Your first 90 days in Finland: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Getting the residence permit does not get you the municipality of residence, and the two are decided by different agencies with different tests. People assume healthcare is switched on and discover otherwise at the first appointment — do the DVV visit in the first week, not the first month.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Register at a Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) service point after your Migri residence permit is granted, to get a municipality of residence
Register within one week of moving into your home; the residence permit itself must be granted before you arrive for most non-EU nationals
The distinction that trips people up is between a personal identity code (issued with the permit) and a municipality of residence (kotikunta) from DVV — only the latter unlocks municipal healthcare and Kela benefits, and it requires proving you intend to stay at least a year.
Get your henkilötunnus (Finnish personal identity code)
Every appointment, salary payment, prescription, bank account and tax card in Finland is keyed to it.
Usually issued alongside the residence permit by Migri; if not, you register in person at DVV. The separate tax card (verokortti) is then requested from the Tax Administration before your first payday.
Open a bank account
Finnish banks (OP, Nordea, S-Pankki) require the personal identity code, a residence permit and generally a Finnish address, and identity verification is strict — several banks want you to already have strong electronic identification, which is itself issued by a bank. Arrive with a working multi-currency account, because the chicken-and-egg here can take weeks.
Enrol in healthcare
A municipality of residence gets you into the public wellbeing-services-county system with low flat fees; employees additionally get occupational health, which is in practice how most working residents actually see a doctor quickly. Without kotikunta you are a private patient, so the DVV step is the one with money attached.
Sort your driver's license
EU/EEA licences remain valid; licences from many other countries may be used for two years from when you establish residence, and exchange rights depend on whether your country is on Finland's recognised list — US and most non-listed licences mean sitting the Finnish theory and driving tests.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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First 90 days in Finland: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Finland?
Register at a Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) service point after your Migri residence permit is granted, to get a municipality of residence — Register within one week of moving into your home; the residence permit itself must be granted before you arrive for most non-EU nationals. The distinction that trips people up is between a personal identity code (issued with the permit) and a municipality of residence (kotikunta) from DVV — only the latter unlocks municipal healthcare and Kela benefits, and it requires proving you intend to stay at least a year. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the henkilötunnus and do I need one?
henkilötunnus (Finnish personal identity code) is Finland's personal tax/ID number. Every appointment, salary payment, prescription, bank account and tax card in Finland is keyed to it. Usually issued alongside the residence permit by Migri; if not, you register in person at DVV. The separate tax card (verokortti) is then requested from the Tax Administration before your first payday.
Can I drive in Finland on a US license?
EU/EEA licences remain valid; licences from many other countries may be used for two years from when you establish residence, and exchange rights depend on whether your country is on Finland's recognised list — US and most non-listed licences mean sitting the Finnish theory and driving tests. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Finland?
A municipality of residence gets you into the public wellbeing-services-county system with low flat fees; employees additionally get occupational health, which is in practice how most working residents actually see a doctor quickly. Without kotikunta you are a private patient, so the DVV step is the one with money attached. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Finland's system treats foreign residents.