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Student cycling on the snowy street

Everyday life in Finland

Please click on the topics on the accordion below to find more detailed information about everyday life in Finland. You can also find information about living and working in Finland in 12 languages on InfoFinland.fi website.

Further reading:

Low-alcohol content drinks (e.g. beer and cider) are sold in regular stores, supermarkets, gas stations and kiosks from 9am to 9 pm. However, beverages containing over 4.7 per cent of alcohol by volume (such as wine, liquor and spirits) have to be purchased from the State Alcohol Company, ALKO.  ALKOs are open from 10am to 9pm (Saturday from 10am to 6pm, Sunday closed).

Bars serve alcohol outside these hours. Bars and nightclubs usually close between 02 am and 04 am. Last orders come always 30 minutes before the closing time. It is often signalled with blinking lights.

Anti-smoking legislation in Finland is one of the strictest in the world because the government aims to phase out smoking completely within the next 30 years. Smoking is allowed only in designated places or areas. The University of Eastern Finland is a non-smoking organisation, and smoking is only permitted in designated outdoor smoking areas. Do not smoke by the building entrances or exits.

Shops are not allowed to keep cigarettes in visible places. If you wish to buy tobacco products, you can just ask the sales person for your brand.

UEF Postdocs Society

UEF postdocs ry. was established to support and promote networking among post-doctoral scientists working at the University of Eastern Finland, both within their own disciplines and across faculty boundaries. The society organizes both social events and scientific seminars focusing on career planning, funding and in finding collaboration partners. All post-docs at the UEF are very welcome to join!

Further information:

  • Email: uefpostdocs@gmail.com

UEF Doctoral Student Association (UEF DSA)

The purpose of the Association is to act as a link between the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) doctoral students, between the doctoral students and UEF, and between the doctoral students and all those who are interested in doing doctoral studies at UEF; and to lobby for the interests of UEF doctoral students, to represent UEF doctoral students, and to promote their societal efforts and extracurricular activities.

Further information:

ESN Joensuu and ESN KISA KUOPIO

ESN Joensuu and ESN KISA (Kuopio) are part of ISYY (The Student Union of UEF) dedicated to the interests of the international students. The most important task of the ESN clubs is to introduce Finnish culture and lifestyle to international students and give Finnish students an opportunity to gain international experiences in Joensuu by arranging diverse events and activities. In addition, ESN Joensuu is active in promoting intercultural understanding on the campus. All members of ISYY are automatically members of the ESN clubs as well. However, UEF research staff, visiting teaching staff and their partners/families are welcome to join ESN Joensuu and/or ESN KISA as 'outsider members' for a membership fee of 10€ (Joensuu) / 15 € (Kuopio) /academic year.

If you would like to join, please visit one of our campus offices and ask the staff for more details. Information about ESN activities and our campus offices can be found on our website

The cost of living is relatively high in Finland, though comparable to the EU average. In comparison to the Helsinki metropolitan area, however, accommodation and other living costs are lower in eastern Finland.

When applying for a residence permit (non-EU/EEA citizens) you need to show that you have secure means of support.

Further information:

If you can't exchange euros before coming to Finland, you can exchange currency at Helsinki airport or Forex branches. Please note that not possible to change foreign currency in Joensuu or Kuopio. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted and cash can be withdrawn from ATMs.

National currency - The Euro

The Finnish national currency and monetary unit is the euro, made up of 100 cents. Bank notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 and coins in denominations of 1 and 2 euros and 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents. Although the coins of one and two cents are legal tender, they are not used in Finland, unlike in most euro countries. Shops may refuse to accept one and two cent coins, and €500 banknotes.  Prices are rounded to the nearest five cents.

Banks and ATMs

There are several branches of many banks in all cities. Banks are usually open Mon-Fri from 09:00/10:00 to 16:00/16:30.

You can withdraw money from cash points/ATMs (automatic teller machines) with Finnish bank cards (free) and with most of international cards as well (fees may apply). Cash points/ATMs are marked with a yellow OTTO or Nosto sign.

