Living in Helsinki: the ultimate expat guide
Everything you need to know for a successful life in Helsinki.
Located in Southern Finland, Helsinki is the country's capital and biggest city. As its political, education, financial, cultural and research hub, it provides many opportunities to expatriates. Indeed, 70% of foreign companies operating in Finland have set up there.
If you are not afraid of the polar cold and you feel you can easily adapt to its society and environment, Helsinki will welcome you with open arms.
Working in Helsinki
Working in Helsinki
The statistics don't lie. By looking at them, one can presume that in Finland, and in Helsinki, ...
The labour market in Helsinki
The labour market in Helsinki can be described as unbalanced, a bit schizophrenic even. ...
The work culture in Helsinki
If there is one thing you should know about the work environment in Helsinki (or indeed Finland), ...
Studying in Helsinki
Studying in Helsinki
Hordes of joyful youngsters roaming around in the city wearing student caps and boiler suits. Roughly estimated, some ten per cent (70 000) - of ...
Education and schools in Helsinki
Student life in Helsinki
Planning to study in Helsinki? You are among many since student life in all its aspects is one of the city's characters. But first, one has to ...
Accommodation in Helsinki
Buying property in Helsinki
Wish to live in downtown Helsinki? In principle, and in practice, buying a property in Helsinki is ...
Accommodation in Helsinki
Moving to Helsinki and wish to rent out an apartment in a block of flats? First, decide the ...
Popular neighbourhoods in Helsinki
In Finland, urbanisation is accelerating, and people are flooding to the south and particularly ...
Leisure in Helsinki
Things to do on weekdays in Helsinki
It is the middle of the working week, and you need an evening out just to carry on the rest of the ...
Things to do in Helsinki
There is not only one Helsinki, but two. Or even three or four. There is winter, and there is ...
Sports in Helsinki
It is not an exaggeration to claim that Helsinki is an excellent city for practising various sports ...
Everyday life in Helsinki
Developing your professional network in Helsinki
Helsinki may be situated on the outskirts of Europe, but it has managed to create a handful of high ...
Developing your social circle in Helsinki
How do you build a social circle and make new friends as an expat in Helsinki? The same basic rule ...
The networking etiquette in Helsinki
There is an enduring saying when it comes to Finnish people and their social skills. It was first ...
News & testimonies
Melanie in Helsinki: "Finns are warm, funny, generous people"
Melanie, Kiwi expat, moved to Helsinki ten months back with her husband and three year old son. She is currently a freelance writer and she enjoys discovering her new city's parks, cafes, etc.
Why Finland wants skilled expats and their families
Will countries ever escape the cycle of labor shortages? It's a question that continues to haunt nations struggling with workforce gaps. Waves of retirement and falling birth rates are draining the labor pool, leaving governments once again turning to foreign talent. But attracting expatriate families is no easy task. Finland, however, is experimenting with a new approach to win them over.
Finland tightens work permit rules for expats
Finland is introducing stricter rules for foreign workers. If you're an expat with a residence permit tied to your job, and you lose that job, you'll now have just three months to find new employment. Otherwise, you could lose your right to stay in the country.
Immigration in Finland rose even during the pandemic
A recent study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) found that, among 15 high-income countries, Finland was the only one that didn't have a lower immigration rate in 2020 when measured against predicted immigration in the absence of Covid. Data from the OECD suggests that freedom of movement within the European Economic Area (EEA) contributed to that.
