Finnish Terms Glossary

Finnish IBANs start with "FI" followed by 16 digits (e.g. FI12 3456 7890 1234 56). Required for salary payments and Kela transfers.

Open a Finnish bank account as soon as possible. Most banks require a henkilötunnus and residence permit.

The most popular mobile payment app in Finland (and the Nordics). Linked to your Finnish phone number and bank account.

Download and set up after opening a Finnish bank account and getting a Finnish SIM. Used widely at markets, small shops, and for splitting bills.

Finnish online banking credentials (from your bank) double as a national digital identity. Used to log into Kela, Suomi.fi, tax, and most government portals.

Essential. Set up online banking immediately after opening your account — you'll need it to access almost every Finnish service online.

Finland has several types of mandatory and voluntary insurance. Mandatory: accident insurance through your employer (tapaturmavakuutus), YEL for entrepreneurs. Strongly recommended: home, health, and travel insurance.

Review your insurance needs as soon as you arrive. Many immigrants are unaware they are uninsured for private healthcare or personal liability.

A Finnish bank account is essential for receiving salary, Kela payments, and accessing online government services. Major banks: Nordea, OP, S-Pankki, Aktia, Holvi.

Open as soon as you have a henkilötunnus and a residence permit (or EU right of residence). Some banks (like Holvi or S-Pankki) are more immigrant-friendly for new arrivals.

Your credit history in Finland maintained by Suomen Asiakastieto. A clean record is needed for rental agreements, loans, and phone plans.

Build credit by paying all bills on time. A payment default (maksuhäiriömerkintä) stays on your record for 3 years and can block you from renting a flat.

Kela benefit that covers part of your rent if your income and assets are below certain limits. Available to both working and non-working residents.

Apply on kela.fi as soon as you sign a lease. Many immigrants qualify but don't apply — check your eligibility.

Last-resort financial support from Kela to cover basic living costs — food, housing, health. Means-tested.

If your income and savings are below the minimum threshold. Apply online at kela.fi.

Financial support while you are unemployed and job-seeking. Two types: earnings-related (from unemployment fund) or basic (from Kela).

Register as a job seeker at TE Office on the first day of unemployment. Apply for the benefit from your unemployment fund or Kela within 3 months.

Monthly payment from Kela for every child under 17 living in Finland. Amount increases with each additional child.

Apply when your child is born or when you move to Finland with children. Paid automatically until the child turns 17.

Paid leave benefit from Kela for the birthing parent, starting 40 days before the due date.

Apply at least 2 months before your due date at kela.fi.

Kela benefit that replaces part of your income when you are too ill to work for more than 10 weekdays. Based on your previous earnings.

Your employer pays your salary for the first 10 sick days (check your TES). After that, apply to Kela within 2 months.

Kela benefit paid to parents during parental leave after a child is born or adopted. Finland has a generous shared parental leave model — both parents get equal allowance days.

Each parent gets 160 allowance days. Apply through Kela before your leave starts. Days can be taken flexibly until the child turns 2.

Finland's pension system accrues from all work done in Finland, including periods on a residence permit. You keep what you earn even if you later leave Finland.

Pension accrues automatically from every euro you earn. Check your accrued pension at työeläke.fi with your online banking login.

Kela support for full-time students including a study grant, housing supplement, and student loan guarantee.

Apply once you have been accepted to a qualifying degree programme and have lived in Finland for at least 2 years (for immigrants).

An 11-character code (e.g. 010190-123A) that uniquely identifies you in Finnish systems. Like a social security number — used for everything.

Assigned by DVV when you register. Required for banking, healthcare, tax, Kela, and almost every official interaction.

Official permission to live in Finland for non-EU/EEA nationals. Types include work-based, family-based, student, and entrepreneur permits.

Apply through Migri before or after arriving. Non-EU citizens must have this permit — living in Finland without it is illegal.

Tells your employer your personal tax rate. Without it, employers are legally required to withhold 60 % of your salary.

Get it from Vero.fi (OmaVero) as soon as you have a henkilötunnus and a job offer. It's free and instant online.

Proves you are covered by Finnish health insurance. Also serves as your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for travel in the EU.

Apply through My Kanta or kela.fi once you are registered. Show it at pharmacies for reimbursements on prescription medicines.

The official form you submit to DVV every time you move to a new address in Finland. Keeps the population register accurate.

Submit within one week of moving — by law. Do it free online at suomi.fi. Failing to do so can cause problems with mail, taxes, and benefits.

Finland accepts EU/EEA driving licences indefinitely. Non-EU licences can be exchanged for a Finnish one without a new driving test within 2 years of getting a henkilötunnus.

Exchange your foreign licence at Ajovarma or a driving school before the 2-year window closes. After that, you must retake the full Finnish driving test.

A stamp or certificate that authenticates official documents (birth certificates, diplomas, marriage certificates) for use in another country.

Required when submitting foreign documents to Finnish authorities. Obtained from the issuing country's government — not from Finland.

A document confirming that EU/EEA citizens and their family members have the right to reside in Finland. Registered at DVV.

