Nordic citizens

Nordic citizens can enter and work in Finland without residence permits or visas.

If you, as a Nordic citizen, plan to stay in Finland for more than six months, you need to register your right of residence in the Digital and Population Data Services Agency within one month of your arrival.

For this, you need to schedule an in-person appointment for registration. Since the visit needs to take place within one month of your arrival in Finland, it is advisable to schedule it in advance. Presenting a valid proof of identity, such as a passport, is the minimum requirement for your visit.

Depending on the situation and the duration of the intended stay in Finland, it might also be possible to obtain a municipality of residence in Finland. This would then grant you access to municipal services, such as public health care and day care.

You may also need a municipality of residence if you need to apply for a Finnish identity card later.

EU citizens, Lichtenstein and Switzerland

Citizens of EU countries, Lichtenstein or Switzerland can enter and work in Finland without residence permits or visas.

If you, as a citizen of an EU country, Lichtenstein or Switzerland plan to stay in Finland for more than three months, you need to register your right of residence with Migri in Finland. This can be done by applying for EU registration upon your arrival in Finland.

The service points of Migri can be quite busy, so it may be beneficial to book an appointment before submitting the application.

Non-Nordic/Non-EU citizens

Non-Nordic/Non-EU citizens generally need a residence permit to work in Finland. There are some exceptions if you work in Finland for a maximum of 90 days. More details can be found under “Visa”.

Residence permit

Obtaining a residence permit in Finland can take several months, so apply for one early on in your stay. Embassies and Migri can assist with finding the right application and the required attachments.

Migri’s website also provides very good information to help you find what is required for your residence permit application:

• Use Migri’s application finder to identify the appropriate residence permit for your situation.
• Information about different residence permits, how to apply, and the required attachments can be found here: Residence permits.
• You can check the expected processing time for your residence permit here: Expected processing time.

There are three residence permits that are especially common when coming to Finland to work for a university, so keep your own situation in mind and check whether any of these three options would suit you:

• Residence permit for a researcher (Researchers and doctoral researchers)
• Residence permit for a specialist
• Residence permit for an employed person

If you apply for a Finnish residence permit from abroad, schedule an appointment with a Finnish embassy. Contact details can be found here: Contact details of Finnish embassies.

If you submit your application in Finland, schedule an appointment with any of Migri’s offices. Migri’s contact details can be found here: Migri contact details.

Note: First-time applicants must wait for the decision in the country where they applied.

Visa

When you arrive in Finland to work, you typically need a residence permit. However, there are some exemptions from residence permit requirements if the work lasts for a maximum of 90 days. You can find more information about those exemptions here: Working without a residence permit.

If any of the exemptions apply to you, you only need a visa to come to Finland and work for 90 days.

If you only need a visa to work for Åbo Akademi University in Finland, please check this web page to learn how and whether you need to apply for a visa from the embassy in your country.

If you are employed in Finland, you need to submit a Finnish tax card so that your employer can process your salary. In Finland, you are classified as either a non-resident taxpayer or a resident taxpayer.

If you are a grant researcher conducting research at the University with a personal research grant or a scholarship, you do not need a tax card. However, please refer to the section “Taxation of grants” below for more information.

Non-resident taxpayer (staying in Finland for a maximum of six months)

If you plan to stay in Finland for a maximum of six months, you are considered a non-resident taxpayer and can apply for a tax-at-source card or, in certain situations, a progressive tax card for non-residents.

• Tax-at-source card: 35% tax. No need to file a Finnish tax return.
• Progressive tax card: The tax rate is calculated based on your income and you need to file a Finnish tax return.

It is advisable to apply for a tax-at-source card/progressive tax card from the tax administration early on, so that you have a tax card when you start working in Finland. Check this page for more information and instructions on applying for a tax card: Staying six months or less.

In your tax card application, you can designate the delivery address as Åbo Akademi University (Åbo Akademi University, personnel services, Domkyrkotorget 3, 20500 Turku). This way, we will receive your tax card and you will not need to send us the tax card information yourself.

