay income tax. Therefore, you must obtain a tax card (verokortti) from the Tax Office (verotoimisto) for tax withholding. If you work without a tax card, you will be taxed 60% of your salary. The most important factor affecting your taxation is the duration of your stay in Finland, namely whether will you stay here for longer than six months. If you are uncertain whether you will exceed the six-month limit, you will be taxed at source during the first months. A tax card will be issued when it has been confirmed that the six month limit will be exceeded.

Watch the video - why are we paying tax and what do we get by paying taxes?

Tax treaties can affect your income tax

Taxation also depends on the tax treaties ratified between Finland and the country where you come from (tax.fi). Finland has a tax treaty with more than 70 countries. If there is a tax treaty between Finland and the country where you come from, your income from Finland may be exempted from Finnish income tax. Researchers and teachers coming from Egypt, UK, Japan, Marocco and France are advised to check the tax treaties. Tax treaties can be found from the link above. Please note that the introductory part of the treaty is usually in Finnish but the actual agreement is English.

See also:

Stay of Six Months or Less - Two taxation options

If you live in a foreign country, arrive in Finland for less than six months, and continue to keep your permanent home in the country where you come from you will be considered as a tax non-resident whose liability to pay tax in Finland is limited.

Besides taxes, employers must additionally withhold mandatory pension insurance and unemployment insurance contributions from your salary. If the duration of your work in Finland is four months or more, you must also make a health insurance contribution (consisting of two parts: a healthcare payment + an earned-income contribution payment). However, if you have a valid A1 Certificate from your country, showing that you covered under its social insurance regime,  you will not be withheld pension and social security contributions in Finland.

Progressive taxation

If you are a resident of a country within the European Economic Area or of a country that has a bilateral tax treaty with Finland, you can request to be taxed under the progressive scale instead of the 35% flat tax at source. When your income is taxed progressively, your tax rate is adjusted to the size of your income. Finland only taxes your income from Finnish sources, but your taxable income from your country of tax residence has an increasing effect on your taxation in Finland

If you wish to be taxed under progressive taxation, you will need to ask the tax authorities of your country of residence to fill in the certificate that you can find on the links below. You are also required to file a tax return annually.

Further information and application forms:

Tax at source (flat rate)

If you have a tax-at-source tax card, the amount of your salary does not affect your tax rate. You will pay 35% tax at source (lähdevero) on your salary to the Finnish tax authority. Before withholding the tax, the employer may exempt the amount of 510 euros per month or 17 euros per day. This deduction must be recorded on the tax-at-source card issued by the Tax Office The tax is deducted by the employer before the payment of your salary.

Tax at source is a final tax, and there is no need to submit an income-tax return in Finland for the salary. The application for a tax-at-source card can be found here (tax.fi).

Stay over Six Months - tax on income (progressive taxation)

If you are working in Finland for over six months, you are considered a resident and have full tax liability. Your tax rate is determined by your income. The tax rate increases progressively: the more you earn, the higher the tax rate will be. You can calculate your estimated tax rate by using the tax calculator. The application for a tax on income tax card can be found here (Application for a tax card / prepayment calculation – Current or previous foreign residents, arriving to Finland for longer than 6 months (5042e) 

Key employees' taxation

If you work as a researcher or in a teaching position and your tasks and responsibilities at the UEF require special expertise you may be taxed at the 35-per-cent flat rate instead of the usual Finnish tax based on the progressive scale, even if you stay longer than 6 months. Precondition is that you do not have Finnish citizenship and you have not been a tax resident in Finland at any time during the five years preceding the year when you accept employment in Finland. The maximum duration for the tax relief to be effective is 48 months.

Please note that none of the usual tax deductions are available to the key employee.

To qualify for the benefit you must request for the tax card at the local tax office within 90 days of starting work as a key employee. Please make clear when filling in the form that you are applying for key employee tax relief.

Tax card request form and further information:  http://www.vero.fi/en-US/Individuals/Arriving_in_Finland/Work_in_Finland/Key_employees_from_other_countries%2817267%29

Further information

Taxation of a Scholarship/Grant

A scholarship/grant can be tax free if the scholarship has been awarded on the basis of an open, public call for applications, and the scholarship cannot be regarded as salary from work or duty. A scholarship/grant is tax free if it is given for studies or scientific research by the public sector (Ministry of Education, Edufi  etc.) or the Nordic Council. Please consult the Tax Office for further information. Scholarships from other sources are tax free if they do not exceed the amount of the annual grant of Arts Council of Finland, i.e. € 23.269,80 per year (2020).

Further information:

Social Security Contributions

Apart from the tax, the employer is also required to deduct an employment pension premium and an occupational injury premium from your salary. Your employer pays these contributions to the insurance companies. In addition, you must pay a health insurance premium in connection to your taxation unless you have A1 certificate providing proof that you are covered by insurance in a country other than Finland.

