Living in Finland

This page tells you what to do ahead of Brexit. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.

You can also:

• read UK nationals in the EU: essential information
• follow the Finnish government’s official website on Brexit
• attend our outreach meetings for British nationals

Visas

Residency and residencyvisas

CheckYou may want to check the entry requirements for Finland in our travel advice.

If you plan to stay for more than 90 days in Finland, you must contact the Finnish Immigration Service.

Visas

Residency and residencyvisas after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Finnish government has drafted a special act extending the right of residence for UK nationals in Finland. It states that UK nationals who are currently living in Finland and have registered their EU right of residenceresidence, can continue to live in Finland without any separate measures for a fixed time period. The act was approved by the Finnish Parliament on 5 March 2019.

IfIn therethe areevent of changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit,the UK leaves the EU, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available. You should sign up to our email alerts.

Passports and travel

If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Finland. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’.

Read our travel advice for Finland and sign up for the latest information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

Passports and travel after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, new travel rules will apply. You mustshould have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.needed

You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You mustshould retain evidence of travel (such(e.g. as train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence. We will update this guidance as more information becomes available.

Healthcare

You mustshould registerensure you are properly registered for healthcare as a resident in Finland, as well as registering, where necessary, with a health insurer. ReadThe the NHS guidancehas onmore information about who canis able to access healthcare in Finland and how to register.

Medical treatment, medicine and hospital stays are rarely completely free of charge in Finland.

If you live in Finland and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

If

• if you are resident in Finland, you mustshould not usebe using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Finland.

  When Finland

• you travelmay fromuse Finlandan forEHIC to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:
  Switzerland
  • the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
  • an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
  • Readfor more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

  IfYou youshould are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.

  You can find English-speaking doctors in all Finnish hospitals.

  You should also Checkcheck your prescriptions are legal in Finland.

  Healthcare after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

  If therethe isUK leaves the EU with a deal, your current rights of access to healthcare in Finland will remain the same until the31 endDecember of2020, the implementation period, as long as you remain a resident in Finland.

  If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, your access to healthcare may change. Iff you are a permanent or temporary resident you mustshould review the status of your healthcare cover.

  The UK has proposed maintaining current healthcare cooperation with Finland for S1 form holders until the end of December 2020. If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, and there is no arrangement with Finland to continue reciprocal healthcare, those receiving coverage through the S1 form will not be covered.

  You mustshould take action now to confirm your residency status and decide howwhat steps you willneed to take to ensure access to healthcare if there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal. UK nationals will be able to return to UK for treatment.

  Your EHIC may not be valid ifin the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme ifshould there’sthe noUK deal.leave Howeverthe EU without a deal, however this is reliant on Finland continuing to accept UK EHIC cards.

  Working in Finland

  Read our guidance on working in another EU country.

  Some jobs may require a UK criminal records check (known as a DBS check).

  Working in Finland after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

  If therethe isUK leaves the EU with a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.

  ReadIf the guidance on providing services after Brexit if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession, after Brexit.the UK leaves the EU, further guidance can be found here.

  Money and tax

  The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Finland to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

  ReadYou should read the guidance on:

  • tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
  • tax on your UK income if you live abroad
  • paying income tax in Finland

  YouWe shouldrecommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Finland.

  National Insurance

  FindYou outmay ifbe youable canto pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

  Money and tax after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

  If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in the EU. Read moreour aboutguidance on using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.

  BrexitThe UK leaving the EU will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Finland. SendYou should direct individual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

  Pensions

  You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

  If you retire in Finland, you can claim:

  • your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension: contact the International Pension Centre to claim
  • your Finnish pension, if you have worked in Finland
  • pensions from working abroad, if you’ve worked in other EU countries

  Life certificates for UK stateState pensionsPensions

  If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible.possible Your– your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

  Pensions after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

  The UK government will continue to pay a State PensionPension, child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after Brexit.the Your UK Stateleaves Pensionthe willEU be uprated in Aprilany 2020,scenario. 2021For andmore 2022information if you liveshould inread the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

  Read our guidance on pensions ifin there’sa no deal scenario.

  The UK government will uprate your UK Statestate Pensionpension for the fiscal year 2019/2020 in allany Brexit scenarios.scenario.

  If therethe isUK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Finland, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Finnish pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

  Benefits

  You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Finland. You should:

  • read our guidance on claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad
  • use our tool to check which UK benefits you might be able to get while you’re abroad and how to claim them

  ManyIf you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.you.

  You may be eligible to claim some Finnish social security benefits.

  You can request proof of time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

  Benefits after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

  The UK governmentGovernment will continue to pay child benefits, and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after Brexit.the UK leaves the EU.

  If therethe isUK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Finland, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Finnish contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

  ReadIf the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on benefits and pensions ifin there’sa no deal scenario.

  If you have questions on how Brexitthe UK’s exit from the EU might affect your Finnish social security benefits, please contact Kela’s Centre for International Affairs.

  Driving in Finland

  If you are a resident in Finland, you mustshould exchange your UK licence for a Finnish driving licence before Brexit.the UK leaves the EU, as your UK licence may no longer be valid after the UK leaves the EU. You can still use your Finnish licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

  Read the guidance on:

  • driving abroad
  • road travel in Finland
  • driving licence renewal and exchange

  Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Finland

  Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

  ReadYou should read the EU’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Finland.

  You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.

  Driving after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

  If therethe isUK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.

  ReadPlease read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU.

  Voting

  You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

  • check if you are able to vote
  • register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

  If you are resident in Finland, you can vote in local municipal elections and European Parliamentary elections.

  Voting after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU

  AfterOnce Brexit,the UK leaves the EU, UK nationals who are permanent residents in Finland will continue to be able to vote and stand in local elections. UK nationals will no longer be eligible to vote in European Parliament elections.

  Births, deaths, and getting married

  If your child is born in Finland, you will need to register the birth abroad.

  If someone dies in Finland:Finland you can:

  • read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
  • see a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Finland
  • read guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Finland

  Find out how you can get married abroad.

  Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Finland.

  Accommodation and buying property

  Read guidance on how to buy or let property in Finland.

  Pets

  YouWhen the UK leaves the EU, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog, or ferret when the UK leaves the EU, but the rules will change. ReadYou can read guidance on pet travel to Europe after the UK leaves the EU. for more information.

  While the UK is still an EU Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.

  If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time youyou’ll musthave to visit your vet to get a pet passport.

  Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.

  For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

  Emergencies

  Finland uses the European emergency number 112.

  If you’re a victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy.

  Returning to the UK

  Tell the UK and Finnish authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

  ReadYou should read our guidance on:

  • accessreturning to benefitslive and services in the UK ifin there’sthe nocase dealof no-deal
  • bringing your family to the UK
  • access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding
  • importing vehicles back to the UK
  • bringing your pet back to the UK
  • checking your tax status after returning to the UK

  To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

  If you get healthcare in Finland through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

  Disclaimer

  Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Finnish authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.