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.
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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
Most read
- 1Buying Alcohol in Finland: How the Alko System Works
- 2Tech Jobs in Finland for Foreigners: How to Get Hired (2026)
- 3Best SIM Card in Finland 2026: Prepaid, eSIM & Contracts
- 4Moving to Finland — Complete Expat Guide 2026
- 5Job Hunting in Finland as a Foreigner
- 6Finnish Personal Identity Code (Henkilötunnus) Guide
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.
Each guide lists the sources it was written from, and shows when it was last updated and last verified.
Send money home without the bank markup
Sending money abroad from a Finnish account? Wise says it uses the mid-market exchange rate and shows its fee upfront, so you can compare the cost before you send.
- ✓ 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.