Moving to Vaasa

Housing

Most newcomers who stay for months rent a furnished apartment. The Furnished apartments category lists landlords in the region who can be contacted directly. No platform fee is added.

Leases are often for six or twelve months, or open-ended with a notice period. InfoFinland’s page explains what a Finnish lease contains.
Deposits of one to two months’ rent are common. The law caps the deposit.
Rent usually includes water. Electricity and internet are often separate.
Do not pay a deposit before you have seen the apartment or checked the landlord. A business ID can be checked in the business register.

Sources: Renting a home (InfoFinland), Tenancy agreement (InfoFinland), Housing (City of Vaasa).

Registration and taxes in brief

The links go straight to the authorities’ own instructions.

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 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 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 to go to the emergency clinic and where. Medical helpline 116 117
Occupational health: employers arrange occupational healthcare. 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. 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)
In Mustasaari (Korsholm), Laihia and the other municipalities, apply through your 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: Car, van and bus rental.

Everyday life

Groceries: large supermarkets are open every day. Prices are higher than in most of Europe; discount chains are cheapest.
Bank account: you need a passport and usually a Finnish personal identity code and an address. Opening an account can take 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 without 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 getting started, for a fee.

Questions people ask

Do I need to speak Finnish or Swedish?

Not for daily life. Finnish and Swedish are the official languages and Vaasa is a bilingual city, but you can get things done in English almost everywhere. About 100 languages are spoken in Vaasa; the largest other language groups are Russian, Estonian, Arabic, English and Somali. Finnish or Swedish helps with some authorities and with getting to know people. 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. Do not pay a deposit before you have seen the apartment or checked 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 have the current options and how to apply.