Insert your card into the yellow slot if there is no microchip on your card. If you have a microchip on your card, please insert your card into the blue slot.

If you lose your Finnish ATM card, please call immediately tel. +358 20 333 to report the incidence (24 hour service).

Paying bills

Finnish banks no longer accept cash payments. Most people use internet banking (online banking) for paying bills. Online banking is the cheapest and most convenient method to pay bills and transfer money.  Online banking services are available 24/7, wherever you have access to Internet.

You can pay bills (cash, debit or credit) at R-kioskis if you there is a bar code on the bill (service fee 4.50€). Please note and you must have a Finnish identity code and address that is registered for you at Digital and Population Data Services Agency in order to pay bills at R-kioski.

Cheques are not used in Finland. They are not accepted as a method of payment in shops and businesses. International credit cards (e.g. Visa, MasterCard) are widely accepted.

Single European Payments Area (SEPA)

Finland belongs to the Single European Payments Area (SEPA), which allows fast, cheap and secure money transfers anywhere in the euro currency area. SEPA credit transfers can be used for the payment of invoices and salaries to Finnish and other euro area accounts.

Further information:

The electrical current in Finland is 220V (50Hz). Electrical plugs are of the two-pin continental size. In Finland, the unit of measurement is the metric system.

Further information:

Applications for extensions to residence permits are submitted to the Finnish Immigration Service prior to the expiry of the existing residence permit. You can submit the extension application three months before your current resident permit expires. 

Please note that if your residence permit expires before you submit the application of extension to your permit, your permit no longer entitles you to work.

For further information, see http://www.migri.fi/extended_permit

Travelling during application process
If you come from a country that is not exempt from the visa requirement and have not been granted an extension to your residence permit, you cannot leave and return to Finland before the extension has been granted. If it is absolutely necessary to leave Finland, you need to apply for a visa at your nearest Embassy of Finland in order to return 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  https://www.infofinland.fi/en/living-in-finland/housing/housing-problems

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 tidy 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 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.

Winter in Eastern Finland typically lasts from November to April. Average winter temperature is usually below zero and -10°C. However, it is not usual to have colder periods with temperatures down to -20 - 30°C especially in January and February. Although the weather can be quite harsh, houses in Finland are warm and well-built. They typically have central heating and double or triple glazing.

In order to feel comfortable outdoors, it is important to know how to dress right in winter. For good winter dressing tips, please see:

Rather than carrying your passport always with you, you may want to consider applying for a Finnish identity card for a foreign citizen. The local police can issue an identity card to a foreign national who

  • resides permanently in Finland
  • has been entered into the Population Information System at DVV
  • can reliably prove his/her identity

The identity card of a foreign national can be used for identification in Finland, but cannot be used as a travel document when travelling abroad.

Further information:

There is a broadband internet connection in many apartments and and a standard access may be included in your rent. If you need to get Internet connection at your home, please visit an internet service provider's shop in your town. Here are some of the most common internet service providers:

University of Eastern Finland campuses offer Eduroam and UEF-open wireless networks. UEF-open is available for visitors and can be accessed without login.

Local public libraries also have computers with Internet connection for your use. Please note that you have to make a reservation for the computer beforehand, and usually you can use the computer for an hour at a time.

Further information:

Although most people in Finland speak English, knowing at least some Finnish will help you to integrate more easily. Learning the language enriches your stay in Finland as you can understand the surrounding society better. Finnish skills often required for most jobs in Finland.

There are many ways to learn Finnish. You can take part in Finnish language courses offered by:

There are various online Finnish language courses (infofinland.fi) available as well. Language course packages can also be borrowed from public libraries.

Further information:

Learn more about leisure time activities.

There are several post offices in your town. Post offices are usually located inside local stores. Parcel Points and pick-up outlets are available in various places across the town.

Please note that if you receive goods by post from outside the EU, they need to be declared and import tax paid if their value exceeds €45.

