First Things to do in Finland- Tips for NewComers

Dear visitors warm greetings from FINLAND. The homeland of SANTA CLAUS heartily welcomes you. Since you choose your destination to be FINLAND, you should necessarily be aware of these following information. The below steps should be followed when you initially step in FINLAND. Below Steps are numbered as per their importance.

The first thing you should do is to visit MAISTRATI (REGISTRATION OFFICE).  Register your information at your Local Registration Office. After you register, you will get your Social Security Number within 1 or 2 weeks. A social security Number is the most important thing, because this records your information in Finnish Ministry, which then entitles you to use several services (jobs, bank, tax, etc) in FINLAND. (Note: Take your Passport and Documents from college before you visit MAISTRATI, memorize you current address too).

A  Social Security Number looks like 010101-010A. It’s your birthdate+ register number. Be sure to save this in your mobile or memorize it. You need this everywhere. 

When you are tagged as a student, you get 50% discount on transportation.  Ask and fill the BUS/TRAIN card form from your polytechnic/universities and take it to HKL office for BUS card. A single bus card allows you to take every means of regional transportation (BUS, TRAM, TRAIN, and METRO). You can also apply a student card, which costs around €30/year, but not necessarily, when you use long distances train make VR card, which cost€12/year.

Open an account at NORDEA/ SAMPOO/ TAPIOLA/ HANDELSBANKEN/ SUOMENPANKII/ OUSUSPANKII ETC.  Normally students choose NORDEA or SAMPO BANK; we too recommend choosing either. Then deposit your draft, your draft gets cashed in 1 /2 weeks time. Before you deposit your draft, check various bank (NORDEA/SAMPOO) service rate.  You don’t need a penny to open a bank account just take in your passport and social security number.  

Now you need to make a tax card, visit your local Vero office (tax office). You can make it after you get a work or beforehand. Estimate the income you suppose to earn within a year before you visit Vero office. NOTE: we recommend you to make higher estimates because  if you make a tax card of €12000/year and at the end you earn around €13000 , then you need to pay fines , a certain amount  to tax office, or when you increase tax in between you have to pay higher tax percent. Nevertheless, when your tax card is €12000 and your earnings for year is €11000, and then you get refund for that €1000 which you paid more! Therefore, we think it’s wise to get refund than to pay fine.

If you feel hazard to carry passport every time, which is needed when you visit nightclub, buying alcohol, cigrates, shopping exceeding €50, etc etc. You can make a HENKILOKORTI. Visit the nearest POLICE OFFICEit cost around €40 (see criteria)and is valid for 5 years. This police card or HENKILOKORTI (in Finnish) acts as your identity card and henceforth you don’t need your passport within FINLAND , just keep your passport safe at locker  you just need it to renew your visa or when you leave  FINLAND.

For student housing check www.hoas.fi  or visit our apartment section.

For Job/work, browse www.mol.fi or our work section.

For college transfer or credit transfer check in our study section.

Now you are all ready to rock FINLAND. Have a nice time in FINLAND. Hauskaa aikaa suomessa!!!
© 2011 sawfinland.com