Moving to Vaasa
For specialists and families staying for months or years. Short sections, links to the official sources, and the companies that can help with each step.
Housing
Most newcomers who stay for months rent a furnished apartment. The Furnished apartments category lists landlords and companies in the region that want to be contacted. You contact them directly. No platform fee is added.
What to expect:
- Leases are often for a fixed period of six or twelve months, or open-ended with a notice period. The tenancy agreement page on InfoFinland explains what a Finnish lease contains.
- Deposits of one to two months’ rent are common. The law caps the size of the deposit.
- Rent usually includes water. Electricity and internet are often separate.
- Never pay a deposit before you have seen the apartment or verified the landlord. A business ID in the directory is a good sign; you can check it in the business register.
Sources: Renting a home (InfoFinland), Tenancy agreement (InfoFinland), Housing (City of Vaasa).
Registration and taxes in brief
Each authority has one job. This page does not repeat their rules; the links do.
- Right to stay: citizens of EU and EEA countries register their right of residence if they stay longer than three months. Everyone else needs a residence permit. Registration of the right of residence (Finnish Immigration Service)
- Personal identity code and address: the Digital and Population Data Services Agency registers you as a resident and issues the personal identity code that banks, employers and healthcare use. Moving to Finland (DVV), Personal identity code (DVV)
- Tax card: your employer needs a tax card from the Tax Administration before the first salary. Working in Finland (Tax Administration)
- Social security: Kela decides whether you are covered by Finnish social security and issues the Kela card. Moving to Finland (Kela)
- Overview in twelve languages: Moving to Finland (InfoFinland)
Healthcare basics
- Public healthcare in the Vaasa region is run by the wellbeing services county of Ostrobothnia. Its health centres and the central hospital are in Vaasa. Wellbeing services county of Ostrobothnia
- In an emergency call 112. For urgent but not life-threatening problems, the emergency clinic in Vaasa is open around the clock. Emergency care
- The medical helpline 116 117 tells you whether you need to go to the emergency clinic and where. Medical helpline 116 117
- Occupational health: employers in Finland arrange occupational healthcare for their employees. Ask your employer which clinic to use. Private clinics and dentists are listed under Health and occupational health.
- Your right to public healthcare depends on your registration and social security status. Health services in Finland (InfoFinland)
Schools and daycare
Vaasa has early childhood education and schools in Finnish and Swedish, and English-language options in both early childhood education and basic education. Places are applied for through the city. Start early: daycare places can take weeks to arrange.
- Early childhood education and schools (City of Vaasa)
- Education (InfoFinland)
- Families in Mustasaari (Korsholm), Laihia and the other municipalities apply through their own municipality.
Getting around
- Air: Vaasa airport is 10 km from the centre, with several daily flights to Helsinki. Vaasa airport (Finavia)
- Train: Vaasa to Helsinki takes about four hours. Train timetables and tickets
- Long-distance buses: timetables
- Local buses: public transport in Vaasa (City of Vaasa)
- Sweden: the ferry from Vaasa to Umeå takes about four hours and carries cars. Vaasa–Umeå ferry
- Driving: winter tyres are required in winter conditions, and a foreign driving licence is valid for a limited time. Driving licences (Traficom). Cars on long-term rental are listed under Car, van and bus rental.
Everyday life
- Groceries: large supermarkets are open every day, including Sundays. Prices are higher than in most of Europe; discount chains are cheaper.
- Bank account: you need a passport and usually a Finnish personal identity code and an address. Opening an account can take several weeks, so start early and ask your employer which bank they recommend. Settling in Finland (InfoFinland)
- Mobile phone: prepaid SIM cards are sold in kiosks and supermarkets and need no registration. A contract subscription needs a personal identity code.
- Post and parcels: Posti
- Weather: forecasts (Finnish Meteorological Institute)
Where to get help
- The Welcome Office of the City of Vaasa gives free guidance to newcomers in several languages, without an appointment. Welcome Office
- Welcome to the Vaasa region (City of Vaasa)
- Language courses: Finnish and Swedish (InfoFinland)
- Relocation and settling-in services in the directory help with registrations, housing search and orientation for a fee.
Companies that can help
Questions people ask
Do I need to speak Finnish or Swedish?
Not for daily life. Vaasa is a bilingual city, and most people also speak English. Finnish or Swedish helps with authorities and with making friends. Language courses are listed under Where to get help.
Can my partner work in Finland?
Citizens of EU and EEA countries can work after registering their right of residence. For everyone else it depends on the residence permit. The Finnish Immigration Service explains the options.
How do I find a furnished apartment?
Use the Furnished apartments category in the directory and contact the landlords directly. There is no platform fee. Never pay a deposit before you have seen the apartment or verified the landlord.
Is there an English-language school?
Vaasa has Finnish, Swedish and English-language options in early childhood education and basic education. The city's education pages list the current options and how to apply.