You can buy stamps at post offices, kiosks and most stores. Letters may be mailed at post offices or dropped into orange-coloured mailboxes (economy) or blue-coloured mailboxes (priority) available throughout the city. Incoming mail is delivered to your address Monday through Friday. There are no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Further information:

The easiest way to get a mobile phone account is to buy a pre-paid phone card (SIM card) for your mobile phone in a local R-Kioski.  When you run out of airtime, you can top up your pre-paid card either with a voucher or online. Tariffs on a prepaid phone account are not as cheap as on monthly subscriptions, but offer an easy way to communicate when you first arrive in Finland. 

You can get a monthly subscription with a Finnish mobile phone operator (e.g. Telia, Elisa, DNA). However, you are required to have proven and stable credit history and a Finnish personal identity code, or pay a deposit of €300-600.

To dial abroad, please dial + to get the international prefix, then the country code and the number you are calling. Note that the first number of the area code/phone number (often 0) is usually omitted in international phone calls.

Further information:

If you want to keep up with Finnish and international news, you may find it interesting to read the news by the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) or Helsinki Times.

Yle News broadcasts in English daily on Yle Radio 1 (3:55 pm) and on Yle Mondo (3:30 pm Mon-Fri, 3:29 pm Sat-Sun). You can also keep up with the latest online updates from Yle News via Twitter and Facebook.

Finland is one of the safest countries in the world. However, as in anywhere else in the world, it is better to be safe than sorry. You get far by exercising common sense and taking good care of your personal belongings.

In the unlikely event you become a victim of a crime, you should contact the police immediately. You can report the crime online or by visiting your local police station.  You can contact the police without worries. The Finnish police is reliable and most policemen speak English. Police officers wear a uniform and carry a badge, which they must present on request.

Further information:

Banks, schools, offices and small shops are usually closed on public holidays. Public transport runs on limited or changed schedules.  Shops often have shorter /limited opening hours both on the day before and after the public holiday (New Year's Day, Easter, May Day, Midsummer and Christmas Day). On Midsummer Eve and Christmas Eve, schools, offices, etc. are closed, but shops are open part of the day.

Please see this calendar for public holidays that are celebrated annually in Finland.

Further information on the celebration on Finnish festivities

There has been a complete freedom of religion in Finland since 1923. Everyone is therefore entitled to practise their own religion and to express their beliefs as long as they don't violate the fundamental human rights or break the law. Finns are not particularly active church-goers even though most of them belong to the church. Most Finns observe the Christian faith, belonging to either the Evangelical Lutheran (69%) or the Orthodox Church (1%).

There is also a prayer room for on the Kuopio Campus. The room is locked so you will need a key to access the room. You can apply for a key to the prayer room from the Office of Facilities Management located in the Snellmania building, ground floor, Ms. Anne Sulkakoski, Room 1078/5.

You can find out more about the activities of the parishes/congragations/groups by contacting them directly.

Joensuu:

Kuopio:

Second hand shops (kirpputori/kirppari/kirppis) sell clothes, furniture, kitchenware, televisions and bicycles for low prices. Bikes, furniture and household items are sold at the UEF students' FB fleamarket groups (Joensuu,  Kuopio).

Here you can find some examples of the second hand shops:

Joensuu:

Kuopio:

The smaller shops selling specialised goods are usually open 9:00-17:00 on weekdays and 9:00-14:00/15:00 on Saturdays. Hypermarkets, department stores and shopping centres keep their doors open Mon-Fri 9:00-21:00/22:00, 9:00-18:00 on Saturdays and often 12:00-18:00 on Sundays. There are also a couple of 24-hour-shops in most cities. Many petrol stations also sell groceries and are open 24/7.  Most newsagents (kioski) are open every day 9:00-22:00.

Grocery stores usually advertise weekly or daily in the local newspapers or in advertisements delivered to your mailbox. This allows you to compare food prices at different stores. Please note that the open market place (tori) is not necessarily the cheapest place to buy food in Finland, like it is in some other countries. Also check out some of the private product labels in stores (e.g. Pirkka, Rainbow, Extra, Euroshopper). They are usually cheaper than the well-known brand names.

