Moving to Finland in 2026: Step-by-Step Official Guide
A move to Finland has a clear order. The residence permit comes first and is applied for before you travel. Registration comes second, and it produces the personal identity code that banks, employers and authorities ask for. Everything else, from a tax card to a doctor, follows from those two. This guide walks through each step from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), the state's InfoFinland service and Statistics Finland, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
Citizens of Nordic countries, EU member states, Liechtenstein and Switzerland do not need a residence permit. Others apply before they come. For work, the permit for an employed person requires a gross salary of at least EUR 1,600 per month and costs 750 € online; in July 2026 positive decisions took 17 days on average. For study you need 9,600 euros in your bank account and the fee is 600 €. After arrival you need a personal identity code, a municipality of residence and a tax card. Permanent residence takes 6 years on the standard path.
Step 1: Work out whether you need a permit
| You are a citizen of | Rule |
|---|---|
| A Nordic country, an EU member state, Liechtenstein or Switzerland | No residence permit. You can arrive with a valid identity card or passport |
| An EU country, staying over 90 days | You must register your right of residence |
| Another country | You need a residence permit, applied for from the Finnish Immigration Service before you come |
Whatever the route, you must be able to prove that your livelihood in Finland is ensured.
Step 2: Choose your route
| Route | Main condition in 2026 | Online fee, first permit |
|---|---|---|
| Employed person | Confirmed job with a total gross salary of at least EUR 1,600 per month | 750 € |
| Specialist | Expert duties, a gross salary of at least EUR 3,937 per month and, as a rule, a higher education degree | 530 € |
| Studies | A study place, EUR 800 per month and private health insurance | 600 € |
- Speed: in July 2026, first applications for an employed person that led to a positive decision took 17 days on average. Specialists can get a permit in two weeks through the fast-track service.
- Family: your spouse and children can apply for residence permits on the basis of family ties, and for a D visa alongside them.
- Where: a first residence permit is applied for abroad. An extended permit can only be applied for in Finland.
Step 3: Apply
- Fill in the application in the Enter Finland online service. The online fee is lower than the paper fee.
- Pay the processing fee.
- For work permits, have your employer add the terms of employment in Enter Finland for Employers.
- Prove your identity at a Finnish mission abroad.
- Wait for the decision and your residence permit card.
Have your attachments translated and legalised where needed. Finnish authorities accept documents in Finnish, Swedish or English. Documents in other languages must be translated into one of the three. That includes birth, marriage and divorce certificates and diplomas.
Step 4: Plan what you bring
- Household goods: you do not usually pay duties or taxes on removal goods. If you move from outside the EU, you must submit a customs declaration for them in Finland.
- Deadline: removal goods must be brought to Finland within 12 months of the move.
- A car: a car imported from outside the EU needs customs clearance as soon as it arrives, and before you drive it you need valid motor insurance and a declaration of vehicle use to the Tax Administration.
- Your old country: notify its authorities of the move, because leaving can affect social security, pensions and taxes.
Step 5: Register as a resident
Registration in the Population Information System gives you a Finnish personal identity code, a sequence of 11 characters formed from your date of birth and gender. You need it when dealing with authorities, banks and employers.
| What | How |
|---|---|
| Personal identity code | Usually issued by the Finnish Immigration Service with the residence permit decision. Otherwise from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency in person, or from a tax office that issues codes if you need one for tax purposes |
| Address | If your code came from the Immigration Service or the Tax Administration, you must usually also register a temporary or permanent address with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency |
| Municipality of residence | Stored when a permanent address is registered. A temporary address is usually valid for one year at a time |
The municipality of residence is the key that opens services. With one, you are usually entitled to the services of your area, including public health services, schools and early childhood education, and you can get a Finnish identity card.
Step 6: Tax card, bank and Kela
- Tax card: if you are employed or an entrepreneur, you need one. New arrivals get it from a tax office. Once you live in Finland permanently, the Tax Administration sends a new card each year in January.
- Bank account: you need one for daily finances, and Finnish online banking credentials for electronic identification with the authorities.
- Social security: apply to Kela for a Kela card. You may have a right to benefits if you live permanently in Finland and meet the other criteria.
- Health: public health services are much cheaper than private ones. A doctor's appointment at a health and social services centre usually costs about €30.
Step 7: Find a home and budget
Most people moving to Finland live in rental homes when they arrive, and InfoFinland advises starting the search in good time. Statistics Finland's figures for non-subsidised rental dwellings in April to June 2026:
| Area | Average rent, EUR/m² |
|---|---|
| Helsinki | 21.34 |
| Greater Helsinki | 20.11 |
| Tampere | 16.94 |
| Turku | 15.63 |
| Oulu | 14.20 |
| Whole country excluding Greater Helsinki | 13.88 |
On top of the rent, take out home insurance, which many landlords require. Full-time wage and salary earners earned EUR 4,300 per month on average in the same quarter.
Step 8: Settle and stay
- Language: Finnish and Swedish are the official languages. Municipal advisory services can point you to integration services and courses.
- Extend in time: apply for an extended permit before the first one expires.
- Permanent residence: since 8 January 2026 the standard path requires 6 years of residence on a continuous residence permit, at least 2 years of work history in Finland and Finnish or Swedish at level B1. Shorter paths of 4 years exist, including one for an annual income of at least EUR 40,000.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move to Finland without a job?
Nordic and EU citizens can move without a permit. Other citizens need a residence permit for a purpose such as work, study or family, and the work permits require confirmed employment.
How much salary do I need to move to Finland for work?
At least EUR 1,600 gross per month for the residence permit for an employed person in 2026, and EUR 3,937 for the specialist permit.
How long does a Finnish residence permit take?
In July 2026, first applications for an employed person that led to a positive decision took 17 days on average. Specialists can use a two-week fast track.
What is a Finnish personal identity code?
An 11-character code given when you are registered in the Population Information System. You need it for authorities, banks and employers.
Do I have to pay customs on my belongings?
Usually not. Removal goods are normally free of duties and taxes, but if you move from outside the EU you must submit a customs declaration, and the goods must arrive within 12 months of the move.
How much is rent in Finland?
Non-subsidised dwellings averaged 21.34 EUR/m² in Helsinki and 13.88 EUR/m² outside Greater Helsinki in the second quarter of 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Finland?
Six years on the standard path, with 2 years of work history and level B1 Finnish or Swedish, or 4 years on the shorter paths.
Official sources
- InfoFinland — Moving to Finland checklist
- InfoFinland — Registering as a resident
- Finnish Immigration Service — Residence permit for an employed person
- Finnish Immigration Service — Specialist
- Finnish Immigration Service — Residence permit application for studies
- Finnish Immigration Service — Permanent residence permit
- Statistics Finland — Average rents per square metre, quarterly
- Statistics Finland — Index of wage and salary earnings, 2nd quarter 2026
- InfoFinland — Cost of living in Finland
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Salary limits and fees are reviewed yearly, so confirm them with the Finnish Immigration Service before you apply. Information, not legal advice.