EU/EEA citizens staying longer than 3 months should register. It's not mandatory but makes accessing services much easier.

Free compulsory education for all children aged 7–16 living in Finland, regardless of immigration status.

Enrol your child at your local school through the municipality. Schools provide preparatory classes (valmistavat opetus) for non-Finnish speakers.

Subsidised childcare for children aged 0–6. All children in Finland have the legal right to a daycare place. Fees are income-based — low earners pay nothing.

Apply through your municipality's online system. Apply at least 4 months before you need the place. The city must provide a place within that timeframe.

A 3-year academic programme after peruskoulu leading to the Ylioppilastutkinto (matriculation exam), which qualifies students for university.

Optional after peruskoulu — the alternative is ammattikoulu (vocational training). Immigrant students can also apply to lukio with Finnish language support.

University-level courses open to everyone without entrance exams. Credits can often be transferred into a degree programme later.

A great option if you want to explore a field, improve your Finnish, or build credentials for a university application.

Practical, professional degree programmes (Bachelor's and Master's level). Many offer English-taught programmes for international students.

Apply through studyinfo.fi. Tuition is free for EU/EEA students; non-EU students pay tuition fees but can apply for scholarships.

Research-focused universities offering Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees. Several top-ranked globally (Aalto, Helsinki, Tampere).

Apply through studyinfo.fi or directly. Many Master's programmes taught in English welcome international applicants.

Registers your address and issues your Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus). Your first stop when you arrive in Finland.

Register here within a week of arriving. You need this before you can open a bank account, access Kela benefits, or get a tax card.

Handles residence permits, work permits, asylum applications, and citizenship. The central authority for all immigration decisions.

Apply for your residence permit here before or after arriving (depending on your nationality and reason for moving).

Manages social security: health insurance, unemployment support, housing allowance, family benefits, student grants, and more.

Once registered at DVV and working or studying in Finland, check which Kela benefits you qualify for — many are under-claimed by immigrants.

Sets employment and immigration policy. Oversees the TE Office network and integration services for immigrants.

Mostly background policy — you interact with TE Office directly, not TEM.

Public employment services. Helps with job searching, unemployment benefits, integration plans, and free Finnish language courses.

Register as a job seeker if you are unemployed or looking for work. Required to access unemployment allowance.

Manages income tax, VAT, and tax cards. You can handle most things through MyTax (OmaVero) online.

Get your tax card (verokortti) before starting work — your employer needs it or they'll withhold 60 % tax by default.

Issues Finnish passports and ID cards. Also handles some residence permit applications (e.g. biometric enrolment) and driving licence conversions.

Visit a police station to convert your foreign driving licence to a Finnish one, or to enrol biometric data for certain permit types.

Regional authority overseeing education, health, environmental, and social services. Issues licences for private businesses in regulated sectors.

Relevant if you're starting a business, need to report occupational safety issues, or have a complaint about social/health services.

Regional agency managing business development grants, transport infrastructure, and environmental permits. Also funds integration training.

Relevant if you are starting a business and applying for development funding, or if you are a service provider delivering integration training.

The authority that evaluates and recognises foreign educational qualifications so they are accepted in Finland.

If your degree or professional qualification was obtained abroad and you need it recognised for work or further study in Finland.

Urgent care service available outside normal health centre hours — evenings, weekends, and public holidays. Not the same as A&E (which is for life-threatening emergencies only).

Use it for urgent but non-life-threatening issues when your health centre is closed. For life-threatening emergencies, call 112.

An electronic prescription issued by a Finnish doctor. Stored in the national Kanta system — you can pick up medicine at any pharmacy with your ID.

Your doctor sends it directly to Kanta. Show your Kela card (or ID) at the pharmacy. Kela reimburses part of the cost for approved medicines.

A free online service where you describe your symptoms and get a recommendation on whether to seek care and how urgently.

Use it before calling your health centre — it often saves time and gives you a referral code that speeds up your appointment booking.

Public primary healthcare clinic run by the municipality. Your first point of contact for non-emergency medical needs.

Register at your local health centre after arriving. Book appointments online via the city's own system or Omaolo.

Finland's national health record system. View your prescriptions, lab results, medical records, and vaccination history online.

Log in at kanta.fi with Finnish online banking credentials or a mobile ID. Use it to request prescription renewals.

Free public clinics for pregnant women and families with children under school age. Provides regular check-ups, vaccinations, and parenting support.

Register at your local neuvola as soon as you are pregnant or have a child under 6. The appointments are free.

The written contract between you and your landlord. Should specify rent amount, deposit, notice period, and what utilities are included.

Always sign a written contract before moving in. Read it carefully — Finnish tenancy law (Huoneenvuokralaki) protects tenants well but the contract is binding.

A refundable deposit held by the landlord as security against unpaid rent or damage. By law, the maximum is 3 months' rent.

Paid before moving in. Keep your receipt. The landlord must return it within a reasonable time after you move out if there is no damage.

The most common form of apartment ownership in Finland. You own shares that entitle you to live in a specific flat. The company owns the building.

When buying a flat in Finland, you typically buy shares in an As Oy. Monthly maintenance charges (vastike) also apply on top of any mortgage.

