International staff guide

1. Make sure to check all practicalities before arrival, such as insurance, needed documents in Finland, (temporary) housing and schooling for your kids, if applicable
2. Right after your arrival, register your right of residence (see immigration formalities)
3. Please take care of the local obligations: 1) DVV 2) Tax, 3) Banking and 4) Kela (see obligations after arrival)
4. Inform HR about your personal identity code, bank account number for salary payments as well as tax card as soon as you have arranged them

Additionally, remember to familiarize yourself with the practical information about living in Finland throughout the process.

1. Apply for a residence permit (see immigration formalities)
2. Make sure to check all practicalities before arrival, such as insurance, needed documents in Finland, (temporary) housing and schooling for your kids, if applicable
3. After your arrival, please take care of the local obligations: 1) DVV 2) Tax, 3) Banking and 4) Kela (see obligations after arrival)
4. Inform HR about your personal identity code, bank account number for salary payments as well as tax card as soon as you have arranged them

Additionally, remember to familiarize yourself with practical information about living in Finland throughout the process.

As a Nordic citizen, you are allowed to arrive and work without a residence permit. However, if your stay in Finland exceeds six months you need to register as a resident at the closest Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) within one month of moving to Finland. Please note that you must visit the agency in person with a pre-booked appointment.

For registration, you will need an official identity card indicating your citizenship or a valid passport. We also recommend taking your employment contract with you.

More information can be found on the DVV website about the registration of foreigner and moving to Finland from abroad. We recommend filling in the registration form for foreigner beforehand.

If you have family members accompanying you in Finland, please see the section “Legalization and translations of documents”.

Citizens of the EU, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are allowed to arrive and work without residence permits or visas in Finland. However, if you are an EU (excluding Nordic countries), Liechtensteiner or Swiss citizen and your stay in Finland exceeds 90 days, you must apply for EU registration at the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri).

We recommend starting the registration process as soon as possible after your arrival as it is a precondition for many other authorities in Finland. However, please note that your employment must have started before your visit at Migri service point as your employment is establishing you the grounds for residing in Finland.

Process description:

1. Gather all required documents. Check the document requirements from Migri website.
2. Translate documents if necessary (mainly considering family members)
3. Apply for the registration through the online application system Enterfinland.fi
4. Book the appointment to Migri service point through Migri appointment system
5. Visit the Migri service point in person with (original) documents
6. You will receive the registration document during your visit, or it will be sent to you afterward once the decision has been made.

Note in case you have family members:

• One application does not cover the whole family even though the family information is asked in the application form. Therefore, each individual must submit their own application
• For document requirements for family members, please see instructions “Document legalizations and translations”.

The registration document issued by Migri is needed once you visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) (please see instructions "after arrival").

Please find more information on the web pages of Migri.

All non-EU citizens planning to work or stay in Finland for more than 90 days must apply for a residence permit from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) before their arrival. We recommend you to start the residence permit application process at least 3 months prior to your planned arrival in Finland.

In case you plan to visit Finland for less than 90 days, you may be allowed to work without a residence permit if certain conditions are met. However, you would still need a visa, unless you are a visa-free national. See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel document requirements for more information.

Note: In Finland, the residence permit works as a “single permit”. Therefore, you do not need a separate visa or work permit if you have been granted a residence permit (for work).

Residence permit type

Teacher and researcher staff are typically required to apply for a residence permit for a researcher. Other permit types are possible, mainly for specialists and support staff. Please contact your contact person if you are unsure of which permit type to choose.

Process description:

1. Gather all required documents. Check the document requirements for researchers from Migri website. If you are applying for any other permit type, please check the requirements for the correct permit type on the Migri website.
2. Translate and legalize the documents, if applicable. Please see the instructions under “Document legalizations and translations”
3. Fill in and submit your residence permit application through the online service Enterfinland.fi
4. If you meet the requirements, you can apply for a D visa at the same time as you apply for a residence permit. The D visa allows you to travel to Finland immediately after you have been issued a residence permit and a D visa sticker has been attached to your passport. On average, the D visa allows you to travel to Finland for 1–2 weeks earlier than usual. Read more about the D visa
5. If you are abroad, visit the closest Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). You can search for the Finnish Missions on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you are already in Finland, book an appointment at a service point of Migri.
6. Processing the application takes some time – you can check the estimated processing time on Migri processing time checker. You will be notified once a decision has been made, and the residence permit card will be delivered to you.

