Moving to and Living in Helsinki 2026 — Housing, DVV, Kela, Tax, School and Work

1. Before the move

Non-EU nationals should confirm the correct residence permit; EU citizens should check whether registration of the right of residence is required for stays over three months. Nordic rules are separate.

Common early bottlenecks include civil-status documents, legalisation/translation, DVV appointments, housing and bank KYC. Check marriage/birth-certificate requirements before arrival.

2. First 2–4 weeks: formalities

Municipality-of-residence registration matters for local public services; having a Finnish personal identity code does not always mean that a municipality of residence has been registered. Kela eligibility is also not automatic merely from an address registration.

Do not delay the tax card when starting work. Strong electronic identification makes access to many public and private services easier.

3. Local support for international newcomers

International House Helsinki moved to Ratapihantie 7 in Pasila on 1 June 2026. The service ecosystem brings together guidance and services relating to Migri EU registration, DVV personal data/personal identity code/municipality registration, tax cards, employment and Kela matters.

These services generally do not make immigration decisions; they provide guidance on authorities, forms/appointments, housing, employment, education, daycare and everyday life.

4. Housing, family, school and healthcare

When choosing housing, consider commuting, daycare/school area, public transport, parking, electricity/heating structure and insurance as well as rent. Deposits and rental terms vary by contract.

Start daycare/school arrangements early.

5. Work, Finnish/Swedish and integration

Jobseeker registration, integration assessment/plan, language training and local employer networks may run through different channels. Register early with employment services where relevant and use local career/network guidance.

Learning Finnish or Swedish supports not only employment but also communication with daycare/school, healthcare, housing and public services.

6. Common mistakes

Source check: 24 August 2026. Recheck Helsinki's official city pages before moving because local services and addresses can change.

7. Getting around and finding a home in Helsinki

Public transport in Helsinki is run by HSL (Helsingin seudun liikenne). Season-ticket and single-ticket prices and the zones they cover follow HSL's own tariff, so when you look at a flat in Helsinki, weigh the daily journey to work or school alongside the rent.

Helsinki's municipal rental-housing company is Heka (Helsingin kaupungin asunnot), whose queue and criteria differ from the private market and may weigh income, assets and housing need. Private landlords in Helsinki commonly ask for proof of income and run a credit check, so keep your employment contract and first payslip to hand.

8. Healthcare and working in Helsinki

Helsinki is the exception to the 2023 reform: it does not belong to any wellbeing services county, and the city itself (Helsingin kaupunki) organises public health, social and rescue services, while HUS provides specialised hospital care. Your health station follows your registered address, so confirm the right one after moving to Helsinki.

Helsinki is the country's largest job market: public administration, ICT, finance, universities and international head offices concentrate here. In return housing is the most expensive and the most competitive in Finland, and good listings go within days. The odds of finding work in English are better than the national average, particularly in technology and international services.

9. Helsinki in practice: tickets and local contacts

In Helsinki you buy tickets in the HSL app or load them on an HSL card; most of the city lies in zones A and B, so an AB season ticket covers daily travel within the city.

The registration order itself — DVV, tax card, bank, Kela — is the same everywhere in Finland and is set out step by step in the guide to moving to Finland linked below; what is local in Helsinki is where you ask for guidance (International House Helsinki / Helsinki-info), who runs your health station (Helsingin kaupunki) and where you queue for a municipal flat (Heka (Helsingin kaupungin asunnot)).