Guidance

Living in Finland

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Finland – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
15 November 2013
Last updated
19 November 2025 — See all updates

Getting help with living in Finland

Help from the Finnish government

For any questions about moving to or living in Finland, you may be able to get help from the Finnish Immigration Service. You can also read the City of Helsinki’s guidance on living in Finland.

The UK government and the British Embassy in Helsinki cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Finland.

Professional help in Finland

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Finland, including:

  • lawyers
  • translators
  • notaries
  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Finland to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Finland. This includes the latest information on:

  • visas and entry requirements
  • laws and cultural differences
  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Finland before you travel.

Visas and residence permits

Check which visa or residence permit you need to live in Finland.

You can get a residence permit to:

  • work
  • study
  • live with family in Finland
  • do scientific research

You can use the Finnish Immigration Service’s application finder to check which residence permit you need.

For more information, read the Finnish Immigration Service’s guidance on:

Registering as a resident

Once you have your residence permit, you need to register as a foreign resident in Finland.  

If you have any problems or questions about registering as a resident, contact:

Extending or replacing your visa or residence permit

Contact the Finnish Immigration Service for information on how to:

Permanent residency

You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Finland.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read the Finnish Immigration Service’s guidance on:

Citizenship

Finland recognises dual citizenship with the UK. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Finnish citizen.

To find out if you’re eligible for Finnish citizenship:

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications

The British Embassy in Helsinki cannot help with Finnish visa, residency or citizenship applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

Residency if you moved to Finland before 1 January 2021

If you moved to Finland before 1 January 2021, and have been legally living there since then, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Residence permits if you moved to Finland before 1 January 2021

If you moved to Finland before 1 January 2021, make sure you have a Brexit permit. This shows that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES), you’ll need a Brexit permit when entering or leaving Finland. If you have one, you will not have to register with the EES when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Without it, you may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and denied entry to Finland or other Schengen countries.

If you do not have a residence permit

If you were living in Finland before 1 January 2021, but do not have a residence permit, you can still apply for a Brexit permit. You’ll need to submit evidence to prove that you met the residency criteria at the time.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a biometric Brexit residence permit card.

If your application is unsuccessful, you may be able to appeal. Consider getting legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Finland.

For more information on how to apply or appeal, read the Finnish Immigration Service’s:

Renewing your residence permit if you moved to Finland before 1 January 2021

You’ll need to renew your Brexit residence permit every 5 years.  

Read the Finnish Immigration Service’s guidance on renewing a residence permit card.

Bringing family members to Finland if you moved there before 1 January 2021

The Finnish Immigration Service’s guidance on applying for residence under the Withdrawal Agreement as a family member explains:

  • which family members can join you in Finland
  • how and when they should apply for their residence document
  • fees and processing times

Passports and travel

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad
  • travel urgently without your British passport

If you have a Finnish residence permit or long stay visa, the time you spend in Finland does not count towards the 90-day visa-free period you can spend in the Schengen area.

Always carry your passport and residence permit when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. If you’re asked to show your passport at border control, make sure you also show your residence permit or other evidence of residence status. Your passport may be stamped if you do not.

If you have dual citizenship with an EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country, you should enter and leave Finland using your EU or EFTA passport.

Read the entry requirements for Finland for information on letters of consent for children travelling to and from Finland without a parent or legal guardian.

For more information:

European Entry/Exit System (EES)

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) there are new rules for entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Non-EU nationals will need to have their photo and fingerprints taken or verified at the border. This data will be stored in a digital record and used to monitor how long visitors have spent in the Schengen area.

British nationals legally resident in Finland, and who have a valid residence permit card, do not need to register with the EES. This applies across the Schengen area, not just in Finland.

If you do not have a residence permit card, read the Finnish Immigration Service’s guidance on the residence permit card for information on how to get one.

EU nationals do not need to register with the EES. If you hold an EU passport, use this when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area.

For more information about the EES, read:

Healthcare in Finland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare
  • take medicine abroad

To find out how to get medical treatment:

Working in Finland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Finland, you may need a residence permit. Our guidance on travelling to Finland for work explains the different residence permits available to you. 

You do not need a work permit or visa if you have been living in Finland legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

The Finnish Immigration Service’s application finder explains the different residence permits available to you. You can also read guidance on coming to Finland for work.

If you live in Finland and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country before 1 January 2021, read guidance for frontier workers.

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Finland, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised.