Please find more information on the web pages of Migri.

Information about residence permit extensions can be found on our Intranet Patio.

For the residence permit application, you will need a hosting agreement from the university. The hosting agreement is provided to you automatically after the hiring process is completed. In case you have not received the hosting agreement, please contact your hiring manager.

Please note that the employment contract is usually signed after your arrival in Finland, therefore the hosting agreement is working as the certificate of employment until you have arrived in Finland.

Please note that this section contains information about immigration formalities for family members. We have gathered more general information related to life in Finland with family members (daycare, schools… etc.) later on this page. We recommend familiarizing yourself also with the family section already before your arrival.

EU citizen family members

The immigration process for family members who are EU citizens is the same as for the employee. Please read the immigration instructions for EU citizens above.

Note: If your family member is an EU citizen, but you have non-EU citizenship (or visa-versa), you have a right to apply for a residence card for a family member of EU citizen. It is a significantly simpler and faster process than a residence permit.

Non-EU citizen family members

We want to also support your family’s relocation to a new country the best we can. In Finland, the immigration process for family members can be started simultaneously with the main applicant (the sponsor). In most cases for non-EU citizens, it is also the recommended way unless the family is planning to move to Finland significantly later.

Kindly keep in mind that in Finland, the concept of family is narrower than in many other countries. You can read more about moving to Finland from an immigration point of view as a family member on Migri website.

The process itself for the family members is the same as for the employee. Find more information and the document requirements for the residence permit process for family members:

• Spouse
• Child/children

Please remember to check the section for translations and legalizations below. All documents proving family ties must be legalized.

Right to work as a family member

If your family member is an EU/EEA citizen, they have the right to work in Finland.

If your family member is from outside the EU and has been granted a residence permit based on family ties, they have the right to work in Finland without any restrictions. You can find more details from Migri website.

Translations

If you have documents written in any other language than Finnish, Swedish or English, you must have them translated by an authorized translator. However, if you have a document issued by an authority in an EU Member State, it does not need to be translated if you are able to attach a multilingual standard form issued by the authority to the document.



Read more on the Migri website.

Legalizations

If you are moving with your family, all documents proving family ties (e.g. marriage- and birth certificates) issued outside of EU must be legalized. The legalization of the document confirms that the authority of the issuing country has the power to issue the certificate in question. The legalized and translated documents are needed for authorities, such as Migri and DVV.

If the country in question has signed the Hague Convention of 1961, the document can be legalized using an Apostille certificate. More information on the Hague Convention and member states.

If the document was issued in a country that is not a party to the Apostille Convention, the regular legalization process applies. The process varies between the countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland has more information about legalizing of documents abroad. You can also check the country specific instructions in the Finland Abroad website.

Legalization is not required, if the document is issued by authorities in one of the Nordic countries or in an EU Member State.

Note: Educational certificates does not need to be legalized, but they must be translated if applicable.

We strongly recommend getting private health insurance before traveling to Finland.

The insurance should cover you and your family until you qualify for public healthcare and social security services. It should at least include coverage for accidents and serious illnesses. This ensures financial security at the start of your stay, as it may take a few months to gain access to public healthcare services and Kela benefits

Even if you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), additional insurance is advisable, as EHIC does not replace travel insurance.

You can find more details about social security and healthcare in Finland later on this page.

When moving to Finland, bring medical and immunization records for yourself and your family. If you have a condition requiring ongoing treatment, also bring your prescriptions.

When you move to Finland, it is important not just to take care of the obligations related to Finland, but also to notify the authorities of your home country about your move. Moving away from your home country can affect social security, pensions, and taxes.

