Living in Finland
Information aboutfor movingBritish to,citizens livingmoving to or retiringliving in FinlandFinland, – including visas,guidance working,on residency, healthcare and driving.
passports.
- From:
-
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - Published
- 15 November 2013
- Last updated
-
19
5November 20252024— See all updates
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RecognitionProfessional of qualifications
IfYou may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in Finland,a youprofession maythat needis regulated in Finland.
Read guidance on:
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Pensions
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Updates to this page
Last updated 19
-
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.
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16 May 2024 Information on the EU's new digital border called the Entry/Exit System has been added under "Passports and travel".
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11 March 2022 Important information in the Working in Finland, and National insurance sections if you work in Finland, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
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10 January 2022 Guide reviewed and updated with new information
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1 October 2021 Visa and residency section updated following the 30 September 2021 residency application deadline for people living in Finland since before 1 January 2021. Includes information about ongoing and late residency applications, and appeals.
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27 July 2021 Professional qualifications section updated for British citizens who are moving or moved to Finland after 1 January 2021 and those living there since before 1 January 2021.
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20 July 2021 Working in Finland section updated: new guidance for frontier workers
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5 May 2021 Healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; working in Finland section updated with link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services and link to DIT guidance on recognition of professional qualifications; and education section updated with information on studying in Finland and funding eligibility for students.
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8 March 2021 Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines
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31 December 2020 Updated as the transition period ends with new information on residency, driving, pet travel and moving to Finland
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18 December 2020 Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.
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10 November 2020 Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers.
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27 October 2020 Visa and residency section updated on how to apply for the new residency permit.
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7 September 2020 Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
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24 January 2020 Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
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23 September 2019 Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
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3 September 2019 Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
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11 June 2019 EU Exit update: updated information regarding EU visa-free travel.
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15 April 2019 EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit regarding passports, pensions and returning to the UK.
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10 April 2019 EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in the visas and residency, healthcare and driving sections
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21 March 2019 EU Exit update: Updated information on healthcare.
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13 March 2019 We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
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22 February 2019 EU Exit update: Updated information on passports. you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip.
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21 February 2019 EU Exit update: New link to the Finnish government's website added to the EU Exit section.
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7 February 2019 EU Exit update: New links to the Finnish Immigration Service website and to a list of our outreach events added to the EU Exit section. New link to Kela's Centre for International Affairs added to the Benefits section.
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29 January 2019 EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare.
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18 January 2019 EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving
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22 November 2018 EU exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.
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20 March 2018 Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
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10 May 2017 Updated information for the recipients of UK old age state pension in the "Living in Finland" guide.
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12 January 2017 Updated Living in Finland guide
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15 November 2013 First published.
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Update history
2025-11-19 15:52
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.
2024-11-05 10:11
Update on introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which was previously scheduled for autumn 2024. The exact date that the EES will be introduced has not been confirmed.
2024-05-16 12:52
Information on the EU’s new digital border called the Entry/Exit System has been added under “Passports and travel”.
2022-03-11 09:27
Important information in the Working in Finland, and National insurance sections if you work in Finland, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2022-01-10 20:13
Guide reviewed and updated with new information
2021-10-01 08:00
Visa and residency section updated following the 30 September 2021 residency application deadline for people living in Finland since before 1 January 2021. Includes information about ongoing and late residency applications, and appeals.
2021-03-08 08:27
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines
2020-09-07 14:00
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-01-24 09:38
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-09-23 17:25
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
2019-09-03 17:35
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-06-11 13:25
EU Exit update: updated information regarding EU visa-free travel.
2019-04-15 09:33
EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit regarding passports, pensions and returning to the UK.
2019-04-10 13:00
EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in the visas and residency, healthcare and driving sections