After arrival

A Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus) is a unique identifier assigned to individuals registered in Finland's Population Information System. It is used for identification purposes in various official records and systems, ensuring that information is accurately linked to the correct person. 

The personal identity code is a number sequence with 11 characters, formed on the basis of your date of birth and your gender. For example, a code might look like this: 131052-308T.

When you are granted a residence permit and receive your residence card, your personal information will typically be automatically registered in the Finnish Population Information System, and you will be issued a personal identity code. 

If, for any reason, the Finnish personal identity code has not been granted in connection with your residence permit application, please follow the steps below:

1. Fill Out the Online Form: You can start by filling out the online form available on the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) website. This form does not require strong identification to complete.
2. Book an Appointment: After submitting the online form, you need to book an appointment for a personal visit to the DVV office. This is necessary for verifying your identity and submitting any required documents.
3. Visit the DVV Office: Please ensure you have all the necessary documents with you. The list of required documents is available on the DVV website. 

Relocating to a new country involves several important steps to ensure a smooth transition. You are required to make a notification of move within one week of relocating.

Municipality of residence

If you have already been granted a Finnish Personal Identity Code during your registration with Migri you can proceed according to the following steps: 

1. Apply for a municipality of residence online.
2. After submitting the form, you must visit the local Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) office. Detailed instructions will be provided in the confirmation email you receive after submitting the form. 

It is recommended to complete this process as soon as possible after your arrival, as it is essential for accessing public healthcare in the municipality and opening a bank account. If you are relocating with a spouse or family, you will need to make appointments for each person and fill in the documents separately. For detailed instructions, please visit DVV website.

EU Citizens Staying Over 3 Months

As a citizen of the EU, you need to register your stay in Finland if your stay exceeds three months. We recommend doing the registration as soon as possible upon your arrival. 

1. You can fill in for your application on EnterFinland
2. Visit the Finnish Immigration Service to verify your identity.
3. You can book an appointment at the local Migri Service Point online: https://migri.vihta.com/public/migri/#/home
4. You should be able to also get a Finnish personal identity code when doing the registration. If not, you can obtain the personal identity code from the DVV. 

When you come to work in Finland for more than six months, you are considered a resident and are subject to full tax liability. You are liable to pay Finnish taxes on your worldwide income, including income from both Finland and other countries. Your tax rate is based on your annual income and increases progressively; the higher your earnings, the higher your tax rate. You can estimate your tax rate using the Finnish tax administration Vero tax calculator.

To ensure we can process your salary, you'll need to obtain a Finnish tax card: 

• Contact the Finnish Tax Administration (Vero) by phone at +358 29 497 050.
• This number may not be accessible with a prepaid SIM card. If you do not have a work phone or a regular SIM card, you may need to ask a colleague to lend you their work phone.
• When calling, inform the tax authorities of an estimate on your annual income.
• For further information on tax matters, please visit the Vero webpage. Please note that the tax office service point in Vaasa is no longer available for personal visits.

In addition to taxes, your pay will be subject to deductions for pension insurance and unemployment insurance.

In Finland, strong e-identification is a secure way to verify your identity online, allowing you to access various electronic services, especially those provided by public administration. Before you can obtain e-identification, you need to have a Finnish ID card issued by the police. 

Foreigner's Identity Card

• Eligibility: The police can issue identity cards to foreign citizens who reside in Finland permanently, whose details are in the Population Information System (registered at DVV), and who have a valid residence permit or residence card.
• Applying: You can apply for the Finnish identity card through the Finnish Police website.

Obtaining e-identification

Once you have received your Finnish ID card, you can request online banking codes that include strong e-identification from your bank. The bank will verify your identity and provide you with the necessary credentials.

In addition, if you have a mobile subscription with one of the Finnish operators: DNA, Elisa, or Telia, you can activate a mobile certificate, known as 'mobiilivarmenne' in Finnish. This is a secure digital identity verification method that allows you to authenticate your identity and sign documents electronically using your mobile phone.  

In Finland, online banking is the most common way to manage finances, with bill payments being the primary use. Many banks no longer handle cash at all. We strongly recommend opening a Finnish bank account, especially if your employment with the University of Vaasa is for more than a few months.

