Bureaucracy in Finland

I know bureaucracy is a super boring topic, but I feel like before I moved to Finland I ended up googling this kind of thing and wanting to read about other people's experiences with Finnish bureaucracy. 

Visas and resident permits

The issue of getting a visa always depends on where you are from and what is the basis by which you are trying to get the visa. However, very briefly I'll explain my understanding of the system and my small experience with it. 

If you wish to come to Finland (to live) you can do so on the basis of family ties, a partner visa or on a student visa when studying. I came to Finland on a "working holiday" visa initially (which is available to people under 30 years of age, from Australia and from New Zealand - and possibly other places). The working holiday visa took about two months to process (in 2019) and I had to go to the Finnish Embassy (suurlähetystö) in my home country to apply in person for this visa. I was living in New Zealand, so I had to actually fly home to Australia and specifically fly to the embassy in Canberra. I did ask whether I could go to some equivalent place within New Zealand, and the answer was no.  At this point I was given a national identity number (henkilötunnus). This number is quite important in Finland because it is required when you do things... such as when I went and signed up for adult high school (aikuislukio) and when I wanted to join a gym. However, because I still had a type B resident permit that was about all I could do - so I still couldn't access most services within the country.

I applied for a partner visa once I was already in Finland. I waited until my Finnish partner and myself had lived together for a total of two years (one year and 11 months overseas and 1 month in Finland). Two years is the minimum requirement for this type of visa and you need to provide evidence (such as in the form of a joint rental contract). This resident permit took about 9 months to process (again in 2019). Then I had a type A continuous resident permit and could start to access most services available to Finns.

Driver's license

I found basically no information online about this topic, and just went in person to  somewhere called Ajovarma to ask. They then told me I could change my New Zealand driver's license (ajokortti) to Finnish driver's license. (Prior to this I actually thought I may have to do theory or practical tests again, but that was not the case). I needed however to have the type A continuous permit to change the license over, and I had a window of 2 years from when I got the type A residence permit to do so. I was told my Australian driver's license could also have been used to get a Finnish license - however, because my Australian license did not have "start date" (i.e. when it was issued) it was easier to apply with the New Zealand license. A medical certificate was needed as well to change over the license, which you can get from a doctor.

ID card (henkilökortti) 

If you need/want another form of ID other than your passport, you can apply for a "henkilökortti" online and then go to the police station to identify for yourself. The system in Finland seems to be that you get a photo taken at a photography shop (kuvaamo) and they then text you a link to add to your application online. When you get the ID card it will only be valid for the period of time for which you have a valid visa. You can do the application online in English (or Finnish or Swedish). 

Healthcare

I do not want to claim to know too much about this topic! The couple of things I do know are... when an Australian in Finland goes to the emergency department (päivystys) they only pay a small fee to get treatment. This is because of an arrangement between Australia and Finland - so I can't say how it is for other nationality (check if you can, what the situation is between Finland and your country). 

After you have the type A resident permit you are entitle to healthcare just like anyone else in Finland.  From what I understand you can get by with English at the doctor in Finland (at least in the hospital setting, but better to check first if the doctor speaks English when you go to a doctor at a medical centre). I don't live in Helsinki and I've come across receptionists who don't speak any English, but having said that most people claim you can get by with English almost anywhere in Finland and yes most times English will suffice. 

If you start work in Finland you will probably need to go to a check up with a work doctor. This is called työhöntulotarkastus (literally meaning: coming to work check up). The cost this will be covered by your work. Additionally in Finland when you are working it seems that your work provides you will healthcare. So your workplace informs you other who their work doctor is and you can go to this doctor if you are unwell (and costs are covered by work). 

Finnish words in this post

suurlähetystö - embassy

henkilötunnus - national identity number

ajokortti - driver's license

henkilökortti - identity card

kuvaamo = photography studio/shop

päivystys - emergency department