Living in Finland
Information about moving to, living or retiring in Finland – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.
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:
- how to apply for a residence permit
- the different types of residence permit
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:
- renew your residence permit
- extend your residence permit
- replace a lost or stolen visa or residence permit
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:
- read guidance on Finnish citizenship
- contact the Finnish Immigration Service
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:
- the Finnish Immigration Service
- the Embassy of Finland in London
- an English-speaking lawyer in Finland
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.
Dual citizens travelling to the UK
When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.
Resident children travelling without a parent or legal guardian
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:
- read the Finnish government’s guidance on parental consent for a child travelling abroad unaccompanied
- contact the Finnish Border Guard
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:
- read guidance on healthcare in Finland and health in Finland
- find English-speaking medical facilities and doctors for British nationals in Finland
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:
- apply for, renew or replace a Finnish driving licence
- pay Finnish vehicle tax
- register a vehicle in Finland
For more information read guidance on:
- driving in the EU
- road travel in Finland, in safety and security in the travel advice for Finland
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:
- studying in Finland
- studying in the EU
- travel grants for students studying abroad or on placements (England)
You can also contact:
- your higher education provider in the UK or Finland
- the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI)
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:
- the Finnish education system
- how to find a place for your child in childcare, in school, or as a student in Finland
Childcare
The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for childcare services in Finland.
For more information, read guidance on:
- early childhood education and care in Finland
- fees for early childhood education and care in Finland
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:
- what to do when a British person dies in Finland
- English-speaking funeral directors in Finland
- when a close family member dies in Finland
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:
- bringing dogs, cats and ferrets into Finland (non-commercial movement)
- taking your pet dog, cat or ferret to an EU country
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.