Finland
Nordic EU country with highest quality of life and best education system worldwide. Two official languages (Finnish/Swedish), excellent English proficiency. High taxes but comprehensive welfare state. Long, dark winters but unique nature and sauna culture.
Important Notice: No Individual Advice
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute individual legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult qualified professionals for personal decisions.
Key Metrics
Cost of Living
Cost Breakdown
Quality of Life
Taxes
Tax information for Finland
Tax resident if domiciled or staying >183 days
2025
May of following year (pre-filled)
No - worldwide income
Finnish Tax System: National + Municipal + Church
6 brackets: 12.64% (up to €21,200), 19% (up to €31,500), 30.25% (up to €52,100), 34% (up to €88,200), 41.75% (up to €150,000), 44.25% (above).
Flat rate 4.7-10.9% (avg ~7.5%) depending on municipality. Helsinki: 5.36%. Added ON TOP of national tax!
1-2.25% for members of Evangelical Lutheran or Orthodox Church. Can leave anytime.
2.5% on income ABOVE €15,150 (max €160/year). Exempt: under 18, Åland residents, income ≤€15,150.
Income Tax
ONLY national tax 2025 (12.64-44.25%). ADD: Municipal tax (avg 7.5%), church tax if applicable (1-2.25%), YLE tax (max €160)
| From | To | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| €0 | €21,200 | 12.64% |
| €21,200 | €31,500 | 19% |
| €31,500 | €52,100 | 30.25% |
| €52,100 | €88,200 | 34% |
| €88,200 | €150,000 | 41.75% |
| €150,000 | Unlimited | 44.25% |
Total Tax Rate by Income
National (12.64-44.25%) + Municipal (avg 7.5%) = 20.14-51.75% (2025, excl. church/YLE)
Pension Tax
Pensions taxed as employment income (progressive). Pensioner deduction available.
Capital Gains Tax
30% up to €30,000/year, 34% above. Applies to dividends, interest, stock gains.
| From | To | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| €0 | €30,000 | 30% |
| €30,000 | Unlimited | 34% |
Dividend Tax
Listed shares: 85% of dividend taxable as capital income (eff. 25.5-28.9%)
VAT
25.5%Important Notice
This is not tax advice. Finnish tax system is complex (National + Municipal + Church + YLE). Consult a Finnish tax advisor (veroneuvojan).
This is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax laws change frequently and can be complex. The information provided is for general informational purposes only. Please consult a tax advisor licensed in Finland for your specific situation.
Healthcare
Healthcare in Finland
Universal public system (Kela) + municipal health centers (Terveyskeskus). Every resident entitled. Private sector growing.
No mandatory private insurance. Public system covers basic care. Private supplementary for ~20% of population (faster access).
Expat Access
EU citizens: Full access with EHIC. After registration (Maistraatti): Kela card and access to Terveyskeskus. Work-based access via Työterveys (occupational health).
Well-developed, especially in Helsinki/Tampere. Terveystalo, Mehiläinen, Pihlajalinna are major providers. Shorter wait times than public.
Optional: €60-150/month for faster access. Employers often provide Työterveys (occupational health) for free.
Costs
Education & Childcare
Education system in Finland
One of the world's leading education systems with excellent PISA results. Free school and university education, childcare heavily subsidized. Highly qualified teachers (Master's degree required). Focus on creativity rather than drill.
Childcare
Legal right to childcare! Waiting lists rare. Päiväkoti (kindergarten) available from 9 months. Costs income-based: legally €0-311/month (2025), many pay little or nothing.
Primary & Secondary School
International schools
Higher Education
EU citizens: Completely free! Non-EU: €6,000-18,000/year since 2017. University of Helsinki in global top 100. Many English-taught programs.
For Expat Families
Excellently accessible. Public schools are world-class - no reason for private school! International schools in Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere. German School Helsinki (DSH) available.
Suomi toisena kielenä (S2) - Finnish as Second Language in all schools. Preparatory classes for newcomers (1 year). English from grade 3.
Public school is best choice - world-class quality, free! Use preparatory class. For German-language education: German School Helsinki. Apply for childcare immediately after moving.