Resident taxpayer (Staying in Finland for more than six months)

If you plan to stay in Finland for more than six months, you are considered a resident taxpayer and need to apply for a tax card and a personal identity code. To obtain your first tax card for resident taxpayers and a personal identity code, you must schedule a visit to the office of the Finnish Tax Administration.

The tax card is necessary for salary payments, so keep that in mind when scheduling your visit to the Tax Administration office. For more information and instructions on obtaining a tax card and a personal identity code, please refer to this page: Staying longer than six months.

If you already have a Finnish personal identity code, you only need to apply for a tax card for resident taxpayers from the Tax Administration.

Taxation of grants

A grant or scholarship received for academic research or artistic activity may qualify as tax-exempt income. If a private party (for example, Åbo Akademi University) provides the grant, it is exempt from taxation as long as the total grant income you receive throughout the year does not exceed the amount of the state’s artist grant (26,269.46€ in 2024). You can find information on the maximum tax-exempt thresholds and learn more about the taxation of grants here.

At the Digital and population data services agency your information will be recorded in the Finnish Population Information System if certain conditions are met. Additionally, you may be assigned a municipality of residence in Finland under certain conditions.

Registration of a foreigner’s personal data

If you plan to stay in Finland for at least a year, you must register with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. For shorter stays, you can opt for short-term residency registration.

Nordic citizens have slightly different rules. If a Nordic citizen relocates to Finland for more than six months, they must notify the authorities within one month of their move (see Entry conditions and permits and Nordic citizens).

If you are an EU citizen, please note that EU registration needs to be done prior to the registration in the Population Information System (see Entry conditions and permits and EU citizens, Lichtenstein and Switzerland).

When you have all the necessary documents for the registration process, consider scheduling an appointment with the Digital and Population Services Agency in advance. Also, keep in mind that registration is typically a prerequisite for opening a bank account in Finland.

Municipality of residence

You can be assigned a municipality of residence in Finland under certain conditions. With a municipality of residence, you will have access to various of services that the different municipalities in Finland offer, for example, public health care and child day-care. The municipality of residence is registered by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

To avoid any unpleasant surprises, even if you might at some point be entitled to Finnish social insurance and health care, it is recommended that you take a health insurance from your home country before leaving, covering you during your stay in Finland and also during your travel to and from Finland.

Before travelling to Finland, you should also check your insurance so that you have the insurance coverage you intend to need in Finland when settling in. If you are employed at Åbo Akademi University, you will be insured for occupational accidents and diseases.

Occupational health care at Åbo Akademi University

Employees at Åbo Akademi University are entitled to occupational health care, which is a service provided and paid for by the employer for the purpose of supporting employees’ work ability. Occupational health care promotes a healthy workplace environment and safe working conditions. Åbo Akademi University offers its employees regular medical services at the general practitioner level.

All employees who have been appointed for at least 14 hours a week on average are entitled to the occupational health services.

Working on a grant does not form an employment relationship, which means that the benefits based on employment legislation and collective agreements do not apply to the grant recipient. A grant recipient therefore does not enjoy the occupational health services provided by the university.

Public health care in Finland

The Finnish healthcare system is based on public health care services, which are funded by tax revenue and client fees charged for services. Health services are also provided by private companies, independent professional practitioners and organisations. The public health care services in Finland are good. Even if not completely free of charge, they are provided at a very reasonable price.

The kind of public health care you are entitled to always depends on your current situation:

• You are entitled to use the public health services if you have a Municipality of Residence in Finland.
• Even if you do not have a municipality of residence, Kela may in some cases grant you a certificate of right to medical care in Finland, e.g., if you come to work in Finland for a relatively short period of time. Again, this right depends on your current overall situation.

Urgent treatment must always be provided regardless of the patient’s place of residence or nationality. However, without a municipality of residence or a Kela certificate, the provided treatment, e.g., in hospitals can be quite costly. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you take out a private health insurance policy from your home country before moving to Finland. This is essential especially upon arrival and while settling in.

Social security in Finland

The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela, provides social security coverage for people residing in Finland through the different stages of their lives.

