Students with family

If you as a citizen of a non-EU/EEA  country, plan to move to Finland as a student together with your family members (spouse/children), you need to apply for residence permits for both yourself and your family members already in your home country and preferably as so as possible since the process can take many months depending on your location. 

Please note that the income requirement for residence permit also include the ability to financially support your family members so the amount required is higher than if you arrive alone as a student to Finland. Read more about the residence permit process for family members at the Finnish Immigration Services webpages and generally about the residence permit process on Hanken's webpage on the residence permit application.

Citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland and their family members do not need to apply for a residence permit.

After you and your family members have arrived in Finland, both you and your family members must complete some registrations with Finnish authorities.

• Citizens of and EU/EEA country or Switzerland must l register their right of residence of an citizen of the European Union (EU registration) ​. The EU registration process is also described on the pages for students and mostly also apply to family members.

• All foreigners regardless of nationality must also register at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency in order to obtain a Finnish Personal Identity Code, permanent address and home municipality in Finland. The registration process is also described on the pages for students. 

The Finnish education system consists of early childhood education and care; pre-primary education; basic education; general upper secondary education; vocational education; higher education and adult education.

Compulsory education applies to all 6–18-year-olds. It includes pre-primary, basic and upper secondary education. Compulsory education is for free for all age-appropriate minors in public schools. Private schools are subject to fees. Early childhood education and care are NOT for free. In other words, you need to pay for the minor´s day care. Read more about education for minors at InfoFinland's webpages.

The services of Finnish Student Health Service (YTHS) are available ONLY for Hanken degree students. Family members of foreign students can use the local health care services. Read more about which health care services you are entitled to on InfoFinland's webpages.

Other useful links:

•  Mieli: provides help in different situations related to wellbeing and mental health. 

If your family member lives in Finland with you and does not have a job, he or she can register as a job seeker in his/her city of residence. Please note that if you are not a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you must have a valid residence permit in order to register as a jobseeker. Read more on the pages of JobMarket Finland.

In both Helsinki and Vaasa region, there are various services that can be useful for you as a job seeker:

• Employment Coaching session at International House Helsinki: Discuss matters such as early-stage employment counselling, tips for job-searching, introduction to the Finnish labour market and job seeking in the Helsinki capital region. 

• Vaasa Welcome office: Visit to discuss questions related to working life or training and education possibilities.

• Work in Finland includes a lot of information for job seekers in Finland, including open positions, events for internationals and inspiring material

• Info Finland incudes a lot of information about looking for jobs and working in Finland. Read more about how and where to apply for a job and about building a career in Finland.

Knowledge of Finnish and Swedish is very useful for work and in your free time in Finland, it also gives you a better understanding of society and culture in Finland. Language courses are organized in many cities in Finland, and you can also find language courses online. You can read more about language studies, self-studies and where to find language courses below. 

Useful links: 

• Info Finland about language studies.

• Kielibuusti/Språkboost offers a lot of material if you want to learn Finnish or Swedish. Check their pages to find language courses, practice the language on your own or to read more about integrating in Finnish or Swedish.

Hint! Joining a Finnish or Swedish language course is a great way to start learning one of the local languages and to better understand Finnish society. Moreover, it is important to start using the language as soon as possible, for example by joining a language café or mentorship program where you get to practice talking. Both in Helsinki and Vaasa, there are language cafés organized. Read more about language cafés and other ways to practice the language on the pages of Kielibuusti/Språkboost.

When moving to a new country you probably also look forward to get to know your new home city and build friendships, and maybe you want to get a hobby or take part in fun activities. In both Capital region and Vaasa region there are plenty of ways to join a hobby and different programs where you get to meet and network with locals, e.g. at mentorship programs, friendship programs or other events. 

Helsinki region

• Hobbies: Adult Education centres in Helsinki Capital region offer a lot of courses, everything from language courses to cooking classes, for affordable prices.

• Friendship and networking: International House Helsinki (IHH) organizes, in cooperation with other actors, various Friend programs. At IHH you can also take part in a Spouse program.

• Mentorship: Different actors in the Capital region organize mentorship programs, where you can apply to get a mentor who can support your journey in Finland. Some of the programs focus mainly on career in Finland, while some focus on career as well as culture, language learning and social life. Familiarize yourself with e.g the Luckan mentorship programme and Think Africas mentorsprogram.

Vaasa region

• Hobbies: Alma Adult Education Centre offers various courses, everything from language courses to sport classes for affordable prices. 

• Friendship and networking: Spouse programme. As a spouse to an international student you can also apply to be part of a spouse programme in Vaasa.