In case you have not found a (permanent) accommodation before your arrival, we have listed here a few different options where you can look for furnished temporary housing where to stay right after arrival until you have arranged a more permanent accommodation for yourself. Please check the “Housing and home insurance” section later on this page to browse options for more housing options in Oulu.

Forenom apartment rental company offers special prices for university staff, students and visitors. Please contact juha-matti.berg@forenom.com to hear more about their selection.

Airbnb

Kotimaailma

If you want to bring a pet with you to Finland, you should check all the rules that you have to follow when importing/moving an animal. There are different rules and requirements for animals brought from EU and non-EU countries. The Finnish Food Safety Authority (Ruokavirasto) provides more information about the rules applicable in Finland.

Importing a car

Cars (or other motor vehicles) imported to Finland are subject to car tax. Before an imported vehicle is registered or taken into use in Finland, car tax must be paid.

Useful links for importing of motor vehicle

Moving to Finland

Vehicle tax

Car taxation (including import tax)

Driving license

All driving licenses issued by the states recognized by Finland are valid for driving in the mainland in Finland. However, the foreign driving license might not be valid for driving in Finland, if the holder was permanently living in Finland when the license was issued. There are differences depending on which state has issued your driving license.

Validity of a foreign driving license in Finland

Exchanging a foreign driving license to a Finnish license

The first step after arriving in Finland is to register as a resident and obtain a personal identity code at the local Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). If you were issued a personal identity code when receiving your residence permit, you still need to register your address and residence at DVV.

This step is crucial, as a personal identity code and registered address are required for many other official processes. Please follow the instructions below based on your citizenship.

If you plan to stay in Finland permanently (e.g., your employment lasts at least two years), DVV will assign you a municipality of residence. This grants you access to public services. Your residence permit type (A, B, or P) may also affect your eligibility for a municipality of residence.

Nordic citizens

If you are a Nordic citizen, visit DVV to register your residence according to the immigration guidelines for Nordic citizens provided earlier on this page.

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens

Note: Before applying for a municipality of residence at DVV, EU citizens must first register their right of residence with Migri.

Read more about how to complete the Foreigner registration at DVV.

Also, remember to check the registration of family ties section below.

Non-EU citizens

A personal visit to DVV is required unless your stay is short-term and you have already received a personal identity code from another authority (Migri or the Tax Office).

Read more about how to complete the Foreigner registration at DVV.

Also, remember to check the registration of family ties section below.

Family ties

If your family members are moving with you to Finland, their details will be registered in the Population Information System. Please bring original documents proving family ties (translated and legalized, if necessary) when visiting DVV.

Additionally, if applicable, fill out the forms for:

• Notifying the birth of a child outside Finland
• Notifying a marriage outside Finland

These forms can be found under Life changes while living abroad on the DVV website. Bring them with you when completing foreigner registration.

General information about taxation in Finland

You must pay taxes in Finland if you earn income from a Finnish employer. To pay taxes in Finland, you need a tax card. Your tax percentage is calculated based on your income and is stated on your tax card. Your employer will use this percentage to deduct taxes from your salary. In addition to income tax, social security and pension contributions (7.94%–9.44% in 2024) will also be deducted.

Please keep in mind that the salary stated in your employment contract is the gross salary. Your net salary (the amount deposited in your bank account) will be your gross salary minus taxes and the 7,94%-9,44% social security and pension contributions (in 2024).

Note! If you do not provide your tax card to your employer, they are legally required to withhold 60% of your salary.

Getting the tax card

After arriving in Finland, you must visit the Tax Office to obtain a tax card. We recommend doing this after receiving your personal identity code from Migri or DVV. However, if the process of getting a personal identity code takes too long and your payday is approaching, you may visit the Tax Office before receiving it.

At the tax office, you need to have your personal identification documents (passport and the Finnish Personal ID number, if available) and a copy of your contract of employment with you.

More on taxation in Finland

More on tax card

After receiving your tax card

Send it to hr(at)oulu.fi at least two weeks before payday (the last day of the month) to ensure your salary is processed correctly.