Driving in Finland

Read our guidance on moving, living and retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • drive abroad legally
  • take your UK vehicle abroad
  • get driving licence letters

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency provide information on driving in Finland, including how to:

For more information read guidance on:

Driving in Finland using a foreign driving licence

You can drive in Finland for up to 2 years using a driving licence issued in:

  • the UK
  • Gibraltar
  • Jersey
  • Guernsey
  • the Isle of Man

You cannot replace or renew any of these licences if you live in Finland.

Exchanging your UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man driving licence

To continue driving after 2 years, you must exchange your driving licence.

You should apply for the exchange before the 2 years is over. Applications may take time to process, and you’ll need your Finnish licence to drive legally. 

Disabled drivers

You may be able to apply for an EU parking card for people with disabilities or a Finnish parking card for people with reduced mobility.

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Finland, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.   

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Finland so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact the Finnish Tax Administration for any questions about double taxation relief.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Finland. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Finland.

National Insurance

Check if you need to pay National Insurance if you’re going to work in the EU, Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • how to claim your UK State Pension
  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Your UK state pension is calculated differently if you’ve previously lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and now live in the EU.

Claiming a Finnish pension

Contact the Finnish Centre for Pensions to find out whether you can claim a Finnish pension.

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.    

You can also read guidance on benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

Claiming Finnish benefits

You may be entitled to some Finnish benefits.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim, read guidance on coming to Finland from Kela, the Finnish Social Security Institution.

Buying and renting property in Finland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.   

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Finland if you’re considering buying property or land.

Voting in Finland

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • vote in UK elections from abroad
  • register as an overseas voter

Finnish elections

You may be eligible to vote in some Finnish elections. For more information, read guidance on the electoral rights of foreign nationals in Finland.

You cannot vote in European elections unless you hold citizenship of an EU country.

Studying in Finland

If you plan to study in Finland, you must meet all student visa requirements.

You do not need a student visa if you have been living in Finland legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

For more information, read guidance on:

You can also contact:

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

  • getting permission to take your child abroad
  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

The European Commission provides information about the school system in Finland.

All children aged 6 to 18 must attend school or home school in Finland.

For more information, read the Finnish government’s guidance on:

Childcare

The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for childcare services in Finland.

For more information, read guidance on:

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Finland, register the birth with the Finnish authorities.

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Finland, read guidance on:

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or form a civil partnership abroad. 

The Finnish government provides information on:

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership. 

The Finnish government offers guidance on:

Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Finland.

Lawyers, translators and notaries

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Finland, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Finland, read guidance on:

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

If the NHS funds your healthcare in Finland through the S1 form, contact the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team to cancel it.   

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Finnish authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 15 November 2013
Last updated 19 November 2025 show all updates

  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

  2. Update on introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which was previously scheduled for autumn 2024. The exact date that the EES will be introduced has not been confirmed.

  3. Information on the EU's new digital border called the Entry/Exit System has been added under "Passports and travel".

  4. Important information in the Working in Finland, and National insurance sections if you work in Finland, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.

  5. Guide reviewed and updated with new information

  6. Visa and residency section updated following the 30 September 2021 residency application deadline for people living in Finland since before 1 January 2021. Includes information about ongoing and late residency applications, and appeals.

  7. Professional qualifications section updated for British citizens who are moving or moved to Finland after 1 January 2021 and those living there since before 1 January 2021.

  8. Working in Finland section updated: new guidance for frontier workers

  9. Healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; working in Finland section updated with link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services and link to DIT guidance on recognition of professional qualifications; and education section updated with information on studying in Finland and funding eligibility for students.

  10. Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines

  11. Updated as the transition period ends with new information on residency, driving, pet travel and moving to Finland

  12. Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.

  13. Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers.

  14. Visa and residency section updated on how to apply for the new residency permit.

  15. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021

  16. Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

  17. Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

  18. Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

  19. EU Exit update: updated information regarding EU visa-free travel.

  20. EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit regarding passports, pensions and returning to the UK.

  21. EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in the visas and residency, healthcare and driving sections

  22. EU Exit update: Updated information on healthcare.

  23. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.

  24. EU Exit update: Updated information on passports. you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip.

  25. EU Exit update: New link to the Finnish government's website added to the EU Exit section.

  26. EU Exit update: New links to the Finnish Immigration Service website and to a list of our outreach events added to the EU Exit section. New link to Kela's Centre for International Affairs added to the Benefits section.

  27. EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare.

  28. EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving

  29. EU exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.

  30. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.

  31. Updated information for the recipients of UK old age state pension in the "Living in Finland" guide.

  32. Updated Living in Finland guide

  33. First published.

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