about citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

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 FinlandFinland, see our coronavirus travel advice.

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Ifresidency if you were legallyliving resident in Finland before 1 January 2021

If you applied for your new residence permit (‘Brexit permit’) by 30 September 2021, your rights willare be protected by the Withdrawal Agreement .pending a decision on your application. You mustshould applycontinue forthe aprocess newto residenceget statusyour beforeBrexit 30permit Septemberif 2021you todo securenot yourhave rights.this yet.

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Finnish Immigration Service guidance on Brexit permit applications.

If you werehave residentnot inhad Finlanda beforeresponse 1to Januaryyour 2021Brexit youpermit mustapplication, applyuse your application number to check the status of your application online.

Late applications

The deadline for aapplying newfor residencya Brexit permit beforewas 30 September 2021,2021. inYou linecan withstill apply if you have reasonable grounds for missing it. You should apply as soon as possible.

To apply online, read the WithdrawalFinnish Agreement.Immigration Service guidance. Use the additional information section to explain why your application is late. The Finnish Immigration Service will review late applications on a case-by-case basis.

Family members

IfYour youclose havefamily beenmembers livingcontinue to be able to join you and settle in Finland for:at any point in the future. Find out who this applies to in the Living in Europe guidance.

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travel.

ReadYou should also read the Finnish Immigrationgovernment’s Service guidance onfor residencyfurther applicationsinformation about residence permits.

Moving to Finland

Check the entry requirements for Finland in our travel advice and read the Finnish Immigration Service guidance on residence permits.

Passports and travel

You should carry your residence permit, as well as your valid passport when you travel. If you have applied but not yet received your card, carry your certificate of application.

If you have not yet applied for a residence permit, you should carry evidence that you are resident in Finland. This could include a tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020.

If you cannot showprove that you are a resident in Finland, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the SchengenEU. area,Your and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Finland.

Passports

Checkthe yourcountry passportor iscountries validwhere for travel before you booklive your trip. You can apply for or renewwork. yourIf Britisha passport fromis Finlandincorrectly .

Youstamped, mustthe havestamp atis leastconsidered 6null monthsand leftvoid onwhen an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you arecan enteringshow orevidence transiting to Finland, and you are in scope of thelawful Withdrawal Agreement.residence.

Passports

IfCheck you renewed your current passport before the previousFinland onetravel expired,advice extrafor months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport overvalidity 10requirements. yearsYou maycan not count towards the 6 months needed.

Renewapply yourfor passportor beforerenew you book your travelBritish ifpassport youfrom do not have enough time left on your passport.Finland.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. You may also need to show a return or onward ticket.

Entry requirements

You can 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 stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day period, to work or study, or for business travel, you must meet the entry requirements set out by the country you are travelling to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit.

PeriodsIf ofyou timestay authorisedin byFinland with a visaresidence permit or permitlong-stay willvisa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

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

Travel to the UK and Ireland has not changed.

Driving in Finland

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 use your Finnish licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test. We will update these pages if there are any changes to the rules, as soon as information is available.

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

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.

Ifregistered yourfor UK employer has sent you to Finland temporarily, your access to healthcare is different. Find out how to access healthcare as a posted worker.circumstances.

State healthcare: S1

IfYou youmay havebe aentitled registered S1 form and were living in Finland before 1 January 2021, your rights to accessstate healthcare willpaid stayfor by the sameUK if you arelive either:in Finland and you:

• are receiving a UK State Pension
• are receiving some other ‘exportable benefits’
• are a frontier worker who lives in Finland and commutes to work in the UK
• have been sent to Finland temporarily by your UK employer

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

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

If you are resident in Finland, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC or GHIC for healthcare in Finland.Finland, unless you are a student or a detached (posted) worker. Current EHICs will remain valid until the expiry date on the card.

If you wereare living in Finland before 1 January 2021, you may be eligible for a new UK-issued EHIC or GHIC if you’re:you are:

• a UK student in Finland
• a UK State Pensioner with a registered S1
• a frontier worker with a registered S1

The card you receive will depend on when you moved to Finland.

Apply now for a new UK EHIC or GHIC.

An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.

For more information read our guidance on healthcare when travelling in Europe and advice on foreign travel insurance.

You should also read guidance on:

• finding English-speaking doctors in Finland
• checking your prescriptions are legal in Finland

Working and studying in Finland

If you were legally resident in Finland before 1 January 2021, you will have the right to work, asproviding long as you remain legally resident.

If you are planning to comemove to Finland to work, you may need a visa.visa.

Read the Department for International Trade’s guidance on:

• working or providing services in Finland

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

Frontier workers

If you live in Finland and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country before 1 January 2021, youread mayour needguidance afor permitfrontier workers. 

Professional qualifications

You may need to showget youyour areprofessional aqualification frontierrecognised worker.if Youyou mustwant alsoto applywork forin a residencyprofession permitthat is regulated in Finland.

Read guidance on:

• recognition of professional qualifications
• how to get your qualification recognised in Finland

StudyingIf you were living in Finland before 1 January 2021

YouIf willthe berelevant eligibleregulator forin broadlyFinland officially recognised your professional qualification before 1 January 2021, or you started the samerecognition supportprocess asby Finnishthis nationals,date, asmake longsure asyou understand the terms of your recognition decision. Seek advice from the regulator if needed.

Studying in Finland

If you were legally resident in Finland before 1 January 2021.2021, you are eligible for the same tuition fees as Finnish citizens.

You may not be entitled to maintenance grants or loans in Finland unless you have permanent residency or are a worker in Finland.

You must apply for a residence permit in Finland.

Read our guidance on:

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

Moving to Finland to study

If you are planning to study in Finland, make sure you meet all visa requirements before you arrive. travel.

Contact the relevant Higherhigher Educationeducation provider in Finland to check what fees you may have to pay.

For more information read studying in the European Union.

MoneyMoney, tax and taxbanking

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 need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Finland.

Banking

Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.

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

Pensions

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

YouIf willyou needare tomoving or retiring abroad, you must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and taxtax.

Read our State Pension guidance if you arehave movinglived in Australia, Canada or retiringNew abroadZealand. and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Finland, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension:. contactContact the International Pension Centre to claim
• yourpensions Finnishfrom pension,working ifin youother haveEU worked in Finlandcountries
• pensionsyour fromFinnish workingpension, abroad, if you’veyou have worked in other EU countriesFinland

Read the Money and Pension ServiceService’s MoneyHelper 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 needmust to respond as soon as possible.possible Your- your payments may be suspended if you don’t.do not.

Benefits

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.

Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim 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.

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

Accommodation and buying property

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

Driving in Finland

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 use your Finnish licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.

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.

Voting

If you are resident in Finland you can vote and stand in local municipal 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 to vote

Births, deathsdeaths, marriages and gettingcivil marriedpartnerships

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 bereavementsbereavement 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

If you have a pet passport issued by Finland or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU.

A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. You should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.Regulations.

Read guidance on:

• bringing your pet to GB
• travelling with your pet in the EU
• 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.

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