Daily life in Finland

Resources for newcomers in Finland

Here are some useful resources to help you get started with your new life in Finland.

Transport 

In Finland, using public transport is the most affordable and ecological choice. The systems are often on time and are comfortable to use. You can get a student discount for public transport in most cities. 

Check the HSL website for more information on public transport and students discounts in the Helsinki region. HSL operates buses, trams, local trains, and the metro in the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa. Please note that you need Finnish banking credentials to buy a discounted student ticket via the HSL app. Please ask Study Services for the HSL paper form to access the student discount. Fill in this form and bring it to the HSL service point in the central railway station (päärautatieasema). You will get an HSL travel card loaded with your discounted fare. 

For travelling between cities, check the Matkahuolto website for long-distance buses, and the VR website for long-distance trains. 

Matkahuolto can also be used to buy bus tickets with a student discount for those studying at our Porvoo campus. For our Vierumäki campus, LSL operates buses in and around Lahti. You can obtain a personal Waltti travel card and load a season ticket with a student discount. 

City bikes 

Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa city bikes are available from April to the end of October via the HSL app. City bikes are also available in Porvoo through the service provider Kaakau. The bikes are orange and have the text Donkey Republic on them. 

Many Finnish cities have comprehensive bike lines that provide a safe way to bike alongside traffic. It is a valid way to get around your city, and many locals even cycle in the winter. Make sure that either you or your bike is equipped with reflectors and non-flashing front and rear lights for darker conditions. Learn more about safe cycling and mandatory equipment from the Finnish Road Safety Council.

Driving

A driving licence is needed to drive in Finland. Check the validity of your foreign driving licence. If your license is issued from outside the EU/EEA or is due to expire while you are resident in Finland, you may need to explore applying for a Finnish driving licence. 

Finns drive on the right and overtake on the left. 

Driving carefully in Finland is important – icy conditions in the winter mean winter tyres are a requirement from 1 November to 31 March. Furthermore, all motor vehicles must use headlights whenever the car is being driven – everywhere and all throughout the year! Learn more about road safety in Finland from the Finnish Road Safety Council.

Banking

It is a good idea to open a Finnish bank account, because local banks offer a strong identity verification service used by various service providers to identify you. It isn’t uncommon for this to be the only way to access a service. For example, if you wish to use the online services of the Finnish tax authority or make medical appointments online, you will be asked to identify yourself with your Finnish bank credentials.  

Opening a bank account will require you to make an in-person appointment with the bank of your choice. Check with the bank to see whether you book online or by calling their service number. Please note that you need a Finnish Personal Identity Code (henkilötunnus) to open a bank account. In addition, banks may ask you to prove that you are staying in Finland long term – bring your Haaga-Helia study certificate to your appointments as this document shows the duration of your studies.

Not all shops or service providers accept cash in Finland. Card, online, and mobile payments are very common. If you need cash, you can withdraw money at an ATM machine.

For advice related to banking and other financial matters in Finland, you may contact the Finnish Financial Ombudsman Bureau.

Home and mobile internet 

Internet and mobile phone subscriptions are fairly inexpensive in Finland. For mobile, you can choose between two options: a subscription (postpaid) with a telecom company, or a prepaid card available at both R-Kioski and telecom company shopfronts. You may need to start out with a prepaid SIM card when you first arrive, but once you have received your Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus), you can enquire about a subscription.

In Finland, it can be difficult to organise a long-term subscription contract if you don’t have any credit history in the country. You may be asked to make an advance payment. Ask your provider for advice.

Remember to check whether internet is included in your rental agreement before purchasing an internet service. 

Pharmacies and medicine

Medicines can only be bought from pharmacies in Finland. Pharmacies also sell vitamins, antihistamines, painkillers, and skin creams. The Finnish word for a pharmacy is apteekki.  

Medicines such as antibiotics, birth control pills, and asthma medication can only be bought with a prescription from a doctor. Medical prescriptions are usually electronic – doctors do not tend to issue paper prescriptions, however they can if asked. You can purchase medication prescribed to you at any pharmacy by presenting personal identification. The pharmacist can find your electronic prescription in the online database with your personal details.  

You can view your own prescription and medical information through the MyKanta service. You log into the service with your Finnish online banking credentials. You can renew an electronic prescription through MyKanta, your doctor, or a pharmacy. Pharmacies and doctors may charge a fee for renewing a prescription. 

Are you bringing a prescription to Finland from another EU/EEA member state? If yes, visit the EU Healthcare website to learn more about what is accepted.

Student healthcare

As a degree student, you are entitled to use the services of the Finnish Student Health Service. Please read more information about student healthcare here on Haaga-Helia's and YTHS’s websites.

Emergency services

In case of emergency, call 112. This number connects you to the ambulance service, police, and fire department. The service workers speak Finnish, Swedish, and English well. Emergency services are trusted in Finland, and your situation will be handled professionally and with care.

It is a good idea to install the free 112 Suomi app on your phone. When making an emergency call through the app, your exact location (even if you are in a moving car) will automatically be shared with the emergency response centre.

Library services 

Libraries in Finland host many different services to help enrich the local community. HelMet is the system used in the Helsinki Capital Region (Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, and Vantaa), Lastu is used in Lahti, and Helle in Porvoo. All three services have library cards that can be applied for. 

Finnish libraries have a wide variety of books and other resources in multiple languages that can be borrowed at no cost. You can also find offerings such as sewing machines, Finnish language practice groups, meeting and work spaces, musical instruments, and gaming facilities. More information about what your local libraries offer can be found on the area’s respective website. 

As a Haaga-Helia student, you also have the opportunity to get a 3UAS library card. This library cards grants you access to all Haaga-Helia, Laurea, and Metropolia libraries. Haaga-Helia's online library system is called Finna. Visit any UAS library to fill in the form for a library card.