Opening a bank account

To open a bank account, you need to schedule an in-person appointment with the bank of your choice. The required documentation varies between banks, so it is essential to contact the bank to obtain a list of the necessary documents. 

Typically, the required documents include: 

• A valid passport or ID card
• An extract from the population information system (available from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, DVV)
• Employment contract or statement from your employer
• Finnish personal identity code
• Residency permit (for non-EU/EEA citizens)

By law, when you open a bank account, the bank is required to ask you to specify the intended use of the account. Additionally, the bank has the right to check your credit history.

When opening a Finnish bank account, you will get access to various services, including current and savings accounts, debit and/or credit cards, as well as online and mobile banking. Cheques are no longer used in Finland, so bills are typically paid through online banking services or at self-service payment points. 

Banks in Vaasa

• Aktia
• Danske Bank  
• Kvevlax sparbank / Koivulahden säästöpankki
• Nordea
• OP Vaasa
• POP Pankki
• S-Pankki
• Ålandsbanken 

Since opening a Finnish bank account can sometimes take time, we can temporarily pay your salary to a foreign bank account, provided the account number is in IBAN format. If you don't have such an account, you might consider using an online bank as a temporary solution. Some options for online banks include Wise, Revolut, or N26.

However, we strongly recommend opening a Finnish bank account as soon as possible, obtaining a Finnish ID card from the police, and activating strong online e-verification codes. This will enable you to handle almost any official matters in Finland electronically.

The Social Security in Finland is either based on permanent residence or employment. If you are living in Finland permanently, you are covered by the National Health Insurance scheme (NHI) of the Social Insurance Institution (Kela). If you work in Finland, you may also be covered by the NHI, even if you are not a permanent resident. Each application is assessed and handled individually, and the amounts of benefits vary from case to case. For detailed instructions on social security when moving to Finland, please see Kela website. 

Applying for National Health Insurance scheme

To apply, please fill in the following forms:

• moving to Finland or employment in Finland form (Y77e)
• application for Kela card (SV157e) 

If you need assistance, you can call the Kela customer service at +358 20 634 0200. For more detailed information on Kela's benefits, please see: Benefits available from Kela | Our Services | Kela

Permanent stay in Finland

If you move to Finland on a permanent basis, you can usually receive Kela benefits starting from the date of your move to Finland.

When you apply for a benefit, Kela determines if you are considered a permanent resident of Finland or if you are eligible for Kela benefits based on your employment. Factors that influence this determination include whether you are a returnee, if you work in Finland for an extended period, or if you have close family ties to someone already residing in Finland. Kela may also consider your residence permanent if you have previously lived in Finland for at least one year.

Temporary stay in Finland

If your stay in Finland is temporary, you will normally not be entitled to benefits from Kela. You are usually not considered to have moved to Finland on a permanent basis, if you stay in Finland for a short period of time for instance as a student, a jobseeker, an au pair or a trainee. Asylum seekers are also not granted Kela benefits while the application for asylum is being processed.

If you are entitled to social security coverage in another EU country, you cannot at the same time be entitled to social security coverage in Finland and you can usually not receive benefits.

Kela card and European health insurance card

Applying for benefits

Applications for social security benefits are submitted to a Kela either by post, in the OmaKela e-service or directly to the Kela office. Kela will make a decision based on your current situation. 

Kela provides a wide range of benefits to support various life situations. Here are some of the main benefits available:

Families with Children:

• Child Benefit: Financial support for each child under 17 years of age
• Parental Allowances: Includes pregnancy, parental, and paternity allowances
• Child Home Care Allowance: Support for parents who care for their children at home
• Private Day Care Allowance: Financial assistance for private daycare services

Health and Sickness:

• Sickness Allowance: Compensation for loss of income due to illness
• Reimbursements for Medical Expenses: Partial reimbursement for private healthcare services and prescribed medications

Housing:

• General Housing Allowance: Financial assistance for housing costs for low-income households

Each application is assessed and handled individually, and the amounts of benefits change from case to case.