Moving to Finland with family: complete relocation guide

Moving to Finland with family

Relocating with a family adds complexity to any move, but Finland is one of the best countries in the world for families. Free education, affordable childcare, excellent healthcare for children, and a culture that prioritizes family time make it a rewarding destination. This guide covers the practical steps and what to expect.

Key takeaways

• Family reunification: Non-EU family members can apply through Migri
• income requirements apply
• Spouse work rights: Depend on the permit type
• EU spouses work freely, non-EU depends on permit
• Childcare from 9 months: Municipal daycare (päiväkoti) costs 0-335 EUR/month based on family income
• Free education: Comprehensive school (peruskoulu) is free, including meals, materials, and transport
• Neuvola is extraordinary: Free maternity and child health clinics with regular checkups from pregnancy through school age
• Child benefits: Tax-free monthly payment (94.88 EUR for first child) for all children under 17
• Parental leave: Among the most generous in the world
• up to 14 months per family

Family reunification permits

EU/EEA family members

If you are an EU/EEA citizen living in Finland:

• Your spouse and children under 21 have the right to join you
• Register at DVV (Digital and Population Data Services)
• No income requirements for EU family reunification
• Your family members can work immediately

Non-EU family members

If the family member already in Finland holds a residence permit:

• Apply through Migri (Finnish Immigration Service)
• Income requirement: The sponsor must demonstrate sufficient income (called "means of support")
• Amounts vary by family size (roughly 1,000-1,700 EUR/month net after housing costs, depending on number of family members)
• Processing time: 4-9 months
• plan well ahead
• Application fee: ~500-600 EUR per applicant
• Required documents: Marriage certificate, children's birth certificates (apostilled/legalized), passport photos, proof of accommodation, proof of income

The process step by step

1. Sponsor ensures they meet income requirements
2. Family members apply at the nearest Finnish embassy or consulate in their home country
3. Submit all required documents (translated and certified)
4. Biometrics appointment (fingerprints and photo)
5. Wait for Migri decision (check processing times at Migri.fi)
6. Once approved, collect residence permit card
7. After arrival: register at DVV, apply for henkilötunnus, arrange Kela coverage

Tip: Start the process as early as possible. Gathering apostilled documents from home countries can take weeks, and Migri processing times fluctuate. Apply 6-9 months before your planned move date.

Spouse work rights

EU/EEA spouse

• Automatic right to work in Finland
• No separate work permit needed
• Register the right of residence at Migri if staying over 3 months (Nordic citizens register at DVV instead)

Non-EU spouse

Work rights depend on the residence permit type:

Check carefully: Permit conditions vary. Always verify the exact work rights printed on the residence permit card. If unclear, contact Migri.

For more on work permits, see our work permit glossary entry.

Childcare system

Municipal daycare (päiväkoti)

Finland guarantees every child a right to early childhood education:

• Available from the end of parental leave (approximately 9 months) until school age
• Full-day care (typically 7:00-17:00)
• Small group sizes with qualified staff
• Staff trained in early childhood education (bachelor's or vocational degree required)
• Meals included
• Apply through your municipality's online system

Daycare costs (2026)

Fees are income-based, making quality childcare accessible to all families:

• Second child: 40% of the first child's fee
• Third+ child: 20% of the first child's fee
• Fees are set by law and apply nationally

Other childcare options

• Family daycare (perhepäivähoito): small group (4-5 children) in a caregiver's home
• Private daycare: Montessori, Waldorf, bilingual options available. Kela provides private daycare allowance
• Home care allowance: if you choose to care for your child at home after parental leave, Kela pays approximately 400 EUR/month until the child turns 3

For a detailed breakdown, see our childcare guide.

School enrollment

Comprehensive school (peruskoulu)

Finnish basic education is world-renowned and completely free:

• Ages 7-16 (grades 1-9)
• Compulsory for all children living in Finland
• Everything is free: tuition, textbooks, materials, school meals, healthcare, and transport if the distance exceeds 5 km
• No standardized testing until the end of basic education
• Quality is remarkably equal across schools
• there's no need to "shop" for good schools
• Multilingual children receive Finnish/Swedish language support (S2 classes)
• Special education integrated into mainstream schools
• School day: typically 8:00-14:00, shorter for younger children

How to enroll

1. Your municipality assigns a school based on your address (nearest school principle)
2. Contact the school directly or through your municipality's education department
3. The school assesses your child's Finnish/Swedish language level
4. A preparatory class (valmistava opetus) is offered for children who need language support - typically 1 year
5. After preparatory class, children join mainstream classes with continued language support

Note: Finnish children start school at age 7, later than in many countries. Research consistently shows this later start contributes to stronger outcomes. If your child is younger, they'll be in daycare or preschool.