Once you have started your employment and have access to our intranet Patio, we recommend familiarizing yourself with our Taxation when coming to Finland page. It contains a lot of useful information about Finnish taxation and pre-completed tax returns.

General information about banking in Finland

You will need a bank account in order to handle your day-to-day finances. Therefore, you must open a bank account to receive a salary and make your life in Finland as smooth as possible. When you open a bank account, you will get a bank card, which will enable you to draw cash from cash machines (pankkiautomaatti) and make payments for purchases. You are free to choose your bank.

At least the following banks operate in Oulu: Aktia Bank, Danske Bank, Nordea, Osuuspankki (OP), POP-pankki and S-pankki.

Obtaining the bank account

You can obtain your bank account once you have registered yourself with DVV. We recommend checking directly with the bank which documents they require.

Note: In case you only have a foreign passport as an ID document, the processing times for opening a bank account might be prolonged. Additionally, for non-EU citizens, it might not be possible to acquire online banking credentials without a Finnish ID card. This can be tackled by applying for a Finnish ID card issued by the Finnish Police first and visiting the bank with a Finnish ID card. However, you may contact the bank of your choice beforehand and ask about their document requirements for processing as they can vary between the banks.

If obtaining a local bank account takes time, you may also open electronic money account provided by providers such as Wise and Revolut. You can get an IBAN format electronic money account from them which can be used to pay salaries by the University at the beginning of your employment relationship.

Online banking credentials

It is recommended to acquire online banking credentials when opening a bank account as in Finland we use bank credentials for strong electronic identification at many e-services. With online banking credentials you can, for example, arrange many official matters online (Kela, Tax office etc.). However, the requirements for obtaining online banking credentials are stricter than those for opening a bank account. Thus, in some cases, you cannot get online banking credentials even if you have a bank account. Please discuss this with your bank once you visit them.

Read more about strong identification for e-servives here.

Note:

1. Please provide your bank account number to hr (at) oulu.fi as soon as you have opened a bank account. It will be needed at least 2 weeks before the payday.
2. If you have an EU bank account in IBAN format you can use that bank account for salary payments until you have opened a local bank account.

General information about social security in Finland

Kela looks after the basic social security and health of all residents in Finland. When you are working in Finland or move to Finland on a permanent basis, you may be entitled to social security coverage. Kela will make a decision on whether you are entitled to coverage.

Once you are covered by Finnish social security, you will receive Kela card, which signifies that you are eligible for social security services in Finland. You will be asked to show it, for example, when you visit local health centers and dental clinics. In addition, showing a Kela card at a pharmacy will give you significant discounts on the cost of prescription medicine, as these costs are also state-subsidised. You may also receive different benefits from Kela, but these benefits must be applied for separately, and Kela decides them on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that public health services are determined by your municipality of residence, not by Kela. Please read more about health care in Finland later on this webpage.

Applying for Kela benefits

To confirm your enrolment in the Finnish social security system, visit the Kela service point. If you have already acquired strong electronic identification credentials, you can complete the process online through Kela e-services.

If you want to apply by using paper forms, you must file 1) a notification of the move to Finland (form Y 77e) and 2) an application for a benefit or the Kela card (form SV 157 e). You can find the forms on Kela's website (enter the form ID on the ´find a form´ service ).

Read more about health care in Finland later on this page.

Read more about social security when moving to Finland from abroad

More on social security in Finland

You can be issued with a Finnish identity card if you are a foreign citizen permanently resident in Finland, your details have been entered in the Population Information System, and you have a valid residence permit or residence card, or your right of residence has been registered.

Read more on the Police website

The Student Housing Foundation of Northern Finland (PSOAS) organizes accommodation for students and employees of the University of Oulu. Many houses and apartments have income limits, but there are bigger apartments without these limits, too. PSOAS has apartments available all over Oulu, but the nearest locations to the Linnanmaa campus are Linnanmaa, Syynimaa, Kaijonharju and Alppila. Near the Kontinkangas campus (Faculty of Medicine) are Peltola, Keskusta and Höyhtyä. Please, find out more on PSOAS website.