Useful links:

Bonus cards

Loyalty programmes are extremely popular in Finland. There are three major retail groups in Finland, all of which offer their own bonus card:

  • The Kesko retail group offers the PLUSSA card (accepted in K-markets, CityMarket, Intersport etc).  There is a charge for the card but the cardholders get special offers at Kesko's retail group stores and earn vouchers when certain amount of money is spent.
  • S-Group Bonus Card (S-Etukortti) is offered by the SOK retail group (The Finnish Co-operative Society). The S-bonus card is accepted in Sokos department stores, Prismas, S-Markets etc.  To get a card, you need to join the local co-operative of the area in which you live.  Fill in a form at the information desk in any S-Market, Sokos or Prisma hypermarket.  There is a fee charged to join the co-op but you can pay part of it by your monthly earned bonuses. 

Links:

Ethnic Grocery Shops

Big supermarkets such as Prisma and City Market offer a variety of spices and for example halal meat. However, if you are looking for something specific, there are a few ethnic grocery shops available.

Joensuu:

  • Jana Market, Koskikatu 11

Kuopio:

  • Suker Shop, Pyörönkaari
  • Istanbul Market, Pyörönkaari 09

Bicycles

A bicycle (polkupyörä) is a very practical, popular and ecological form of transportation in Finland. There are plenty of cycle/walking tracks around the cities. Many people cycle throughout the year.

Cycling in Finland:

  • Wearing a bicycle helmet is compulsory in Finland.
  • You must have a bright lamp in the front of your bike and red lamp in the rear of your bike when you cycle in the dark. Cyclists without proper lights can be fined.
  • If you cycle during autumn, beware of the "black ice", which looks like wet asphalt, but actually is really slippery ice.
  • If you ride your bike during winter, studded tires are recommended. They can be bought from big supermarkets and sports shops.

Where to get a bike?

Joensuu:

Kuopio:

Local buses (public transport)

You can save some money by buying a bus card that suits your needs. Single/day tickets can be economical for visitors and occasional bus travellers. For regular travellers monthly/season tickets offer savings.

A few tips:

  • To make sure that the bus stops at the bus stop, please wave your hand to indicate the driver that you want to hop on.
  • Timetables at the bus stops tell you when your bus leaves from the starting point of the route, not when it reaches the bus stop where you are standing.

Tickets and fares:

Timetables:

Cars and Driving in Finland

Bringing your Car to Finland

Buying and operating a car in Finland is fairly expensive.  The average price of a litre of petrol is about 1.45€ (Super 95). In addition to motor insurance policy and car tax, cars must be registered and annually inspected at the inspection stations. You are also required to purchase two sets of tyres: for winter and summer.

For more information on bringing a car to Finland as removal goods, see Pre-arrival essentials | University of Eastern Finland (uef.fi)

Foreign Driving License

Validity of your foreign driving license depends on the country that has issued the driving license. 

Driving license issued by EU/EEA countries

  • valid in Finland.
  • permanent residents can change the license to a Finnish driving license.

Driving license issued in a country that is party to the Geneva or Vienna Conventions on Road Traffic

  • valid in Finland for two years.
  • must be changed Finnish driving license in two year's time after you have been registered in Finland’s Population Information.
  • If you do not exchange your license in time, you need to complete a driving test (theoretical and practical tests) in Finland.

Driving licenses issued by other countries

  • no entitlement to drive in Finland.
  • a driver examination in Finland is required.

Can I drive on a foreign driving licence in Finland (trafi.fi)
Finnish driving licence (expat-finland.com) 

Motor Insurance

Motor liability insurance is a statutory insurance and it is mandatory for all motor vehicles used in traffic. Motor liability insurance covers bodily injuries and property damage caused to the innocent party.

For vehicles from the members states of the European Economic Area, number plates are considered a sufficient proof of motor insurance. Vehicles from any other countries must have an international green card (certificate of motor insurance) or frontier insurance. 

