Living in Finland

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Finnish Government and your local authority. You can also read our Finland travel advice for our latest guidance.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Finland see our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up to email alerts on living in Finland
• follow the local British Embassy on Facebook and Twitter

You can also:

• follow the Finnish government’s official website for UK nationals

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

The British Embassy regularly holds events across Finland for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizen outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Finland.

The Withdrawal Agreement

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broadly as you did before 31 January 2020.

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Passports

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Finland .

Passports from 1 January 2021

YouCheck your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

From 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Finland, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

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.

You will need to Renewrenew your passport before youtravelling book your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may need to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay. You may also have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. YouYour passport may alsobe needstamped tofor showvisits ato returnthese or onward ticket.countries.

Entry requirements

YouFrom can1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stayThis longeris thana 90rolling days180-day inperiod.

To anystay 180-dayfor period,longer, to work or study, or for business travel, you mustwill need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travellingtravelling. to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of timestay authorised byunder a visa or permit will not count towardsagainst yourthe 90-day visa-free limit. Travel to the UK and the Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area.Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Driving in Finland

TravelDriving tolicence therules UKwill andstay Irelandthe hassame notuntil changed.

Driving31 inDecember Finland

2020.

If you are a resident in Finland, you should exchange your UK licence for a Finnish driving one.

If you move to Finland you must exchange your licence within two years of arriving.

Read the guidance on:

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

Driving in the UK with a Finnish licence

You can still use your Finnish licence in the UK for short visits,visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.test Weif willyou updatereturn theseto pageslive ifin therethe areUK.

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  exchange

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Finland

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

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.

Healthcare

If you are living in Finland or move there permanently before 31 December 2020, you’ll have life-long healthcare rights in Finland as you do now, provided you remain resident.

You must register for healthcare as a resident in Finland, as well as with The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela. It issues the Social Security & Health Insurance Card, which will give you access to healthcare on the same basis as Finnish citizens.

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

Read our guidance on who can access healthcare in Finland and make sure you are correctly registered.

If your UK employer has sent you to Finland temporarily, your access to healthcare is different. Find out how to access healthcare as a posted workerregister.

State healthcare: S1

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certificate.

Read our guidance on usinghow to get an S1 form in Finland to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare..

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Finland, you must not use your EHIC from the UK-issued EHICto foraccess healthcare in Finland.

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• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.

  For more information insurance

• read our guidancetravel onadvice healthcare when travelling in Europepages and advice on foreign travel insurance.

There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.

You should also read guidance on:

• healthcare and studying abroad
• finding English-speaking doctors in Finland
• checking your prescriptions are legal in Finland

Working and studying in Finland

If you wereare legallyregistered as a resident in Finland on or before 131 JanuaryDecember 2021,2020, you will havemaintain theyour right to work, as long as you remain legallyresident resident.

Ifin youFinland. areRead planningour toguidance comeon toworking Finlandin toan work,EU you may need a visa.country.

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

Frontier

Studying workers

If you live in Finland andafter were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, you may need a permit to show you are a frontier worker. You must also apply for a residency permit in Finland.

Studying in FinlandBrexit

YouIf will be eligible for broadly the same support as Finnish nationals, as long as you wereare legally resident in Finland beforeon 1or Januarybefore 2021.31 YouDecember must2020, apply for a residence permit in Finland.

Read our guidance on:

• continuing your studiesright in the EU
• healthcare for students in Finland

Moving to Finland to study

If you are planning to study in Finland,Finland makewill surestay you meet all visa requirements before you arrive. Contact the relevantsame, Higheras Educationlong provideras in Finland to check what fees you mayremain have to pay.resident.

For more information read studying in the European Union.

Money and tax

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

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Finland have not changed.

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

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Finland.

National Insurance

Find out if you needcan to pay National Insurance inwhile the UK or social security contributionsabroad in Finland.

Banking

Whetherorder UK banks can provide services to customersprotect livingyour inState thePension EEAand isentitlement ato matterother ofbenefits local law and regulation.allowances.

If Your bank or finance provider should contact you ifare theyemployed needor toself-employed makein anythe changesEU to your product or theEEA wayand they provide it. If you have anya concernsUK-issued aboutA1/E101 whetherform, you mightwill beremain affected,subject contactto yourUK providerlegislation oruntil seek independent financial advice.

Read the Moneyend anddate Pension Service guidance on banking,the insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.form.

Pensions

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Finland.

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

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

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

Benefits

Pensions after 31 January 2020

ReadThere ourwill guidancebe no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on entitlementclaiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

You can continue to receive your UK benefitsState Pension if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and pensionsyou whilecan still claim your UK State Pension.

If you are living in Finland.the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance.

If you are living in Finland by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If 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 31 December 2020.

Read our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Benefits

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving[moving or retiring abroadabroad(]https://www.gov.uk/moving-or-retiring-abroad).

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

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

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

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.

Finnish benefits

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 31 January 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live there and meet all other eligibility requirements.

If 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 31 December 2020.

Read our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Read guidance from Kela about how the UK leaving the EU might affect your Finnish social security benefits.

Voting

If you are resident in Finland you can vote and stand in local municipal elections.elections. You cannot vote in national or European Parliament elections.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections.

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

Births, deathsdeaths, and getting married

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

If someone dies in Finland:

• 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

IfCurrent you have a pet passport issued by Finland or another EU member state, you can use it to travel withrules yourwill petstay tothe Greatsame Britainuntil and31 elsewhereDecember in the EU.2020.

AIf GB-issuedyou’re EUtravelling petwith passportyour ispet not valid for travel to the EUfirst ortime Northernyou Ireland.must Youvisit should speak to your vet before you travel to get thea necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.passport.

Read guidance on:

• on bringing your pet to GB
• travelling with your pet in the EUUK
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel..

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.

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.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

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