To ensure that PSOAS can offer you an apartment upon arrival, we advise that you to get in touch with them and apply in advance, preferably a couple of months before you move. When collecting the keys for your PSOAS apartment you will need to provide documentation confirming your employment with the University (contract of employment or hosting agreement).

There are also many other options for housing in the private market. We have listed a few biggest online platforms where to start the apartment hunt:

Lumo (Rent a home online. No Finnish identity code required)

Vuokraovi (Online marketplace for rental properties in Finland)

Tori (online marketplace: apartments, furniture, cars.. etc. )

Note: In Finland, in most cases, you must make your own electricity contract when moving into an apartment/house, no matter whether it is rental or owned. The biggest electricity company in the Oulu area is Oomi.

Want to buy a house or apartment?

In case you are interested in buying a house in Finland, the InfoFinland website has gathered a lot of useful information on buying a house in Finland.

Once you have found a rental apartment, it is highly recommended – and most cases required – to take home insurance. Home insurance policies are sold by insurance companies. Some of the largest insurance providers in Finland are If, Lähitapiola, Pohjola vakuutus (OP) and Fennia.

It is important to note that there is a difference between eligibility for Kela (social insurance institution of Finland) benefits and eligibility for the public healthcare system. While the municipality of residence defines your eligibility for public health care services, you might be eligible for Finnish social security even if you didn’t have a municipality of residence in Finland.

Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) provides social security coverage for Finnish residents and many Finns living abroad. In Finland, the social security system aims to safeguard sufficient economic security in all situations through the different stages of life.

The social security benefits offered by Kela are for example family benefits, health insurance, rehabilitation, basic unemployment security, basic social assistance, housing benefits, financial aid for students, disability benefits, and basic pensions.

Overall, the Finnish social security system covers those who live in Finland on a permanent basis and those who work in Finland. In certain situations, persons who stay abroad can also be covered by the Finnish social security system. From the system, employers receive compensations for the costs for the employees’ sick leaves, family leaves, and occupational health care.

Please see “Obligations after arrival” and section “Kela” for more information on how to apply for eligibility for Kela benefits.

Read more about social security in Finland

The health care system in Finland consists of public, private, and occupational health care.

Persons who have a municipality of residence in Finland, are automatically entitled to treatment in the public healthcare system. You will be charged the same client fee as other local residents. Public health care in Finland is not free, but it is very affordable, and each individual has an annual payment ceiling for public healthcare client fees.

Usually, the first point of contact with health issues is your local health center/clinic. Your health center is assigned to you based on your address of residence. Hospital is responsible for emergency health care during nights and weekends.

Those EU/EEA/Switzerland, Great Britain, and North Ireland citizens who stay in Finland temporarily and who do not have a place of domicile here will receive the medically necessary treatment in the public healthcare system if the person has a European Health Insurance Card (or equivalent). For non-EU citizens, who are not entitled to public healthcare, we recommend obtaining private health insurance from your home country to cover your duration of stay.

Read more about health services in Oulu on the North Ostrobothnia wellbeing services county website.

In Finland, private health care is relatively commonly used due to the convenience of easy booking and minimal waiting times in comparison to public healthcare. Private healthcare costs more but a small portion of expenses are reimbursed by Kela. Some of the biggest private medical clinics in Oulu are Mehiläinen and Terveystalo. Perusterveys is an alternative for affordable general practitioner visits or you if you need a certificate for the driving license.

In Finland, every employee is entitled to occupational health care, regardless of the nature and duration of the employment relationship. Occupational health care is provided and paid for by the employer. Occupational health care promotes a healthy workplace environment and safe working conditions. The aim of occupational health care is to support an employee’s work capacity throughout their working career.

In addition to preventive health care, the University of Oulu has also arranged basic medical services for its employees.

The right to occupational health care requires an employment relationship with the University of Oulu and it also does not extend to the employee’s family.

Read more about occupational health care at the University of Oulu on our intranet Patio.