Social security benefits offered by Kela include family benefits, health insurance, rehabilitation, basic unemployment security, basic social assistance, housing benefits, financial aid for students, disability benefits and basic pensions.

The right to social security in Finland can be based either on residence or employment.

• You are covered by the National Health Insurance program if your stay in Finland is considered to be permanent.
• You may also be covered either fully or partially if you are employed in Finland. As an employee, you will qualify for Kela benefits from the first day of your employment if you earn at least 800,02 € per month (as of 2024).

Researchers who receive a grant but are not considered self-employed persons may also be entitled to Finnish social security benefits:

• Researchers receiving a Finnish grant and eligible for the Mela insurance may be covered by the National Health Insurance scheme based on the Mela insurance policy.
• Researchers receiving a foreign grant or other income may become entitled to Finnish social security benefits if their income amounts to at least 800,02 € per month (in 2024). If the income level does not reach this minimum level, the entitlement to benefits is determined on the basis of whether the person’s residence in Finland is considered permanent.

Kela does not issue separate decisions on social security coverage in Finland for persons moving to Finland. Instead, Kela will check the eligibility for benefits in connection to your first claim for Kela benefits, including the application for your personal health Insurance card, the Kela card.

Your Kela card is the proof of your social security coverage in Finland. Here you can find information on how to apply for the Kela card.

If granted, you will receive your Kela card by post.

More information for grant researchers

Working as a grant researcher does not form an employment relationship, and therefore the benefits based on employment legislation and collective agreements do not apply to the grant researcher. This means, for instance, that you are not insured by the university in any manner and do not receive the benefit of occupational health services.

Accident insurance
Åbo Akademi University covers accident insurance for scholarship holders and visiting researchers who have a Contract Concerning Non-Employed Persons’ Right to Use Rooms and Other Facilities at Åbo Akademi. It is a basic insurance policy which is valid when performing non-remunerated work.

Mela insurance: statutory pension and occupational accident insurance
If you pursue research work financed through a Finnish grant for at least four months, and the grant amounts to a certain annual threshold, you must sign up for statutory earnings-related pension and occupational accident insurance with the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution Mela. You can apply for this insurance when you have received information about having been awarded a grant and are about to begin your grant-funded work. Please check the details from Mela.

Åbo Akademi University has campuses in Turku and in Vaasa, so start looking for housing as soon as you know where you will be working and the date of your arrival.

Basic information about renting an apartment in Finland

There is a large variety of housing options in Turku and in Vaasa.

The housing market in University cities is, however, very seasonal and — especially during August and September when all new degree students begin their studies — finding housing may be a little bit tricky.

Check out options for housing as early as you can. If you do not find another solution, you can book short-term accommodation at a hostel for the first week(s). This will allow you to look for an apartment while in town, and make the necessary arrangements for renting a flat for a longer period.

Apartments for rent can be found via the city, real estate agents or private landlords.

The rent varies depending on the location, size and type of the flat. For a furnished flat, the rent is higher. Normally, rent includes heating but not electricity or water.

Apartments are usually rented unfurnished, which means that you will need to buy/bring furniture, cookware and textiles yourself. Kitchen cupboards, a refrigerator and a stove are, however, always incorporated in the kitchen and included in the rent.

Tenancy agreements are typically signed for a minimum of 12 months. Furnished apartments can usually be rented for shorter periods of time.

It is common practice to ask for a rental deposit of 1-2 months’ rent when setting up a rental agreement. You will be returned the deposit when the agreement ends, provided that the apartment is in good shape.

It is recommended to get private home insurance. For some landlords, this might even be a requirement for renting the apartment.

Housing in Turku

Furnished apartments

• Airbnb
• Forenom

Short-term housing

• Airbnb
• Forenom
• Guesthouse Tapuli
• Tuure
• Omena hotelli
• Omena hotelli – Extended stay

Long-term housing

• Vuokraovi
• Åbo Akademi University Foundation
• TVT appartments
• Turku Student Village Foundation (for doctoral researchers and researchers)
• Lumo

Housing in Vaasa

Furnished apartments

• Vaasa apartments
• Airbnb
• Forenom

Short-term housing

• Vaasa apartments
• Airbnb
• Forenom
• Omena hotelli
• Omena hotelli – Extended stay
• Visit Vaasa

Long-term housing

• Vuokraovi
• Vaasa apartments
• Voas (for doctoral researchers)
• Visit Vaasa

If you are going to be employed by Åbo Akademi University, but are also simultaneously working for another employer in the EU/EEA member states or Switzerland, you should contact the authorities in your country of residence and apply for an A1 certificate.