Pros
- •Regularly among OECD PISA top performers
- •Free school & university education - daycare heavily subsidized (€0-311/month)
- •Highly qualified teachers (all with Master's)
- •No performance pressure, little homework, late differentiation
- •Legal right to childcare
Cons
- •Learning Finnish is very difficult (no related languages)
- •Non-EU: Tuition fees since 2017
- •Long dark winters can affect children
Notes
Finland's education system is among the world's best. All teachers have Master's degrees and the profession is highly respected. No tracking until 16, little homework, lots of creativity. PISA results regularly among OECD top performers. For expats: Public school is the best choice! Preparatory classes (Valmistavat luokat) for newcomers. German School Helsinki for German-language education.
Language & Communication
Communication in Finland
Finnish and Swedish are official languages. Finnish is not related to other European languages (Finno-Ugric family). Excellent English proficiency - #2 worldwide in EF EPI.
English Proficiency
95% of population under 50 speaks English. Ranked #2 worldwide in EF EPI. All higher education offers English programs. International companies work in English.
Very good English everywhere, even in rural areas. Older generation (70+) may have less English.
Government Services
Many government services available in English. Kela (social security), DVV (population register), Vero (taxes) have English websites. InfoFinland.fi as central resource.
Excellent digital services. Suomi.fi as central portal. Most forms in English. Strong digital ID (Finnish Trust Network).
Daily Life & Communication
Easy in English. All major supermarkets (S-Market, K-Market, Prisma) have English-speaking staff. Restaurants in cities fully in English.
HSL (Helsinki Region Transport) fully in English. VR (trains) in English. Apps and ticket machines multilingual.
Doctors speak excellent English. Terveystalo and Mehiläinen (private clinics) offer English service. Public health centers sometimes Finnish only.
All banks (Nordea, OP, Danske Bank) offer English services. Online banking fully in English. Mobile pay apps multilingual.
Work Environment
English is working language in international companies and tech startups. Local Finnish companies often use Finnish internally.
Nokia, Supercell, Rovio, Wolt, Kone - many international companies with English as working language. Gaming industry particularly international.
Expat Community
Growing expat community, especially in Helsinki. Many tech expats and international students. Estonian and Russian minorities.
Expat Finland, InterNations Helsinki, Helsinki International Hub. InfoFinland.fi as official resource.
Learning the Local Language
Free Finnish courses for immigrants (kotoutumiskoulutus). Adult education centers offer courses. Universities have Finnish programs.
Not strictly necessary for daily life (excellent English). Important for deep integration and some jobs. B1 level required for citizenship.
Tips
- 💡Finns appreciate silence - small conversation pauses are normal and not a sign of discomfort
- 💡Swedish is second official language - more important in coastal regions and Åland
- 💡Sauna culture is important - small talk happens there too (in Finnish or English)
- 💡Finns dislike exaggeration - be direct and honest
Pros
- •Excellent English everywhere - no Finnish needed for daily life
- •Very well developed digital services in English
- •International work environment in tech and startups
Cons
- •Finnish is extremely hard to learn (15 cases, complex grammar)
- •Some older Finns speak little English
- •Finnish required for certain jobs (government, social services)
Notes
Finland is one of the best countries for English-speaking expats. The population speaks excellent English, and digital services are exemplary. Learning Finnish is an enormous challenge, but not strictly necessary for daily life.
Climate Change & Future Outlook
Climate risks in Finland
Finland is one of the safest places in the world for climate. No heat extremes, abundant water, minimal natural disasters. Main risk is northern warming (twice as fast as global average), destabilizing permafrost in Lapland. Highest adaptive capacity in Europe (ND-GAIN #5).
Climate Scenarios
Switch between IPCC SSP pathways
SSP2-4.5
Current policy trajectory – ~2.7°C warming by 2100, moderate mitigation.
Values are approximations relative to our SSP2-4.5 baseline. They illustrate directional change, not exact national projections.
Overall Climate Risk
Projected risk index (0 = low risk, 100 = extreme risk)
Risk Categories
City-level climate outlook
Localized projections for the key expat metros in Finland.
Helsinki is one of Europe's safest capitals for climate. Mild summers (max. 25°C), cold but manageable winters. The Baltic Sea moderates the climate. No extreme natural events.
Baltic Sea moderates extremes
Coolest EU capital
Coastal protection good
- •Helsinki Climate Strategy 2035: Carbon neutral
- •Extensive district heating (50%+ renewable)
- •Winter depression (SAD): December only 6h daylight
- •Ticks in summer - TBE vaccination recommended
Tampere lies between two large lakes, giving it very stable climate. Finland's second largest city is even more climate-safe than Helsinki (further from coast). Strong tech scene.
