Starting your research position in Helsinki 

1. For EU and non-EU citizens
   
   Congratulations! You have secured employment in one of the best Universities in the world and in the Happiest country. ViPA wishes you a fulfilling experience!! 
2.  Foreigners starting a position in Finland don’t have access to many services at first.  EU citizens and non-EU need to follow some legislative steps to access minimum services (Bank, mobile certificate, insurance…). During the COVID time, certain steps can take some time, so it is even more important to plan.  

*Non-Europeans will have to ask for a VISA prior to entering the European Union (there might be exceptions check here). 

For non-EU researchers: 

• Employment contract: To come to Finland, you will first require a valid employment contract from HR. 
• You will then need to apply for a residence permit. The Permit will depend on your work. The Finnish immigration service (MIGRI) webpage has a step-by-step guide to help you find out which residence permit is applicable for you. https://migri.fi/en/i-want-to-apply. For most first-time applicants, it will be the Residence permit application for scientific research. The link gives you details on your application process. 

 

Tip 1: register online for the Finnish Migration office (migri) and prepare you Digital and Population Data Service Agency (DVV) appointment. 

• First plan the migri appointment: It is necessary to prove your identity before starting any other procedures. Europeans must register their presence at the migri using their passport and National identity card. Non-Europeans will need a valid VISA (if you come for less than 3months) or resident permit (for more than 3 months contract). All need to have proof of their work contract with the University of Helsinki. If you do not have the contract yet, the original agreement you signed can be enough. If you already have an address in Finland this can help speed up the next steps in the process. 

• Second, and after a couple of weeks to give proceeding time, you can have a DVV appointment. You can book this online and download document to prepare ahead (all forms are also directly available at the DVV). Make sure this is planned as it can take months to have an appointment which pause all other registration and procedure.  

Note: After online registration and visiting the MIGRI office for identification, EU citizens receive the right of residence. The right of residence is mandatory to register the permanent address (residency) at DVV. You don’t have the same rights with the temporary and permanent addresses. Without the permanent address, for example, you will pay the taxes as a non-resident, you can’t ask for a KELA card, and I am not sure you can easily open a bank account.   

The DVV office groups many useful services in the same building. You can ask for: 

• a Finnish identity number: this is the key step that allows you to open a bank account, have an insurance etc… This is only possible once you have registered to the migri. It can take 1 or 2 weeks. Anyone coming to Finland even on a temporary address can have a Finnish Identity Number. 

• your residency: You also need to register for your residency (temporary or permanent if you stay more than a couple of months). If you have not declared your address to the migri you cannot have a permanent residency yet. It can take from 2 to 6 weeks. 

• your KELA card / European health insurance card: The KELA card is used to access to the medical services. It has your Finnish identity number on it, so you need to have access to it before asking for the card as well as having register as a permanent resident. At the same time, you can ask for a European insurance card for European travel purposes. It can take 2 to 6 weeks. 

Tip 2: Overall, you may need at least 2 appointments to the DVV to go through all these applications. Make sure to have your Finnish number to continue with the rest of your applications. However, you can access several services once at the DVV especially if you already have your Finnish identification number. 

Next you can ask for: 

• your tax card: thanks to your work contract  you can ask for a tax card here and if needed assistance you can contact the University HR. You do not necessarily need to have a Finnish identity number to ask it. Note that a tax card is valid for a year so you will need to ask for a new one at the beginning of each year. The application is done online. Make sure you check your email on the vero website if you have not received by mail your tax card.
  
• Foreigner citizen ID card: For non-EU citizens you need to declare yourself to the police which issue you a ID card. This is a necessary step for non-EU and it also accelerate some of the steps mentioned in the document once you have it. This requires a permanent residency in Finland (residence permit or residence card), being registered in Population Information System (DVV). A foreigner’s identity card is issued for a period of five years or until the expiry of the applicant’s residence permit or residence card, whichever is sooner. Foreigner’s identity cards cannot be used as travel documents. To ask for such card, you need document that verify your identity. 

• a bank account and credit card: it is important to have BOTH your Finnish identity number as well as your residency status approved by both the Migri and the DVV to open an account at branches like OP, Dankse or Nordea. Supermarket branches like S-pankki are simpler but with less functionalities. 

• an insurance: you may be required to have an insurance for your apartment of stay. It is for example the case when renting the University residency. Again, to have an insurance you need a Finnish identification number. Note that for simplicity banks offer this service. 

• a phone subscription: if you have your Finnish identity number you can have a phone subscription (Elisa, DNA..). If you don’t have it, you can start with prepaid card available in supermarkets. 

• HSL card: Helsinki has a great network of public transports (bus, train, metro, tram, ferry) that relies on HSL company tickets. Once you are a registered resident you have access to cheaper monthly and seasonal tickets. 

There is more information from the city council on what you need to do after you arrive in Finland. https://welcome.helsinki/important-information-on-moving-to-helsinki/#/checklist?items=NonEU-K2-B,NonEU-K3-A,NonEU-K7-A.  

Tip 3: For all these steps, a Finnish address is either necessary or simplifies your application. So as soon as you know your address in Finland register it (at the DVV, alternatively at Posti).