Before 2021, a British citizen could arrive in Finland with a passport and register like any other European. Today the same person needs a residence permit first. Moving to Finland from the UK now means moving as a third-country national, and everything in this guide follows from that single fact.
This guide covers what changes for British citizens: the right to stay, social security, driving, property and day-to-day paperwork.
Can British citizens still go about moving to Finland from the UK freely?
No. Since Brexit, British citizens are no longer covered by the EU free movement route. The EU registration at Migri that other Europeans use is not available to you.
There are two groups. People who were living in Finland before the end of the transition period and applied in time hold a Brexit permit under the Withdrawal Agreement. Migri's Brexit page says the general application period ended on 30 September 2021. Existing permits protect their holders' rights, and the physical card must be renewed before it expires.
Everyone arriving now applies for a residence permit under the ordinary rules for non-EU nationals, on a ground such as employment, studies, or family ties. The application is submitted to Migri, typically through Enter Finland. Do it before you move: the processing time depends on the ground and the season, and Migri publishes current times on its website.
What residence permit do you need for moving to Finland from the UK?
It depends on why you come. A job offer leads to a work-based permit, studies to a student permit, and family ties to a family permit. The ground for your permit must match your real situation, so read Migri's pages for your specific case, for example work, studies or family, before you pay any fee.
If a family member is an EU or Finnish citizen, the route can be different, and a spouse of an EU citizen may qualify for a residence card. If your family ties existed before the end of 2020, some family members and children may still apply for a Brexit permit. Check the current Migri page.
Once you hold a permit, registration in the population register is automatic, and the personal identity code is issued at the same time. That is a small relief: you skip the DVV queue that EU citizens face. Continue with the Finnish personal identity code.
Which permit fits you, and what does Migri expect on the day? Moovy can sort your case, list what to prepare and draft a clear Finnish or Swedish message for the authority. Anything that needs a lawyer or an official decision stays with the proper office.
How does Kela treat British arrivals?
Better than the Brexit headlines suggest. Kela applies the EU-UK partnership agreement to people who arrive from the UK in 2021 or later, and says healthcare works much as before. A pensioner coming from the UK does not need an S1. People who arrived before 2021 generally keep the European rules under the Withdrawal Agreement.
You still need a municipality of residence for public healthcare and you still apply to Kela, which decides whether you live in Finland permanently. For short visits, the card issued in the UK (a GHIC, or the provisional replacement certificate) gives access to public healthcare at local prices. See Kela in Finland and healthcare in Finland for expats.
Can you keep driving on your UK licence?
For two years after moving permanently, yes. Traficom lists the United Kingdom among the contracting states whose licences are valid for that period. Plan the exchange well before the deadline:
- book an appointment at Ajovarma, the approved provider;
- bring a medical certificate (valid six months), photos and your passport;
- allow 3 to 4 months for processing, with a temporary licence valid in Finland meanwhile;
- if more than two years have passed, you may have to sit the theory and driving tests.
Heavy goods, bus and category BE licences are exchanged by examination. Your UK licence is sent to Traficom and kept until you leave Finland. A UK-registered car also needs customs clearance, since the UK is outside the EU.
Can you buy a home in Finland as a British citizen?
Yes, with a difference. InfoFinland says that outside the EU and EEA a permit from the Ministry of Defence is generally needed to buy real estate (a house with its plot), but not housing company shares, which are how most flats are owned. A purchase with an EU or EEA spouse is also exempt. Read buying property in Finland.
Which documents will a British applicant need?
Start with a valid passport. Migri accepts documents in Finnish, Swedish or English, which is one practical advantage for British applicants: an English-language employment contract, a university certificate or a bank statement normally needs no translation. Documents in other languages need an authorised translation. Civil-status certificates, such as a marriage certificate, often need legalisation or an apostille before Finnish authorities accept them; the DVV and Migri state the exact requirement for your case.
For an employee, the employer usually provides the supporting documents and sometimes starts the process. For a family permit, the sponsor in Finland is involved. For a business route, read Migri's guidance on entrepreneurs: a self-employed British citizen needs a residence permit for that activity, because the EU right to run a business no longer applies. Once you live in Finland, the Patent and Registration Office (PRH) treats you as living in the EEA, which matters for company registration.
How do you move a UK car, pets and household goods?
A UK-registered car is not EEA-registered, so customs clearance from Finnish Customs is needed and a transfer permit if you want to drive it before it is registered. Vero's car tax is charged on cars brought to Finland whatever their origin, so run the calculator before shipping.
For household goods and pets, check the rules of Finnish Customs and the Finnish Food Authority before you book a removal company. Both publish their requirements, and they change more often than a blog can follow.
What should a British renter do first?
Renting is where Brexit hurts least. Landlords ask for your identity document, proof of income and often your personal identity code, so ask whether a signed lease can start before the code arrives. Public subsidised housing is open to people with a residence permit valid for at least 12 months, according to InfoFinland. More on this in renting in Finland.
What about tax, banking and work?
Finnish residents are taxed on their worldwide income, so a British retiree or remote worker should check the tax treaty with the UK and ask a tax adviser.
A bank must open a basic payment account for people who legally reside in the EEA, which includes you once you live in Finland with a residence permit. Your permit must allow you to work if you plan to take a job, so check that before accepting an offer.
What is a sensible order for a British move?
- Secure the right to stay (permit) before you leave the UK.
- Arrive, complete the Finnish registration and get your identity code.
- Tax card, bank account, Kela.
- Start the driving licence exchange early.
- Rent first; buy later.
It is slower than it was before Brexit. It is also more predictable than many British arrivals expect, because the system explains itself and the rules are applied consistently.