The home of Santa Claus isn’t a fictional place; it’s a land all the way in Northern Europe – Finland. This nation has been keeping its well-earned status of being the happiest country in the world for a few years, and if you’re up for moving to Finland, read about some of the reasons why the title fits them well.
Is Finland Hard to Move to, and What Are the Odds of Fitting In?
Immigration to Finland isn’t the most challenging thing to do, but relocating during the coronavirus changed the way many countries accept expats. While this country is one of the best places to live in Europe, there are legal hoops you’ll have to jump through when you try to emigrate and lifestyle changes you’ll have to make to fit in.
Legally, you may acquire all the documents and ensure your passport is always up to date, but when it comes to life with Finns, there’ll be things you may occasionally find odd that are mundane for them. Some etiquette rules to follow in public are:
- Don’t hug or kiss your Finnish friends when meeting them in public since they rarely do that amongst themselves and value personal distance,
- While you shouldn’t insist on physical contact, maintaining eye contact during a conversation is a good way to show a Finn you’re listening to them,
- Don’t be late for any kind of meeting and ensure to call if you’ll be late,
- Despite being European, they don’t split the bill; you can offer to pay or let someone else do it,
Once you become an expat and start living in one of Finland’s cool towns, you’ll learn more about their culture and etiquette. It’s best to learn as you go, but use common sense in social situations and don’t overly accentuate that you’re not from around if you wish to fit in fast; better said, be your Finnish self.
The Requirements and Papers for Moving to Finland from the US
You may have started wondering, “Can I immigrate to Finland without a hassle,” but whenever someone plans to live in another country, there are requirements to meet first. It’s up to you to decide if it’s a hassle or not, but the documents you need aren’t that hard to get.
If you plan to stay for up to 90 days, then all you need is a passport that’s valid for at least six months after the trip and a return flight ticket to prove you intend to leave. In some cases, you may be asked to prove that you have enough funds to cover your trip. If you want to reside or stay longer than 90 days, you’ll have to apply for a residence permit.
When you apply for a residence permit, the first thing you’ll be asked is whether you have employment or an internship with a Finnish company; it’s difficult to get a residence permit if you don’t secure some form of employment first, but you can ask your employer questions about relocating there, including how to secure a visa.
Permits cost differently, so you’ll have to cash out a bit if you wish to apply. The good news is that electronic applications are cheaper than paper. Types of permits that are available for issuance are:
- Specialist,
- Researcher,
- Au Pair,
- Self-employed person,
- Working holiday,
- Student,
- Asylum seeker,
- Stable intimate relationship,
- Other types of work that require a residence permit.
Information for Americans Moving to Finland Without a Job
While it’s more than recommended to find employment before relocating, you probably wonder, “Can I move to Finland without a job?” and while it’s not recommended to do so, it is possible. They are a social welfare state and provide support to residents and expats alike; if you plan on living and working there indefinitely, you’ll be entitled to integration services. These services are general guidance, language classes access, and even assistance with looking for work. The integration services ensure your relocation stress melts away when you arrive.
The Conditions for Becoming a Permanent Resident
The rules for how to live abroad in this nation are similar to those of many other countries. If your international moving trip ends in permanent residence, you’ll have to fulfill certain conditions to get a permit for that. Their permanent residence permit is called pysyvä oleskelulupa, and you can get it if:
- You have lived in the country for at least four years with a continuous residence permit,
- You have not lived abroad for more than two years during the four-year residency period,
- If you don’t have a criminal record or haven’t committed any offenses that led to incarceration.
Entering the Finnish World Will Need Some Preparation
The Republic of Finland is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, lying across the upper parts of the Scandinavian peninsula. It’s a nation of 5,4 million residents, and the capital is called Helsinki. Typical things you hear about Finns and their land are that it’s very cold, and they’re always in saunas, which isn’t far from the truth. However, there’s so much more to this interesting nation that speaks one of the most mysterious languages on the globe.
There’s still a large community of Sami people, the first inhabitants of the land and the first Finnish speakers. The northernmost part of the nation is called Lapland, and the Sami occupy this part of the land. It’ll take some time to get used to the way they speak, which is why you could use as many tips for learning a new language as possible. However, besides the language that Sami brought, the other official one is Swedish, so if you speak a bit of it, you’ll be able to manage for a while.
One thing to remember about this nation is that they live in an egalitarian society. They granted women the right to vote in 1906, being the first nation in Europe to do it. Their current prime minister is Sanna Marin from the Social Democratic Party. If you’re used to residing in a conservative state, this part will probably take some getting used to.
Facts About the Finnish and the Country’s Names Throughout History
The earliest signs of the nation’s current name were found in runes across the Scandinavian territory. The name Finns, which we use for the people, came up in about 98 AD. The Finns call their land Suomi, which is thought to mean ‘low land.’
