Life in Finland
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Life in Finland Welcome to Turku and Finland! This manual is made a short introduction to Finnish culture and society. We hope You will enjoy it. Foreword Everybody who lives in Finland has the right and This manual is a short introduction to Finnish This manual is produced in obligation to live according to Finnish laws and various customs, society and working life. It is intended to cooperation with Turku City and ESR-financed project POLKU - kinds of rules. The constitution of Finland guarantees make it easier for immigrants to get to know Finnish International talents as resource everybody the following rights, among others: freedom culture and adapt to it. The manual may also be useful for expanding companies. of speech, thought and religion, as well as the right to for employees working with immigrants in terms of forbid all kind of discrimination and unfair treatment of advice and as educational material on society. people. On the other hand, freedoms and rights also Many of the issues handled in the guide may bring along obligations. Everybody must have the right appear self-evident. Nevertheless, there may be great and obligation to participate in developing the society differences between cultures and procedures in coun- and in decision-making. Everybody has the right to tries with different kinds of social structures. Ignorance resort to health care or social security, when needed. of the contents of laws does not exempt people from Likewise, everybody has the obligation to participate in responsibility; therefore, it is important to know about financing social services by paying taxes. the rules guiding Finnish society and life. 2 | Life in Finland | Foreword Content 4 Moving to Finland 28 Getting married and registering a relationship 46 Traffic 4 Right of admittance and the immigrant status 28 Marriage 47 Bikes and motorbikes 5 The population register system and identity - Spousal rights and responsibilities 47 Driving number - Divorce - Driver’s lisenses - Having a child - Purchasing a vehicle, condition, inspection 6 Housing 32 Death and burial and other regulations 6 General information - Matters of inheritance - Registering 8 Leasing - Funerals - Inspecting the vehicle and vehicle condition 8 Other forms of housing - Tax liability 9 Pets 34 Finnish nature 9 Moving – remember these 34 Public rights of access and perponsibilities 50 Intoxicants 36 Finnish society and government 50 Tobacco and smoking 10 Finance and insurance 50 Alcohol 11 Management of finances 37 Rights 50 Drugs 11 Insurance 38 Responsibilities - National defence obligation 51 Emergencies and problems 12 Finland - Taxation 51 Emergency number 112 12 The Finnish way of life 52 General danger signal 13 Meet a Finn 40 Work and livelihood 52 If you are the victim of a crime 15 Holidays in Finland 41 Permits required for work - Discrimination 18 Public holidays 41 Labour legislation and collective agreements - Domestic violence 19 Traditional minorities 42 The duties and rights of the employer and - Emotional support 20 Later immigration the employee 22 Finnish history 42 Work contract 54 Crime and punishment 43 Wages and other benefits 55 Legal proceedings 24 Finnish life 43 Leisure time and vacations 56 Criminal sanctions 24 Birth, registering and naming 44 Assignments and travel allowances 56 Criminal record 24 Childhood and youth 26 Compulsory education 44 Social security and health care 27 Dating and relationships 45 Pension 3 | Life in Finland | Content Moving to Finland Right of admittance and residence permits are processed by the Finnish their citizens within the area, which usually means Immigration Service (Migri). Migri handles: that foreigners living in the area permanently are also the immigrant status • residence permits for aliens entering Finland entitled to freedom of movement. Schengen states Immigration refers to anyone who has moved to Finland - study have also agreed on which nationals are required to for whatever reason. The causes of immigration vary - work (employees and entrepreneurs) have a visa to enter the area. Almost all African and greatly. Some have left their home country voluntarily - remigration Asian countries, among others, are countries whose because of love, family or work. Others have been forced - family reunification nationals need a visa to enter the area. to leave their home country due to political or religious - asylum seekers Once a foreigner has lived permanently in Finland reasons, or they have fled for their lives from war. • assigns alien’s passports and refugee travel for a long enough period of time, they have the Alien refers to anyone who is not a Finnish citizen. documents opportunity to apply for Finnish citizenship or dual The right to enter the country and work here is primarily • processes citizenship applications nationality. Residence period, language proficiency and determined by the nationality of the immigrant and/or • maintains the registrations of EU citizens other requirements as well as instructions on