In Finland, families are supported through various forms of social benefits. The Municipality of Residence (kotikuntaoikeus) gives access to municipal services, such as health services, while most social security benefits (such as child benefit) are provided by Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland).

Eligibility for Finnish social security benefits is based on your residency in Finland. In case you intend to move to Finland permanently, you will normally be covered by the Finnish social security system and will qualify for Kela benefits as soon as you move to Finland. In case you are staying in Finland temporarily and do not have a municipality of residence nor eligibility for Kela benefits, it is strongly advised that you and your family members have a private health insurance policy that includes also maternity and child well-care, if applicable.

As social care might be very different in different countries, we have listed here some of the most common social benefits and services relevant especially for families.

Pregnancy and infant care

When you become pregnant you should contact your nearest Maternity Clinic (äitiysneuvola) as soon as possible you find out you are pregnant. Maternity Clinics focus on the health and wellbeing of the expectant mother, the baby, and the family, and help the expectant mother and father to get prepared for parenthood. Also, fathers are more than welcome to attend each appointment at the Maternity Clinic. Normally families meet with a nurse and/or doctor 11-15 times during pregnancy Services of the Maternity Clinic are free of charge for those who have a municipality of residence (kotikunta) in Finland.

Please note that attending a maternity clinic is one of the preconditions for eligibility for maternity benefit.

Maternity grant and maternity package

You might have heard about the famous Finnish maternity package – this is it! It even has its own Wikipedia page.

In Finland expecting women can choose between a maternity package and a cash benefit. The maternity package contains a range of care products and baby clothes (such as snowsuit!) while the cash benefit is a small amount of money in case you do not want to have the maternity package.

You can check the details of the maternity grant on Kela website.

You can read more about the maternity package on Kela website.

Maternity and family leave

Finland offers paid maternity and parental leave for families. Kela pays the family various types of parenthood allowances (vanhempainpäiväraha) for this period.

Kela has also created a quick guide for families to the most common benefits in chronological order.

A parent is also entitled to take a temporary paid leave of absence to care for a child under 10 years of age in case of the child’s sudden illness.

We have collected some more information on our Patio Intranet.

Child benefit

In Finland Kela pays child benefit for each child who is permanently resident in Finland. The payment continues until the end of the month when the child is 17 years old. The entitlement to the child benefit is based on residence. Payment of the child benefit ends if the child moves abroad permanently with his or her legal guardian. The child benefit is tax-free income.

Child health care

When the baby is born, local child health clinic (lastenneuvola) monitors the child's development and growth as well as vaccinates the child in accordance with the national vaccination programme from the birth until school age. Families are given individual support in the child's upbringing and nurture.

Usually, either of the parents takes care of the child at home until at least the end of the parental leave. After this, the parent can stay home supported by the home care allowance or the child can attend daycare (early childhood education). At the age of 5-6, the child starts a one-year-long preschool period, followed by the compulsory education until the age of 18. The basic education lasts until age of 16 or 17 (9th grade), but after that each young person must apply for post-comprehensive school education. Compulsory education ends when the person reaches the age of 18 or when they complete an upper secondary qualification (a general upper secondary qualification or a vocational qualification.

Education is one of the cornerstones of the Finnish welfare society. Education from pre-school to higher education is free of charge in Finland.

Read more about education system in Finland on the Ministry of education and culture website.

Daycare (early childhood education)

Early childhood education is intended for children under school age. In Finland, municipalities offer municipal early childhood education at day-care centers or family-daycare. There are also private day-care centers. The daycare fees are dependent on the parents’ salaries.

Early childhood education is education, teaching and care that have been pedagogically planned, with carefully considered goals. Early childhood education is provided by trained early education teachers and child nurses.

You can read about early childhood education in Oulu on the City of Oulu website. In Oulu, there are possibilities for daycare in English, Swedish, and German.

Pre-School

In Finland, a child must take part in a year-long preschool or other activity that fulfills the goals of preschool one year before the beginning of basic education. Taking part in preschool education is not compulsory, but parents themselves can organize the education so that preschool goals will be fulfilled.