The government body that subsidises affordable rental housing (ARA apartments). These have income and asset limits but are significantly cheaper than market rent.

Apply for ARA housing through your city's housing queue (e.g. Heka in Helsinki). Waiting lists can be long — apply early.

The monthly fee owners of an As Oy flat pay for building maintenance, water, heating, and shared facilities. Paid in addition to any mortgage.

Check the vastike amount carefully when buying a flat — it can vary from €2 to €8+ per square metre per month.

Insurance covering your belongings and liability at home. Not legally required but strongly recommended and often requested by landlords.

Get it before you move in. Costs around €10–25/month depending on flat size. Compare at vakuutusvertailu.fi.

The official process of settling into Finnish society — learning Finnish, finding work, understanding your rights and responsibilities.

Integration services are offered to newly arrived immigrants. Includes free language courses and guidance from TE Office or municipality.

A personal plan agreed with the TE Office or your municipality listing language training, employment goals, and support services.

Created within 3 years of your first residence permit. Entitles you to free Finnish/Swedish language courses.

A professional language interpreter. Finnish authorities are legally required to provide an interpreter (free of charge) for official meetings if you do not speak Finnish or Swedish.

Request an interpreter when booking appointments at Migri, Kela, TE Office, hospitals, or courts. Always ask — do not try to manage without one for important decisions.

The official process of having a foreign degree or professional qualification evaluated and recognised as equivalent to a Finnish qualification.

Required for regulated professions (doctor, nurse, teacher, lawyer). Apply through OPH for academic recognition, or the relevant professional body (e.g. Valvira for healthcare).

The Finnish municipality (city or town) where you are officially registered. Determines which local services you can access.

Registered automatically when you report your address to DVV. You can change it if you move to a different city.

The main digital portal for all Finnish public services. Access DVV, Kela, tax, and hundreds of government services with a single login.

Use it for address changes, checking benefits, signing documents digitally, and giving power of attorney.

Full Finnish citizenship, which gives you the right to a Finnish passport, vote in all elections, and live in Finland permanently without any permit.

You can apply after living in Finland for 5 years (continuously) with a valid permit, passing a language test (B1 level), and having a clean criminal record. Apply through Migri.

Finland allows dual citizenship — you can become a Finnish citizen without giving up your original nationality.

Automatically permitted when applying for Finnish citizenship. Check whether your home country also allows it (some do not).

The process of bringing your spouse, partner, or children to Finland to live with you. Requires the person already in Finland to meet income requirements.

Apply through Migri as soon as your own residence permit is secured. Processing can take 6–12 months, so apply early.

Protection granted to people who cannot return to their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution. Handled by Migri.

Apply at the border or at a police station immediately upon arriving in Finland if you need international protection.

Free or subsidised legal advice and representation provided by the state for people who cannot afford a private lawyer.

If you need legal help with a permit refusal, employment dispute, tenancy issue, or family law matter and your income is limited.

A long-term residence permit (P permit) that does not expire and does not need to be renewed. Gives you nearly the same rights as a citizen.

Apply after living in Finland continuously for 4 years on a fixed-term permit. Must have no significant criminal record.

The written agreement between you and your employer setting out your role, salary, working hours, start date, and notice period.

Always get it in writing before starting work. Finnish law does not require a written contract but you are entitled to a written statement of key terms within one month.

A trial period at the start of employment during which either party can end the contract immediately without a notice period. Maximum 6 months by law.

Check your contract. During koeaika you can quit or be dismissed on the spot — but dismissal must not be based on discriminatory grounds.

A government subsidy paid to employers who hire long-term unemployed people or those with reduced work capacity. Can cover up to 50 % of the employee's salary.

Ask your TE Office case worker if you qualify — it makes you more attractive to employers who might otherwise hesitate to hire you.

A TE Office grant for unemployed job seekers who start a business. Covers basic living costs (around €700–800/month) for up to 12 months while you establish your company.

Apply before registering your business — you cannot apply after you have already started trading. Requires a business plan and a TE Office interview.

The simplest business structure in Finland — you operate as an individual without a separate legal entity. Registered at the Business Information System (ytj.fi).

Use it for freelancing or light self-employment. Note: you must take out YEL pension insurance and you are personally liable for all business debts.

A separate legal entity that limits your personal liability. Requires a minimum share capital of €2,500 and registration at the Business Information System.

The right choice if your business carries financial risk, if you have employees, or if you plan to take outside investment.

For non-EU/EEA citizens: permission to work in Finland, usually included in your residence permit. EU/EEA citizens do not need one.

Included in most residence permits tied to employment. Check your permit certificate to confirm whether it covers your occupation.

Industry-wide agreements between unions and employer associations setting minimum wages, working hours, holiday pay, and sick leave.

Your employer must follow the TES for your industry. If you're unsure which TES applies, ask your union or check with PAM, AKT, or your sector's union.

Mandatory pension insurance for self-employed people and entrepreneurs in Finland. Also affects your Kela benefits.

Must be taken out within 6 months of starting self-employment if your annual income exceeds ~€9,010. Apply through a pension insurance company.