Recently moved to Finland and unsure of your next steps?
Read through my checklist and follow my timeline. I cover all the essential steps every newcomer must complete in order to get their life started in Finland.
My first few weeks in Finland were anything but smooth when I moved here a year ago. My husband and I spent 3 long days driving across Europe with our hamster in an overfilled car. The pallet we had shipped from the UK arrived about a month after we did because of strike action. And I was still recovering from the flu.
On top of that, I was extremely unprepared for how much I still had to do when I got to Finland. From booking appointments, filling out forms, running to the bank, local agencies, the police station – it was rough. I was figuring everything out as I went along and I was an unorganized mess.
One year on and I’m older, wiser and much more organized. That’s why I’ve decided to share this must-do checklist for my fellow newcomers to Finland. The checklist covers all the basics to getting started in Finland, like registering your municipality, how to get strong identification, and much more.
Plus, it’s organized so that if you follow the steps in order, you’ll get everything done quicker.
This Is What I Would Do, If I Had To Do It All Over Again
But quickly, 2 things to note so we’re all on the same page.
- Strong identification is a way to prove your identity with your bank credentials. Having strong identification is essential to living in Finland and is tied to nearly every interaction you’ll have online. From online purchases, booking healthcare appointments, to getting a phone plan, even getting a supermarket loyalty card.
Living without it makes everyday life extremely complicated, so please start the process asap. You must have a residence permit or card valid for 1 year or more in order to qualify.
- Before starting this checklist, you need to already have your personal identity code. This should have been granted with your residence card. If you’re unsure, look for Henkilötunnus: DDMMYY-123X (example). If you don’t already have a personal identity code, please register here. You can also register for a municipality at the same time.
5 Things You Need To Do Immediately After Moving to Finland
1) Register your Municipality
Fill out the online form to register your municipality with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) and book an appointment with your local service.
This will register you as a member of your municipality so you can access local services such as health and employment services. This is the first step in obtaining strong identification.
At the end of the appointment, you’ll be given a DVV certificate – keep this handy, you will need it later!
If you have time after your appointment, I recommend getting the following done all in one go.
2) Buy a Finnish Sim Card
Buy a sim card (in person or online) from R-Kioski or any DNA, Telia, Elisa shop so you have a Finnish phone number. This is important as some businesses and agencies won’t accept a foreign number.
I bought a DNA Super Prepaid sim card from R-Kioski for 4,90€. I don’t have a data package, so I just top it up when I need to. Check which options are best for you!
3) Get Your Picture Taken
Get a passport picture taken in preparation for your Finnish identity card. Your picture will be sent directly to the police for approval. Once approved you will receive a share code over text message.
Keep this share code!
The code is valid for up to 6 months and it can be used for other applications that require your photo, such as your residence permit extension.
You can also have the picture printed out. I used Passikuva. It’s 9,90€, but if you go during happy hour it’s 7,90€.
Extra: If you still have time while you’re out:
- Buy a travel card if you’ll be using public transportation. In Tampere this can be used on the bus and tram and can be bought in-person from any of these locations for 6€. Choose your zones and top-up your card online with card payment or at a sale point.
For Tampere, top-up your card here. In Helsinki, you can get a HSL travel card here. Using a travel card is much cheaper than buying single tickets! - Get a library card. Libraries aren’t just for borrowing books! Some have baking equipment, gym equipment or even 3D printers that you can use and borrow. For example, at Tampere’s Metso Library, you can book music rooms to practice playing instruments and borrow their music equipment.
The card is free, but you will need to show a photo ID so bring your passport, EU country ID card, Finnish residence permit or Finnish driver’s license. For Tampere check here. For Helsinki, check here.
4) Make an Appointment to Apply for a Finnish Identity Card (Henkilökortti)
Once you have your passport photo share code, book an appointment for the Finnish identity card (sometimes referred to as Police ID) online. A Finnish identity card is a photo ID that is accepted across Finland and is required for enabling strong identification. The card is usually valid for 5 years.