If you have received a grant or scholarship from Finland for longer than four months, the Farmers' Social Insurance Institution (Mela) is responsible for your statutory pension insurance (MYEL), occupational accident insurance (MATA) and group life insurance. Mela's insurance coverage for work on a grant or scholarship is mandatory also for foreign recipients if they are covered by Finnish social security during the work.

Further information:

How to Apply for a Tax Card


If you are staying in Finland for less than one year, you can get the Finnish personal identity code for tax-related purpose from the local Tax Office. If you are working in Finland for one year or longer, you must obtain the Finnish personal identity code from the Local Register Office (Maistraatti). Please note that if you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country (excluding the Nordic countries), and you are staying for longer than three months, you will also need to present a registration of a right to reside in Finland (see Registration of EU/EEA citizens). Citizens of the Nordic countries do not need to register at the local police station. Under Nordic conventions, Nordic citizens can apply for the Finnish personal identity code directly at the Local Register office (maistraatti).

At the Tax Office you should give an estimate your annual income in Finland, so that your tax rate can be calculated. Please take your work contract indicating your salary with you to the Tax Office.

Applying for a tax card in brief:

For persons staying in Finland for less then one year:

  • Visit the Tax Office
  • You can apply for Finnish personal identity number at the Tax Office
  • If you stay for less than six months - apply for "tax-at- source" (flat rate 35%) tax card with deductions
  • If you stay for longer than six months - apply for "tax on earned income" (progressive taxation) tax card
  • Documents to bring along:
    • Valid passport
    • If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA member country and have already been residing in Finland for three months or over, you will need a certificate of your right to reside in Finland issued by the Finnish Migration Service
    • Valid residence permit (non-EU citizens)
    • Employment contract /written explanation of the main terms and conditions of your employment
    • Tax office's forms

For persons staying in Finland for one year or longer:

1.If you are a citizen from the EU/EEA countries or Switzerland (excluding the Nordic countries), you obtain a Certificate of your right to reside in Finland from the local police 

2. Register at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (maistraatti)

  • Fill in and submit the Notification of Move (permanent move) form
  • After registration you will get the Finnish personal identity code

2. Visit the Tax Office (verotoimisto)

  • A apply for "tax on earned income" (progressive taxation) tax card
  • Documents to bring along:
    • Valid passport
    • Citizens from the EU/EEA countries and Switzerland: Certificate of right to reside in Finland from the Finnish Migration Service
    • Valid residence permit (non-EU citizens)
    • Employment contract /written explanation of the main terms and conditions of your employment
    • Tax office's forms

Tax Offices (verotoimisto)

Local Tax Offices: 

  • Joensuu - Yliopistokatu 6B, 2nd, Metla building. Mon-Tue 9:00-15:00. From 1 June to 31 August Mon–Tue at 9:00-12:00
  • Kuopio - Viestikatu 7. Mon-Fri 9:00-16:15. From 1 June to 31 August Mon–Fri at 9:00–15:00

Tax service by phone: +358 29 497 050
International tax situations:+358 (0)20 697 024

Your first days and weeks at the University of Eastern Finland can be both exciting and overwhelming. You will get to know your colleagues, work processes, complete some paperwork related to your work contract as well as familiarise yourself with the physical environment and organisational structure in which you will now work.

New employee induction checklist

The new employee induction checklist in the UEF Intranet (username and password required) will help you to navigate through the first days.

Finnish working culture

There are several helpful videos online, see for example this video.

It is recommended to open a Finnish bank account if you receive salary from the University of Eastern Finland. In comparison to many other countries, it is fast and relatively easy to open up a bank account in Finland. According to law, however, the bank must be able to reliably identify and know its customers.

For further information about opening a bank account in Finland and the required evidence of identity, please see the Expatriate Banking  and Know your customer -why do banks ask leaflets published by the Federation of Finnish Financial Services (fkl.fi).

All Finnish banks offer online banking facilities. The most common use for online banking is paying bills without having to go to the bank. Finnish online bank identifier codes are essential also for using many other e-services in Finland.

Which bank to choose?

You can choose any bank that best suits your needs (location, service fees, etc.).  In most banks, it is necessary to make a personal appointment in advance to open a bank account and to get service in English. Banks are usually open between 10:00 – 16:15 (or 16:30).

The following documents are usually needed:

  • Passport or other official ID with a photo
  • Residence permit from non-EU citizens
  • Work contract or grant award letter (recommended)
  • Finnish personal ID code (required in most banks)
  • Finnish ID (some banks require this, scroll down the page to foreigner's identity card )

Banks in Joensuu:

Banks in Kuopio:

Digital banks:

Opening a bank account in Finland might take some time. While you wait for the process, you might consider using a digital bank. Digital bank accounts are easier and faster to create, and it allows you to make and receive payments while your Finnish bank account is not completely set up.