Lakes moderate climate
Tammerkoski rapids regulated
More snow than Helsinki
- •Tampere Carbon Neutral 2030 Plan
- •Lake-based urban planning for cooling
- •Colder winters than Helsinki (-15°C to -25°C possible)
- •Polkaisu (spring melt) can cause local flooding
Turku is Finland's oldest city, located on the Baltic coast. Mildest climate in Finland thanks to sea. Former capital with rich cultural heritage.
Mildest climate in Finland
Warmest Finnish city
Aura river during heavy rain
- •Turku Carbon Neutral 2029 (most ambitious target in Finland!)
- •Archipelago as natural wave breaker
- •Aura river can overflow during heavy rain
- •Archipelago ferries cancelled during storms
Personal climate risk assessment
Tune the analysis to your health profile and comfort level.
Age group
Sensitivity
Risk tolerance
Personalized risk index
Current level: Moderate
Priority risks
Floods & Coastal
Base 38 → Personal 38
Extreme Weather
Base 35 → Personal 35
What to prioritize
- •Prefer elevated districts and buildings with flood-mitigation infrastructure.
- •Look for reliable shelter options and emergency communication plans.
- •Prioritise shaded neighborhoods, AC-ready apartments, and early-morning routines.
Adaptation Measures
- •National Adaptation Strategy 2022: Climate resilience by 2030
- •Carbon Neutrality 2035: Most ambitious EU target
- •SYKE (Environment Institute): Climate monitoring and research
- •TULVAKESKUS (Flood Centre): Real-time monitoring
- •Use Ilmatieteenlaitos.fi for weather warnings
- •Use tick protection in forests (Lyme disease!)
- •Vitamin D supplementation November-March
Climate Resilience
Highest climate resilience in the EU. Excellent infrastructure, low population density, massive water resources. Strong forestry sector can adapt. Biggest challenge: Lapland (permafrost, reindeer herding).
Tips
- 💡Ilmatieteenlaitos.fi = Trusted weather app
- 💡Consider tick vaccination (TBE) for outdoor activities
- 💡Winter tires are mandatory December-February
- 💡SAD lamps helpful in winter (darkness!)
Pros
- •One of the safest places in the world for climate
- •188,000 lakes = Water scarcity impossible
- •Highest climate resilience in the EU
- •Most ambitious climate target (2035 carbon neutral)
Cons
- •Arctic warming twice as fast as global average
- •Lapland: Permafrost thawing, ecosystem under pressure
- •Less snow = Winter tourism at risk
- •Ticks spreading northward
Notes
Finland is a climate paradise: no heat, no drought, no hurricanes. Main risks mainly affect Lapland (permafrost) and are irrelevant for most expats in southern Finland. Helsinki, Tampere, Turku are extremely climate-safe. Biggest challenge is winter darkness - SAD lamps are practically standard. For climate refugees from hot/dry regions, Finland is ideal.
Data sources
Scientific Disclaimer
Climate projections are based on models with inherent uncertainties. Actual outcomes may differ. We present mainstream scientific consensus (IPCC) but acknowledge uncertainty ranges. This is not financial advice. Consult climate scientists and experts for specific decisions.
Safety & Security
Safety & Crime in Finland
Safety Indicators
Comparison with DACH Region
For comparison: Germany (CPI: 78), Austria (CPI: 71), Switzerland (CPI: 82)
Notes
One of the safest countries worldwide. Very low crime rate. High police presence and trust. Natural risks: Extreme cold in winter.
Visa & Immigration
Immigration Options for Finland
Visa Options
EU Freedom of Movement
EU citizens can enter, work and live without visa. Registration with Maistraatti after 3 months. Kela card for social benefits.
Work Visa (Non-EU)
Residence permit for employed person. Employer must offer position. TE Office (employment office) checks working conditions.
Specialist Residence Permit
For highly qualified experts. Minimum salary €3,500/month (2025). Fast processing (2-4 weeks). No labor market test.
Startup Visa
For innovative startups. Positive statement from Business Finland required. Valid for team up to 5 people.
Path to Permanent Residency
EU CITIZENS: Full freedom of movement! After 3 months → registration with DVV (formerly Maistraatti). After 5 years → permanent residence. Citizenship after 5 years with sufficient Finnish/Swedish skills (YKI test level 3). NON-EU: Permanent residence after 4 years (A residence permit). Citizenship after 5 years. Dual citizenship allowed since 2003.
Important Notice
Visa and immigration regulations change frequently. The information provided is for general informational purposes only. Please consult the official government website or an immigration attorney for current and accurate information.