Preschool (esiopetus)

• Age 6: mandatory since 2015
• Free, 4 hours per day
• Focuses on learning readiness, social skills, and play
• Provided at daycare centers or schools
• Automatically arranged by your municipality the year before school starts

Upper secondary education (ages 16-19)

• Lukio (general upper secondary): academic track leading to university entrance
• Ammattikoulu (vocational school): practical career training with high employment rates
• Both are free and well-regarded
• Choice depends on the student's interests and abilities, not a hierarchy

International schools

For families not yet ready for Finnish-language education, international schools offer instruction in English and other languages:

Helsinki area

• Helsinki International School (HIS): English-language, IB curriculum
• International School of Helsinki (ISH): Publicly funded, free, English/Finnish
• French-Finnish School of Helsinki: French/Finnish bilingual
• German School Helsinki: German/Finnish bilingual
• Ressu Comprehensive School (IB): IB Primary Years Programme, publicly funded

Other cities

• Tampere: Tampere International School
• free, publicly funded
• Turku: International School of Turku
• Oulu: Oulu International School
• Espoo: Espoo International School

Key considerations

• Public international schools are free: funded by municipalities
• Private international schools charge fees: typically 5,000-15,000 EUR/year
• Waitlists are common: apply as early as possible, ideally 6-12 months ahead
• Consider long-term plans: If you're staying in Finland, Finnish-language school integrates children faster and keeps all doors open for Finnish university education

Neuvola - maternity and child health clinics

The neuvola system is one of Finland's greatest strengths for families:

What neuvola provides - completely free

• During pregnancy: Regular checkups (8-10 visits), ultrasounds, blood tests, health education
• After birth: Home visit by a public health nurse within 1-2 weeks
• Infant and toddler: Regular checkups tracking development, growth, vaccinations
• Preschool age: Annual health and development checkups
• School-age: School health services continue the same preventive approach

The neuvola nurse

• Your assigned nurse follows your family throughout pregnancy and early childhood
• Acts as a first contact for concerns about child development, parenting, postnatal depression
• Connects you with specialists if needed
• Genuinely cares about your family's wellbeing
• the relationship is personal and supportive

How to access

1. When you find out you're pregnant, contact your municipality's neuvola
2. You'll be assigned a nurse (terveydenhoitaja)
3. The first appointment is usually around week 8-10 of pregnancy
4. After birth, the same system continues with well-baby checkups

The famous baby box: When you register at the neuvola before the end of the 4th month of pregnancy, you receive the Finnish baby box (äitiyspakkaus) from Kela - a box of essential baby supplies that doubles as the baby's first bed. Available to all families, it's a beloved Finnish tradition.

Child benefits (lapsilisä)

Kela pays a tax-free monthly child benefit for every child under 17 living in Finland:

• Single-parent supplement: 73.30 EUR extra per child per month; children under 3 get an extra 26 EUR per month
• No income test: Paid to all families regardless of income
• Not automatic: you must apply to Kela (OmaKela or form LL1e), within 6 months of the date you want payment to start
• Paid to the custodial parent monthly; the payment date varies, so check Kela's payment dates

Parental leave overview

Finland's parental leave system (reformed in 2022) is among the world's most generous:

• Birthing parent: 40 pregnancy days + 160 parental days (~6.5 months)
• Other parent: 160 parental days (~5.5 months)
• Transferable: Up to 63 days can be given to the other parent
• Total per family: 320 parental days plus up to 40 pregnancy days (~14 months)
• Pay: Approximately 70% of salary from Kela. Many employers top up to full salary
• Can be taken flexibly: Part-time, in blocks, until the child turns 2

For a full breakdown of parental leave and family benefits, see our childcare guide.

Practical tips for family relocation

Before arrival

• Start the family reunification process 6-9 months early
• Research schools and apply to international schools if needed
• Get all family documents (marriage, birth certificates) apostilled
• Arrange temporary furnished housing for the first 1-3 months
• Pack warm clothes for children: Finnish winters are real

First weeks

• Register the whole family at DVV
• everyone needs henkilötunnus
• Apply for Kela coverage for all family members
• Contact neuvola if you have young children or are expecting
• Enroll children in daycare or school
• Open bank accounts for adults
• Apply for child benefits (lapsilisä)

Settling in

• Join parent groups
• neuvola and daycare often organize these
• Look for international family groups in your city
• Municipal family centers (perhekeskus) offer free activities and support
• Libraries have excellent children's programs
• consider the whole family for a library card
• Sign children up for hobbies
• sports clubs, music schools, and scouts welcome all children

Honest perspective: Moving with children is harder than moving alone, but Finland's support system makes it manageable. The first 3-6 months are the toughest - new language, dark winter if you arrive in autumn, and children adjusting to a new environment. But Finnish schools are gentle, daycare staff are trained professionals, and the neuvola nurse is genuinely there for your family. Most families report that within a year, their children are thriving.

Useful resources

• Migri - family permits
• Kela - family benefits
• InfoFinland - family
• information in multiple languages
• Finnish National Agency for Education - school system information
• Herizon community - connect with other international families in Finland

Related guides

• Childcare in Finland
• Healthcare in Finland
• Housing in Finland
• Cost of living
• Getting started - first week
• Cities in Finland