Preschool education is provided in Early Childhood Education centers and on some school premises. The goal is to form groups that allow cooperation with the children´s future school.

Read more on the City of Oulu website

Basic education

In Finland, all children must receive comprehensive education (primary/elementary school). Teachers are highly educated, and the teaching is of high quality in all schools. The schools are mostly owned by the cities/municipalities, but there are also state- and private-owned schools. However, the private comprehensive schools are still government dependent. In Oulu, there are comprehensive schools available in English and Swedish (in addition to Finnish). Some schools have focused on, for example, music or sports.

Read more on the City of Oulu website

Oulu International School (OIS)

City-owned Oulu International School supports the educational need of the international and internationally-minded community in and around Oulu. The school provides education in English from grades 1 to 9 (age 7 to 16). The curriculum is based on the Finnish basic education curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Organization Programme. You are welcome to contact the Oulu International School for further information.

Afternoon care

As in Finland the school days for young children are short and kids are often not yet ready to stay at home alone before parents are back home from their work, children in 1st and 2nd grade have a right to attend afternoon clubs, which are hosted by the schools and youth centers. Afternoon clubs take place in the afternoon once the official school day has ended. The clubs have some supervised activities, such as playing games, being outdoors and crafting. Parents must apply for the spot in the afternoon clubs.

Read more on City of Oulu website

Upper secondary education

After basic education, students continue to the upper secondary level and choose between general (lukio) and vocational education (ammattikoulu).

General upper secondary education (lukio) provides, as its name suggests, general education. It does not qualify students for any particular occupation. Most of the studies are done in Finnish.

In Oulu, you can find The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme offered by Lyseon Lukio. The Diploma Programme rules and regulations are set by the International Baccalaureate Organization. The Diploma Programme is the only program where a student can take the matriculation examination in English. The IB programme is a special education institution and all applicants may not fill their requirements to become a student. Read more here.

Vocational qualifications include upper secondary qualifications, further qualifications and specialist qualifications. Vocational upper secondary qualifications provide the basic skills required in the field. Depending on the field of education, the studies may be possible to take in English.

Read more about upper secondary education on the City of Oulu website.

Read more about vocational education on the City of Oulu website.

Please note that the yearly application period called the joint application system starts in February and ends in March. In the joint application system, you can apply to most of the upper secondary schools and vocational schools in Finland. The studies start in August.

Open early education

The city of Oulu provides free of charge open early education that consists of guided activities for children who are cared for at home and do not require full-time daycare. Open daycare centers are also a great opportunity for parents to meet other families with small children in the area.

Read more on the City of Oulu website

Family clubs and clubs with special activities

Some daycare centers are also providing club activities for children and families free of charge. The different clubs are listed on the City of Oulu website.

Guided sport exercise

The City of Oulu arranges guided exercises for children and families, young people, adults and the elderly. Guided exercise is usually available from September to May; however, various exercise courses are also available during the summer.

Read more on the City of Oulu website. The website might have limited information, so we recommend contacting the sports services directly for further information.

Citizens of the EU member states can work without any working permits. If you come from a non-EU country and have been granted a residence permit on the basis of family ties you will have an unlimited right to work in Finland. The right to work will also be entered on your residence permit card.

Oulu’s major employment sectors are services, industry, and trade. Oulu is known for its ICT businesses along with the more traditional wood, paper, and steel industries.

We have collected here some useful links related to finding a job in Finland/Oulu

For vacancies:

Jobs in Finland

Open positions at TE Service's Job Market Finland portal

Linkedin

Duunitori (only available in Finnish)

Oikotie (only available in Finnish)

For general information on working in Finland:

How to register as a job seeker in Finland (TE Services)

Working as an immigrant in Finland (TE Services)

This is Finland – How about getting a job in Finland

Language courses and professional development

JOY – Open university

Finland works - online course: Aalto University has designed a course aimed at internationals to learn about Finnish work-life. It serves as a starting point for understanding Finnish working life and building your career in Finland. The course has been authored by recruitment and career specialists and complemented with stories and experiences from Aalto University international alumni. Finland Works offers you a curated collection of insights on working in Finland in an easily accessible course format, which you can complete at your own time and pace. The course is free of charge unless you want to purchase a Certificate of the completed course.