Some other interesting facts about Suomi are:
- The nation has 187,888 lakes on its territory,
- Sami is the indigenous language; 89% of the population speaks Finnish, and 5% speaks Swedish; 63% of the people also speak English,
- Finns value the saying “my word is my bond” and take verbal agreements seriously,
- Meat is more expensive than fish and seafood, so more people eat salmon and whitefish than chicken; they also eat reindeer meat,
- The traditional dish is called Karelian pastry (a dish made from a rye crust filled with rice,)
- The nation has the freest press in the entire world, with 200 newspapers, 320 popular magazines, 67 commercial radio stations, and 2,100 professional magazines,
- The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are visible in the northern part of the land every season,
- Nokia was the largest mobile phone manufacturer at some point, and the nation now has an official sport called Mobile Phone Throwing,
- The nation is the global capital of heavy metal music.
It’s the Happiest Country With the Freest Citizens
Suomi is likely the best European country to live in, especially for women. If your family wishes to learn more about this nation, they’ll have to get used to the egalitarian society, free education, the best ratio of living costs and minimum wage, and the freest citizens anywhere. The UN does a report every year on the globe’s happiest countries, and Suomi’s been taking the title for four years in a row now. What’s so bad about all that? It seems like going out to work and live there is all you’ll need for a good life.
Take Time to Go to the Sauna and Feel Health Oozing from You
The sauna holds an immense cultural significance for Finns, so don’t be surprised if they schedule a business meeting in one. The history of the sauna precedes the modern age – according to some historians, saunas were a thing back in 7000 BC, but their exact time and origin are unknown.
They have a saying: “If sauna, tar, and booze don’t help you, then a disease is deadly,” which adds to the fact that saunas are considered very beneficial for health. Many Finns will boast their sauna at home, which they share with family and friends alike. The sauna ritual is mandatory at least once per week. With a staggering number of 2,2 million saunas in the land, you can say that every two and a half Finns have one just for themselves. Your home will likely have a sauna, and it’ll be a great addition for maintaining health for both you and your family – which is why you’ll feel like you chose the best country to live in.
They Have Restaurant Day and Drink the Most Coffee Out of Any Place on Earth
It’s not so difficult to break the language barrier with Finns – if you’re an avid coffee drinker, you’ll fit right in. They have the largest consumption of milk and coffee out of any nation on the globe, and living among coffee-infused Finns will likely be very entertaining for you and your family.
When you decide on shipping overseas to Helsinki, ensure you eat some of their delicious foods and participate in Restaurant Day. This day is dedicated to anyone who wishes to open their restaurant, cafe, or bar for work for just one day. The national celebration of food and drink happens four times a year – in February, May, August, and November.
Is Finland Expensive to Live In? Facts About Their Cost of Living
If you’re relocating abroad for love, you could always consider yourself lucky because you have a special reason for doing it. If you immigrate to Finland from the USA, you’ll soon learn that you’re living in one of the best places to live abroad.
Helsinki is the capital, the largest city, and the single most important location for work in the nation. When you plan on relocating overseas, you can plan out your budget without a hitch. Maybe you live in a pricier city in the US, for example, Boston. Comparing the cost of living in these two cities shows a significant difference in rent prices. A three-bedroom apartment in Boston requires a monthly splurge of almost $3,000, while you could get the same property in Helsinki for $1,600 at most.
Because the entire nation is so welcoming to expats, you’ll be working and hanging out with expat communities in no time. It’s essential to learn some of their phrases and keywords for communicating, but you’ll likely be hanging out with people from all walks of life.
The Education System Might (and Should) Be the Most Appealing Part
Public schools in Suomi are completely state-funded, and even those listed as private only require minimal entry fees. So great, right? There are numerous stories about Finnish schools and how their education system is ground-breaking, which is why you can consider moving abroad to one of the best places to live with family.
Around 3% of children are enrolled in private schools, mostly specialty and international schools, so if you register your kid into one in the private sector, it won’t be any different than getting educated in one of the schools in the public sector. Living overseas will be made easier because your child can relax and live well alongside you.
The video below shows a day in the life of Finnish pupils and how their education tops any other in the world. It’s paired with statements by teachers, other people from the education sector, and parents talking about the system and its organization.
An International Moving Company Can Assist You With Moving Overseas
No matter when you decide to move to the land of saunas, an overseas moving company will be of service during the process of relocation. With movers, you’ll have a definitive checklist for relocating overseas that can give them all the information on the sort of packing service you require.
In addition to packing and relocating, international relocation services provided by an overseas shipping company are accompanied by mandatory insurance, options for overseas car shipping, and the use of storage service, just after you decide what to pack when relocating abroad. Bring some warm clothes, because you won’t be able to stay still in Suomi and its unique natural environment.
Finnish Saunas and Clean Air Are Waiting For Your Arrival
While you’ll occasionally feel sad because of relocating across the world and away from your family and friends, you’ll be able to keep in touch with everyone and still have a wonderful time in Northern Europe’s (and the globe’s) most impressive nation. You can take advantage of integration services and find work, but besides that, you’ll likely be busier with discovering the natural wonders of your new home in Helsinki and much broader than that.