Further information:

Annual Inspection (katsastus)

Vehicles must be inspected at regular intervals. Inspections are statutory and made by inspection stations (katsastusasema). The purpose of the inspections is to ensure that the vehicle is safe for use in traffic and to control the vehicle's environmental impact (exhaust emission measurements).  Payment of vehicle tax and other fees are also monitored in the annual inspections. 

You may consult the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (Trafi) online service free of charge to find the next deadline for a periodic inspection for your vehicle.

Further information

Winter tyres

Winter tyres (studded or friction tyres) are compulsory in Finland as of 1 December. Studded tyres may be used on Finnish roads from 1 November. This rule also applies to cars and vans registered abroad when they are driven in Finland.

Before fitting tyres, it should be ensured that they are in good condition and compatible with the vehicle and that the tyre pressure is correct. The groove depth of winter tyres must be at least 3.0 millimetres measured in the principle grooves of the tyre pattern.

Winter tyres are compulsory until the end of February and may be used until 20 April.

See also www.liikenneturva.fi/en/road-safety/car-tyres

Child car seats

According to the Law on road traffic it is compulsory to use infant seat or child car seats determined by the child's weight for children who are less than 135 cm. Children over 135 cm tall can use the seat beats as the adults do. Children under 3 may not be transported at all, if there is no appropriate safety device available in the car.  The safest place for the child in the car is the backseat.

It is recommended that the child should face the rear until he/she is 3 years old because the child's head and neck are best protected in car crash situations when seated rear-facing.

Further information:

Parking

Most cities have metered parking areas. However, sometimes parking is free, but the parking time limited. In this case you need a parking disc, which can be obtained from petrol stations, kiosks and most shops. The time of arrival must be set first and then the parking disc must be displayed on the dashboard. The time of arrival is the following hour or half-hour depending on which one is earlier.

Parking on the university campuses usually requires a parking permit. Please see the UEF Intranet for further information on how to get a parking permit and see the parking area maps.

Renting a Car

In order to rent a car you need a valid driving licence and preferably at least one year of driving experience. Rental companies require the driver to be at least 20 years of age for passenger cars, but the age regulation may vary by car category. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge. Please also note that some car rental companies may require a credit card. Be prepared to show proof of your identity when renting a car, so take your driving licence and your passport with you. More information in Heimo.

Some car rental companies:

Road Signs and Driving Tips

The Finnish time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. There is only one time zone covering the whole country. Daylight saving time / summer time (= kesäaika) is used from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October. Clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and backward in autumn. The shift is usually done on Sunday mornings so that it does not cause extra difficulties.

Daylight saving in 2023-2025

2023

  • Daylight saving starts: Sun, 26 Mar, 03:00 am
  • Daylight saving ends: Sun, 29 Oct, 04:00 am

2024

  • Daylight saving starts: Sun, 31 Mar, 03:00 am
  • Daylight saving ends: Sun, 27 Oct, 04:00 am

2025

  • Daylight saving starts: Sun, 30 Mar, 03:00 am
  • Daylight saving ends: Sun, 26 Oct, 04:00 am

There are several TV channels in Finland, which are available throughout the country. TV programmes are usually broadcast in the original language with Finnish/Swedish subtitles.

Television transmissions in Finland are all-digital. Digital broadcasts can be received by an ordinary TV fitted with a digital adaptor, known as a set-top box. Alternatively, it is possible to buy a TV set with a built-in digital receiver. Many programmes are also available online. The Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) aims to make all four of its channels available online for viewers in Finland.

Finnish TV channels online: 

If you wish to get more channels in addition to the free ones, you can get a cable/ payTV package for additional cost. Here are some pay TV providers: Elisa, Viaplay, DNATV .

The operations of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) are financed by a new public service broadcasting tax collected by the Tax Administration (Vero). If you receive salary from Finland, you have to pay the tax regardless of whether you have a television or not. The tax is collected at the same time as other taxes, so it does require any action on your part.

Useful links:

http://www.expat-finland.com/telecommunications_and_media/pay_tv.html