Kielibuusti: Here you can find advice and materials on anything related to learning Finnish and Swedish. The site includes self-study materials, tips for language learning at work, tools for planning and guiding language learning, and pedagogical materials. All the material is free of charge.

For networking and advises

Business Oulu

Business Oulu is a city-owned organization, which mission is to promote vitality in the city by building success potential for the entire region, its citizens, and companies. Their services include helping job seekers find employment and develop their expertise by creating contacts with corporate life to facilitate matchmaking between job seekers and companies with vacant positions. They also have networking events, which help you to expand your professional contacts in Oulu!

Please read more information on the Business Oulu website

Events and networking opportunities targeted for companies and employees

International House Oulu

IH Oulu gathers guidance services under one roof. Services are targeted at international newcomers and also companies planning to recruit international people. You can get help on everyday life matters as well as questions concerning working, studying and entrepreneurship.

We recommend following the International House Oulu website and their social media web pages for events and workshops!

Please read more information on the International House Oulu website

International House Oulu in LinkedIn

Occupational health services provided by the University are only available for those who have an employment relationship with the University of Oulu.

You might be entitled to use public health care if

a) you have a municipality of residence (kotikunta) in Finland,

b) you have European Health Insurance Card,

c) you come from Australia or Quebeck, or;

d) you are covered by statutory insurance.

Through public health services, you can access e.g. dental services, family health services, mental health services etc.

Additionally, in Finland, private health care is relatively commonly used due to the convenience of easy booking and minimal waiting times in comparison to public healthcare. Some of the biggest private medical clinics in Oulu are Mehiläinen, Terveystalo and Pihlajanlinna. Perusterveys is an alternative for affordable general practitioner visits.

In case you are not entitled to use public health care, we recommend considering appropriate private insurance to cover your health care costs.

Grant-based researchers are responsible of taking care of their pension and workplace accident insurance themselves. This insurance is provided by an institution called the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution (MELA).

If you work as a grant-funded researcher longer than 4 months, you are obliged to take out their statutory pension and workplace accident insurances from MELA. Also, researchers with a shorter funding period are allowed to seek for insurance from Mela. The insurance should be taken also when working abroad or you come from abroad to work in Finland.

You may be entitled to Finnish social security coverage (e.g. child benefit, basic unemployment security, and sickness and parental allowances), if your residence in Finland is considered permanent and if your income is sufficiently high.

You can read more on Kela webpage Social security coverage for students and researchers

We recommend contacting directly Kela if you have any questions.

A grant or scholarship received for studies, academic research or artistic activity may be tax-exempt income .

If the grant is paid by a public authority it is entirely exempt from tax regardless of the amount, while the grants awarded by private foundations are taxable only for the amount that exceeds the Finnish state artist grant, which varies almost annually. Please note that all grants have to be notified to the tax authorities even if it will not be taxed.

You can read more about the taxation of grants on Vero website.

Temporary UFO user account

Subject to a charge, the UFO account is a temporary user account for a person who is not employed by the university but who has a justified reason to use staff IT services. The UFO account includes mainly the same rights to use IT systems as a staff account, for example, if you need to access our Intranet or use oulu.fi email address.

How to apply? Any member of the staff may initiate the application process for a UFO account in the IDM portal by filling in the UFO user access application. So please contact your supervisor or another staff member to initiate the process! Doctoral researchers can contact uniogs@oulu.fi.

More information for grant researchers at UniOulu

If you have an UFO user account, read more about being a grant researcher at the University of Oulu on our Intranet Patio website. Grant guidelines on the right-hand attachment list are important to read by all grant researchers working at the University of Oulu.

Useful links

The Finnish Union of University researchers and teachers (FUURT)

• Information about grants
• Checklist for the grant recipient
• FUURT grant information guide 2023
• About membership