applying country of residence as well as the reason for moving and their family members for citizenship can be found on the Migri website. to Finland. Residence permits are either temporary Finland is part of the Schengen area. The countries • INFO: Visa required for entry to Finland and or permanent. Issues related to immigration and in the area have agreed on freedom of movement for other travel documents: https://bitly.fi/formin 4 | Life in Finland | Moving to Finland Moving to Finland and working in Finland are governed by numerous laws, of which the following are the most important: Enter Finland • Aliens Act (2004) The e-service is the • Act on the Promotion of easiest way to fill in Immigrant Integration (2010) all application to Migri: account, for example. Anyone born in Finland receives • Act on receiving asylum seekers https://enterfinland.fi/ their identity number automatically and Finnish citizens (2011) born outside of Finland are issued a number based on eServices • Legislation on the Register of Aliens their birth certificate. and the register on aliens working Information about seeking asylum in Finland: A foreigner moving to Finland may receive an http://asyluminfinland.info/ identity number when they have been registered in the Valid laws and regulations: population register upon their own request. www.finlex.fi A person may ask to be registered by visiting Maistraatti, a loval registry office, in person, or in some cases by visiting the tax office. Registering may only be completed if the residence permit is granted and all the requirements for the The population register registration are fulfilled. system and identity number Foreigner’s identity card Every foreign citizen, who has a residence permit and Basic information on people living in Finland is entered home municipality can apply a Foreigner’s identity card. into the population register system. This information If the applicant does not already have a passport or includes name, date of birth, nationality, family relations identity card, the identity of applicant will be proven by and place of domicile. The information is used for the fingerprint comparison. The card validity period is organising elections, taxation, health care, judicial earmarked for a residence permit validity. administration and statistics, among other things. The ID card can apply for either electronically or The identity number is a means of identification that in person at the police station. individualises a person. It remains unchanged through- • INFO: www.maistraatti.fi/en/ out a person’s life. The identity number is needed for http://vrk.fi/en/frontpage dealing with the authorities and when opening a bank www.poliisi.fi/licences 5 | Life in Finland | Moving to Finland Housing INFO • www.suomi.fi/suomifi/ suomi/palvelut_aiheittain/ asuminen_ja_rakentaminen/ asunnon_hankinta/ asumismuodot/index.html There are several different forms of General information saunas, storage areas, barbeque shelters, etc.) housing in Finland. You can live in The general principle is that everyone cleans Anyone living in a block of flats or a terraced after themselves in shared areas. an owner-occupied flat, rent as a primary house, however, must comply with the rules set by the • You should not make noise or litter in the stairwell. tenant or subtenant, live in a right of housing company. Housing companies usually provide You must not keep your personal belongings in the residence apartment or a partially owned written rules that all residents must follow. Special stairwell, but either in your own flat or in storage. flat. If you have a small income, you may attention should be paid to • Some renovations inside the flat may require per- receive housing benefits regardless of • silence (usually from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.). If you want mission from the housing company. You must to throw a party at your house, you should inform the form of housing. always submit a written notice of any renovations the neighbours in advance, by posting a notice on when the renovation may affect structures that the notice board, for example are the responsibility of the housing company or • Smoking may be prohibted in some buildings. neighbouring flats. These include bathroom • Parking Cars usually have designated parking places. renovations, for example. The notice is usually • The use of shared facilities (laundry rooms, submitted to the property manager. 6 | Life in Finland | Housing and water bills, as well as help the environment. Take out the trash. Waste must be sorted into their Shhh... • Have leaking taps and toilets fixed. Leaky taps specified containers. At least glass, metal, paper, Silence should be reported to the landlord, the caretaker cardboard and waste that can be burned should be or the property manager. sorted. Some housing companies also have a compost 22– 07. • Do not run the taps unnecessarily. for organic waste. Many cities also have recycling • Turn the power off when you are not using electrical points that collect waste plastic and clothes separately.