Living in Finland
as an expat
Practical English guides for moving to Finland — henkilötunnus, Kela health insurance, tax card, bank accounts, and life in Helsinki and beyond.
- 114
- Guides
- 9
- Topics
- €692
- Health cap
- 2026
- Verified
Do these in order — skip none
Your first week checklist
- 1Register at DVV (Digital and Population Data Services Agency)
- 2Get your henkilötunnus (Finnish personal identity code)
- 3Open a bank account or use Wise temporarily
- 4Get your Finnish online banking ID (pankkitunnukset)
- 5Register for Kela health insurance
- 6Get your tax card (verokortti) from Vero
- 7Set up suomi.fi e-Identification
- 8Get a SIM card — DNA or Elisa prepaid
First steps
Arriving
Henkilötunnus, DVV registration, suomi.fi, Kela, tax card — do these first, in order.
Money & tax
Banking & Money
Open a bank account, set up Wise, understand Finnish tax, transfer money abroad.
A place to live
Housing
Find an apartment, understand rental contracts, navigate Helsinki districts and costs.
Staying well
Healthcare
The Finnish healthcare system, health centres, Kela reimbursements, emergencies.
Work & career
Work & Career
Work permits, freelancing, employment contracts, salary expectations.
Everyday life
Daily Life
SIM cards, cycling, driving, transport, cultural norms.
Schools & study
Education
International schools, universities, childcare for expat families.
For your community
Country-Specific Guides
Tailored guides for Indian, American, UK, and other expats.
Explore & escape
Travel & Trips
Weekend trips from Helsinki, day trips, where to stay, and city breaks nearby.
All Finland guides are verified against official sources — DVV, Migri, Kela, Vero, and THL — and updated for 2026.
Send money home without the bank markup
Most Finnish banks add a 3–5% hidden margin on the exchange rate when you send money abroad. Wise uses the real mid-market rate with a small, transparent fee shown upfront — so more of your money actually arrives.
- ✓ Hold EUR, GBP and 40+ currencies in one account
- ✓ Get a euro IBAN the day you sign up — before your Finnish bank is open
- ✓ Wise debit card works in Finland and across the EU
Referral link — we may earn a reward if you sign up. It doesn't affect your fees.
Cover the gap before your Kela cover starts
Public healthcare in Finland runs through Kela, and your entitlement begins only once your residence and Kela registration are processed — not on arrival.SafetyWing covers that gap with affordable travel-medical insurance you can start before you arrive and cancel once you're in the system.
- ✓ Covers the gap before your Kela-linked healthcare is active
- ✓ Monthly subscription — cancel anytime once you're covered
- ✓ Designed for remote workers and new arrivals abroad
Affiliate link — we earn a small commission if you sign up. It doesn't affect your price.