Keep in mind that to use many services in Finland, you will still need a bank account for proving your identity with a strong identification. Moreover, some features of a normal bank might not be available in a digital bank. Some options to consider are:

 

Heating

Most homes in cities and towns have district heating systems (kaukolämpö). Heating expenses are usually included in the rent. However, if you live in a detached house or outside the city/town, you might have electric heating or oil heating and you should be prepared to pay for them.

Electricity

Electricity is not usually included in the rent and you need to make an electricity contract (sähkösopimus) as soon as possible. You can make a contract by contacting the electricity company of your choice. If you move, remember to terminate or update your electricity contract.

Joensuu:

Kuopio:

Water

Water is often included in the rent. In some cases, however, you need to pay an additional monthly water fee either on the  basis of water consumption, or a fixed sum depending on the number of people in living in the apartment. Check your rental agreement to see whether water is included in the rent or whether you have to pay for the water separately.

Internet Connection

In recently built apartments internet access is often included in your rent. However, it is very likely that you need to make your own agreement with one of the Internet service providers to get an Internet connection.

Home insurance

We highly recommend that you purchase a home insurance policy. The price of the home insurance policy  depends on the size of the apartment, how valuable the movables are and how extensive the insurance cover is. Basic level home insurance is approximately €45-76 /year for a 28m² apartment. Please note that landlords often require that tenants purchase home insurance on rented property. For further information on insurances, please see Expat Finland.

Some insurance companies in Finland:

It is good to be aware of certain practices and principles concerning housing in Finland. For information about giving notice, conflicts with neighbours, everyday housing matters and problems with damp, see Housing problems (infofinland.fi).

Notification of arrival

The notification of arrival must be submitted to  the building maintenance company when you move into or out of the apartment.  Without the arrival notification, you will not be entered into the register of residents and your name will not be placed on your letter box and the list of residents' names at the entrance to your building.

Please note that notification of arrival does not replace the statutory notification of move, which you have to take care of separately. Please visit the maintenance company´s website and look for a "muuttoilmoitus".

Maintenance

If you live in a block of flats or a terraced house, a maintenance man (huoltomies) / maintenance company (huoltoyhtiö) usually takes care of the maintenance of the building. You can usually find the contact details of the maintenance man/ maintenance company in the general notice board of the building and/or stickers on the main doors.

Some of the responsibilities of the maintenance company / maintenance man:

  • clears the snow from the yards in the winter
  • minor repairs in the apartment / building
  • opens your door if you forget your key (usually a fee is charged)
  • takes care of the reservations of the common saunas and parking space.

General Rules and Regulations

In addition to the Public Order Act, all estates apart from detached houses have some common rules and regulations. Showing consideration to other residents is a guiding principle when sharing facilities with other residents.

Silence

In most estates silence is required at night-time, usually 22.00 – 06.00 (10 p.m – 6 a.m) on weekdays and 23.00 –  08.00 (11 p.m – 8 a.m) on weekends. Please also avoid showering/bathing and running any other noisy electronic appliances at night.

Common areas

Residents are not allowed to keep any belongings such as bikes or prams in the corridors or lobbies because they are a potential fire hazard and may block escape routes.

Residents living in block of flats or terraced houses are allowed to use communal facilities such as sauna, laundry room, storage space etc. Pre-booking is required for sauna and communal laundry. The rule of the thumb is that everybody cleans and leaves the shared premises after use.

Storage space (apart from bike storage) belonging to each apartment is indicated by the apartment number on the storage cubicle.

Pets

It is usually allowed to have pets in apartments unless it has been stated otherwise in the rental agreement. Please note however that pets are not allowed to cause any disturbance to your neighbours (such as continuous barking of your dog).

Smoke alarm 

Every household must be equipped with a smoke alarm(s). By Finnish law, there must be a fire alarm for every 60 square meter of living space. Residents of the apartment are responsible for replacing the batteries of the fire alarms and checking that the fire alarm works. 

Rubbish

Rubbish must be taken out of the apartment into rubbish containers in the yard / rubbish shed. Sort your waste and put them into appropriate containers. Usually there are separate containers for mixed waste, biodegradable waste, recyclable paper and recyclable cardboard. Please note that most plastic and glass bottles are recyclable in Finland and can be returned to grocery stores. A return fee will be paid for each bottle.

Parking

Parking is only allowed in parking spaces reserved for the purpose. Parking on yard areas is prohibited, except for short-term loading and unloading. You can reserve a parking space by contacting the building maintenance company. Guest parking is permitted only in the areas designated for guest parking (vieraspysäköinti).

Usually all parking spaces are numbered and equipped with an electric plug for pre-heating the engine during the winter. For safety reason, heating post's cover should always be locked and electric cables should always be unplugged from the heating post after use.

Termination of tenancy agreement

Tenancy agreements are usually in force either until further notice or for a fixed period. If the agreement has been made until further notice, termination of the tenancy agreement must be done in writing one calendar month before moving out. The period of notice is counted from the last day of the month when the notice was given.