A1 certificate

The A1 certificate will indicate which country’s social insurance legislation will apply to you, and to which country your social security contributions should be paid.

This certificate is needed by Åbo Akademi University well before you begin your employment, for the payment of your salary and statutory pension, unemployment benefits and social security contributions.

If you bring your family members to Finland, there are of course more things to consider. Here you will find some help along the way.

Residence permit (Non-Nordic/EU-citizens)

Accompanying family members should apply for a residence permit at the same time, even if they will arrive in Finland later. If the spouse/partner and family members submit their applications later, the processing times are substantially longer. Here you can read more about residence permits on the basis of family ties.

Registration of a foreigner’s personal data

If you intend to stay in Finland for one year or more with your family, you will need to register all your family members with the Finnish authorities. For the registration of a foreigner’s personal data, you will need to present a certain number of official documents. These include at least your marriage certificate if you are married, and birth certificates for your children under 18 years old, and these certificates possibly need to be legalized and also translated. Start preparing them as soon as possible.

Child care in Turku

Child care alternatives in Finland include municipal and private child care. Part-time and full-time day care is provided by day care centers or family day care providers.

In accordance with Finnish law, every child up to six years of age is entitled to municipal day care if the child’s parent has a registered municipality of residence in Finland. Municipal day care fees are determined on the basis of the parents’ income and the size of the family.

As for private day care providers, they are monitored by the municipality.

Municipal services are offered in Finnish and Swedish. In the Rehtorinpellonkatu unit (part of the Tuomaansilta day care center), in the middle of the campus area, day care services are also available in English.

Private day care is available in several languages:

Daycare Daisy (EN)

Wendy house (EN)

L´Hexagone (FI/FR)

Miska-talo (FI/RU)

Schools in Turku

After day care is also referred to as early childhood education. The Finnish education system comprises one year of preschool education and nine years of basic education free of charge. Every student is allocated a place in a nearby school, but they can also choose another school with some restrictions. Schools in Finland do not select their students.

After compulsory basic education, it is possible to opt for general or vocational upper secondary education. Both forms usually take three years and provide eligibility for higher education.

In Turku, public basic education is provided in Finnish in more than 30 schools, in Swedish in 4 schools and in English at Turku International School.

Child care in Vaasa

Child care alternatives in Finland include municipal and private child care. Part-time and full-time day care is provided by day care centers or family day care providers.

In accordance with Finnish law, all children up to six years of age are entitled to municipal day care, if the child’s parent has a registered municipality of residence in Finland. Municipal day care fees are determined on the basis of the parents’ income and the size of the family.

As for private day care providers, they are monitored by the municipality.

Municipal services are offered in Finnish and Swedish.

Vaasa English Playschool is a private day care center.

Schools in Vaasa

After day care is also referred to as early childhood education. The Finnish education system comprises one year of preschool education and nine years of basic education free of charge. Every student is allocated a place in a nearby school, but they can also choose another school with some restrictions. Schools in Finland do not select their students.

After compulsory basic education, it is possible to opt for general or vocational upper secondary education. Both forms usually take three years and provide eligibility for higher education.

In Vaasa, public basic education is given in Finnish in 13 schools and in Swedish in 5 municipal schools and Vasa Övningsskola. Vasa Övningsskola (VÖS) is part of the Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies of Åbo Akademi University. VÖS provides preschool, primary and lower and upper secondary education, and it is one of the 17 schools in Finland with an International Baccalaureate upper secondary school programme.

Suvilahti primary school and the English department in Vasa Övningsskola offer classes also in English (CLIL – Content and Language Integrated Learning).