Useful: once you have this, you won’t need to carry your passport as proof of age or identity when buying alcohol, for instance.
Important: the identity card is only valid for as long as your residence permit is valid. You must apply for a new identity card when your residence permit expires, so be strategic about when you apply. If you want to apply for a Finnish identity card, but your residence permit is expiring soon, get your new residence card first and then get the ID card so you won’t end up paying twice in one year. (It’s about 67€ for the card)
Book an appointment with a police station here. You can make an appointment at any police station, but make sure it’s accessible by public transportation if you don’t drive (you may need to collect the card from the same police station, so make sure it’s not too difficult to get to).
Bring your photo share code, DVV certificate, passport, and residence permit to your appointment. You will pay for the card at the appointment. It’s 67€ in person and 63€ online (you can apply online with strong identification when you need a new card).
Extra Important – The card will not be mailed to your home, but to a pick-up point of your choosing. Only someone with a Finnish-issued ID can collect the police card from the pick-up point.
If you do not have a Finnish-issued ID (residence permit does not count) and you don’t know someone who does so that you can grant them power of attorney, then you must collect from the police station. Speak to a member of staff in order to arrange the collection. In either case, you will be mailed/e-mailed a notification with a tracking number that you must also bring with you and show when picking up the card. Read more about it here.
My Finnish husband had to collect the card for me at a pick-up location and it took about a week for the card to arrive.
If you’re reading this and thinking what the hell?…Yeah, you’re not alone. The process is really convoluted for something that’s considered essential.
5) Open a Bank Account
Once you have the identity card, make an appointment with a bank of your choosing to open an account.
You can open a bank account whenever you want. However, if you don’t have the Finnish identity card when you go to the appointment, your bank will not enable strong identification. You will have to book another appointment to get it enabled.
I chose Nordea and was able to book an appointment over the phone in English. The process was simple enough, but the wait times were a little long. This all occurred in April 2024 in Tampere, so wait times may be quicker where you are or with a different bank.
The appointment to open a bank account took two weeks from when I called. It took a week after the appointment to receive the security code in the mail and then another week to receive the debit card. When I made an appointment to enable strong identification it was another 2 week wait.
This is why I recommend you wait until you have the Finnish identity card first before opening a bank account. It’s much quicker and more efficient to make one appointment and get everything done at the same time.
Now that you have strong identification…finally.
6) Check If You’re Eligible For Kela Benefits
Kela is the Social Insurance Institution that manages basic social security. Check to see if you’re eligible here.
You can also apply for a Kela card which can be used for reimbursement for health services, such as private doctor visits or at the pharmacy. For more information and how to apply check here.
If approved, the card will be mailed to you. It’s a thin, laminated card that can easily be misplaced (trust me, I’ve done it) so keep it in a safe place!
7) Apply for a Tax Card/ Number
If you are working in Finland for 6 months or longer, your income is considered taxable. Apply for a tax card/ number from Vero. Read here for information specific to those coming from abroad.
Please read through carefully. Taxation is dependent on your length of stay, occupation, employer and other factors.
And that is the end of my basic check-list for new arrivals to Finland. Whew, you made it!
How Long Does It Take To Do All The Essential Things After Moving to Finland?
Completing the check-list should take about 4 – 6 weeks if you follow my timeline – even less if you can get a quick appointment with the police or bank.
The first few months in Finland as a newcomer are a lot of work. There’s lots of appointments to book, forms to fill, and places to go. All while getting used to a new culture, climate and language. But if you can get this checklist done in the first few weeks, you will thank yourself later.
Follow my checklist and get everything done so you can get back to enjoying the life you’ve worked so hard for.
If you have any questions, leave a comment below or drop us a message on our “Contact Us” page.
Or if you want to read more about expat life in Finland, head to our Life in Finland page which is filled with guides and checklists like this one.
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