Close

Refine your search

Aerial image of Kuopio Campus area in Savilahti.

After arrival

There are several official matters to take care of after your arrival in Finland. The procedures you need to follow depend on the intended length of your stay, your citizenship and whether you are an employee, a grant recipient or a visiting scholar. Please check which registrations and procedures are required in your case.

We have compiled a helpful chart to summary and to guide you through the official tasks after arriving in Finland. We recommend visiting the authorities in the order shown in the chart to ensure a smooth process and to minimise the need for multiple visits.

See  the list of places to visit and documents to bring with you

Having a Finnish personal identity code is essential for everyday life in Finland.
It is required for opening a bank account, receiving salary payments, and interacting with public authorities, healthcare providers, and even for everyday services like obtaining a library card.
 

How to obtain the Finnish identity code?

In Finland, you can get a Finnish personal identity code from either the Digital and Population Data Services Agency or the Tax Office. You should apply for the Finnish identity as soon as possible after your arrival in Finland. 

In some cases, the identity code is issued before you arrive, together with your residence permit and you don't need to apply for one. You can find the personal identity code on your residence permit card.


Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV)

1. Book an appointment for a registration of a foreigner´s personal data at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). You cn book the appointment via DVV´s online booking service. To ensure a smooth start in Finland, it’s a good idea to book your appointment before arriving in Finland to avoid any delays in essential services and payment of your salary. 

2. Fill out the online registration form(s)

Please note that you can  request registration of your municipality of residence. Having a registered municipality of residence allows you to access public health care and other municipal services. See more information at the DVV's website. 
 

Tax office

Usually the Finnish personal identity code is issued by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) when a person is registered in the Population Information System. However, certain tax offices can also provide the identity code to individuals who need it for tax-related purposes when starting work in Finland. Obtaining the code from a tax office is typically faster than applying through DVV.

NB! The Kuopio tax office offers this service, but unfortunately, it is not available at the Joensuu office.

Please see the tax office’s instructions for how to apply for a Finnish personal identity code and tax card.

Information on how to apply for the tax card can be found on the chart on the top of this page and at tax office´s website. 

You must obtain a tax card showing your tax rate from the Tax Office as soon as possible because the university payroll must have the tax card approximately two weeks prior to the salary payment date. Salary payment date is on the last weekday of the month for those on a fixed term employments or on the 15th day of the month for permanent employment contract. Please note, that if you miss the deadline, your salary will be taxed at 60% for that month.

You only need to apply for a tax card when you first arrive in Finland. After you are registered in the Finnish taxation system, a new tax card will be sent to you automatically by the Tax Administration at the beginning of each year.

If you are working for several Finnish employers, you can give the same tax card to multiple employers if needed.

Tax office service points in Joensuu and Kuopio (verotoimisto)

  • Joensuu - Kauppakatu 40. Open on Fridays at 9:00-12:00 only with appointment, closed on other days. The office provides remote service via video connection. How to make an appointment.
    Please note that the service point in Joensuu doesn't issue Finnish personal identity codes, and your cannot deliver tax form to the office. 
     
  • Kuopio - Viestikatu 7A, 2nd floor. Mon-Wed 12.00-16:00. If you wish to book an appointment, please call tel. 029 497 010

You can also handle most questions and tax-related matters by phone. Telephone service in English is available Monday to Friday from 09:00 am to 04:00 pm (Opening hours in July: 09:00 am – 03:00 pm).

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

More information on taxation is available at the Working at UEF webpage. 

Municipality of residence

Registering your municipality of residence is important, as it usually gives you access to municipal services, such as public health care. It is also needed if you wish to get a Finnish identity card and a driving licence. 

It is recommended to apply for your municipality of residence as early as possible after your arrival because the registration date cannot be backdated by more than one month.

You can apply for a municipality of residence if you meet the following general conditions:

  • You plan to live in Finland for at least one year.
  • You have a valid type A residence permit, are a citizen of a Nordic country, or are an EU citizen who has registered your right to reside in Finland with Migri.

These are the most common conditions, but you can find the full list of specific requirements on the DVV website.
 

How to apply for municipality of residence?

  1. Book an appointment to for a personal visit at the  DVV. Link to the online booking system.
  2. Fill in the application form (online / paper) before the appointment.

 

EU citizen´s registration for a right to reside in Finland

If you are a citizen of an EU Member State, a Nordic country, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, you do not need a residence permit to stay in Finland. However, if you plan to stay in Finland for more than three consecutive months, you must register your right of residence. 

Please note that EU citizens registation is a mandatory certificate for certain other official registration such a applying for a municipality of residence. 

How to apply for the EU registration?

1.  Book an appointment to visit the Finnish Immigration Services (Migri). Link to the online booking system. 

2. Fill in the application form at Migri's Enter Finland online service. If you cannot use the online service, paper application is available on Migri´s webpage on the very bottom of the page. 

For detailed information about the EU registration and the registration process, please visit Migri´s website.  

 

 

Social security is administered 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 the wellbeing services countys and are generally provided through local health centres and hospitals.

Entitlement to Finnish Social Security Coverage

Employees

To be covered by the Finnish social security system, you must either be moving to Finland permanently or, for example, working in Finland with a salary that meets the minimum threshold set by Kela. The extent of social security benefits available to employees is also influenced by their citizenship and the intended duration of their employment.

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.

Family members

If your family members are accompanying you to Finland, their right to receive benefits from Kela is usually based on whether Kela considers you to be living in Finland permanently. If Kela determines that you are a permanent resident, your family members are generally also eligible for Kela benefits.

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. 

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 notification form (see the link below).   You will receive a written decision about whether you have been enrolled in the Finnish social security system. 

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:

Online banking is the most typical way of handling finances in Finland. Online banking is the easiest way to pay bills because many banks no longer handle with cash at all. Having online banking credentials is important as well becasue they used for online verification of identity in many Finnish digital services. Therefore, it is recommended to open a Finnish bank account if you are working in Finland and receive salary from the University of Eastern Finland. 

 

How to open a bank account?

Opening a bank account requires an in-person appointment to the bank of your choice. When opening a bank account, you need a passport, identity card for foreign citizens or some other official identity card. Other required documentation varies among the banks, so it is best to contact them in advance and ask for a list of the documentation that you will need.

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 )

When you open the account, ask for:
• bank statements in English, Finnish or Swedish
• online banking codes 
• means of strong electronic identification as Finnish as stroing electronic identification are essential  for using many other e-services in Finland
• instructions for how to use your bank card

According to law, when you open a bank account, the bank must ask you to clarify for what purpose you intend to use your bank account. The bank also has the right to check your credit history.


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).

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 typically open between 9:30 – 16:30 by appointment, some banks have a few hours per week when they provide guidance without appointment. It is easiest to call the customer service in advance.

Banks in Joensuu:

Banks in Kuopio:

Temporary digital banking:

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:

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 path 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.

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:

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

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).

Read more about practices here: Good to know about housing