Living in Finland - Guide.pdf

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LIVING IN FINLAND
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The Route of the Professional Shipyard worker in the Baltic Sea
EQUAL thematic field 3E: Adaptability - Adaptation to change and NIT
Becoming More Visible
EQUAL thematic field 5: Asylum seekers
Authors: Sari Kanervo ja Suvi Kaljunen
Illustration: Sergei Arhipov
Lay-out: Asta Graphics & Design 2007
Publisher: Turku Cultural Centre/International Meeting Point
This publication was jointly produced by the projects Route of the
Professional Shipyard Worker on the Baltic Sea and Becoming More Visible.
ISBN 978-951-98411-5-1
Printing: TEMA-TEAM 11571/2-07, Gummerus Printing , Jyväskylä 2007
LIVING IN FINLAND
For an Internet version of this publication, visit
www.turku.fi/kulttuurikeskus --> kansainvälinen kohtauspaikka
Information about specific countries’ processes and procedures, contained within this publication,
were provided by the representative/s from those countries who were involved. We believe that
we have taken all measures necessary and within our powers to ensure this accuracy and it is our
belief that information contained within this document is correct at the time of publication.
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index
April Fools’ Day, Aprillipäivä (1 April) ............................... 36
Easter, Pääsiäinen ................................................................... 37
The 1st of May, May Day, Vappu (1 May) ......................... 37
Ascension Day, Helatorstai, and Whitsun, Helluntai ... 38
Midsummer, Juhannus ......................................................... 38
Independence Day, Itsenäisyyspäivä .............................. 39
Christmas, Joulu ...................................................................... 39
Mother’s Day, äitienpäivä
and Father’s Day, isänpäivä ................................................. 40
Other festival days .................................................................. 41
Foreign citizens’ social security and health care ......... 57
Obligations ............................................................................... 60
Obligation to national defence ......................................... 61
FOREWORD .............................................................................. 6
TRAFFIC ................................................................................. 82
Bicycles and motorcycles .................................................... 84
Driving a car ............................................................................. 84
Driving licences ........................................... ........................... 86
Buying a vehicle, its condition, inspection,
as well as other regulations ................................................ 87
Tax liability ................................................................................ 90
Moving to Finland ....................................................... 8
Right to enter the country and immigrant status ......... 8
TAXES ...................................................................................... 62
Population register system
and identity number ............................................... 11
WORK AND LIVELIHOOD ............................................. 64
Work-related permits ............................................................ 65
Labour legislation and collective agreement .............. 68
Employer and employee obligations .............................. 70
Employment contract ........................................................... 71
Working hours and monitoring of working hours ..... 72
Salary and other benefits .................................................... 73
Holidays and time off ............................................................ 74
Travel expenses ....................................................................... 75
Accumulation of employment pension ......................... 76
HOUSING ................................................................................ 12
Pets .............................................................................................. 15
Rented accommodation ...................................................... 16
Other types of housing ........................................................ 17
INTOXICANTS .....................................................................91
Tobacco and smoking .......................................................... 91
Alcohol ....................................................................................... 91
Narcotics .................................................................................... 92
LIFE IN FINLAND ............................................................. 42
Birth registration and christening .................................... 42
Childhood and youth ............................................................ 43
Marriage and registering the partnership ..................... 46
Marriage – Rights and obligations of spouses ............. 48
New baby in the family ........................................................ 49
Divorce ....................................................................................... 51
Death and burial ..................................................................... 52
Inheritance matters ............................................................... 52
HOUSEKEEPING ............................................................... 18
CRIMINAL CASES ........................................................... 93
Domestic violence ................................................................. 95
Shelters and mother and child homes ........................... 95
Equality and discrimination ............................................... 96
Acting in case of discrimination ....................................... 97
FINLANd ................................................................................ 20
The history of Finland ........................................................... 20
Finnish way of life ................................................................... 23
Finnish communication and manners ............................ 24
Finland in the eyes of a Finn ............................................... 29
Traditional minorities in Finland ....................................... 30
Later immigration .................................................................. 33
EMERGENCIES AND
PROBLEM SITUATIONS ............................................... 78
Emergency number 112 ...................................................... 78
General alarm .......................................................................... 79
In case of crime, turn to the police ................................... 79
Restraining order .................................................................... 80
Psychological support .......................................................... 81
Insurance ................................................................................... 81
COURT PROCEEDINGS . ............................................... 98
Legal aid and lawyers ........................................................... 99
Punishments .......................................................................... 100
Criminal record ..................................................................... 101
FINNISH NATURE – EVERYMAN´S RIGHTS
AND OBLIGATIONS ......................................................... 54
CALENDER EVENTS ....................................................... 36
New Year, Uusivuosi (31 Dec/1 Jan) .................................. 36
Lent, Shrovetide, Laskiainen ............................................... 36
FINNISH SOCIETY AND ADMINISTRATION ... 56
Rights .......................................................................................... 57
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FOREWORD
Everybody who lives in Finland has the right and
obligation to live according to Finnish laws and various
kinds of rules. The constitution of Finland guarantees
everybody the following rights, among others: freedom
of speech, thought and religion, as well as the right to
forbid all kind of discrimination and unfair treatment
of people. On the other hand, freedoms and rights also
bring along obligations. Everybody must have the right
and obligation to participate in developing the society
and in decision-making. Everybody has the right to resort
to health care or social security, when needed. Likewise,
everybody has the obligation to participate in financing
social services by paying taxes.
Excluded from this guide is information on the majority
of social services, such as children’s day care, school
system, health and social welfare, because very good
manuals on them have already been written. Information
on these services in numerous languages is available on
the Internet, for instance, at www.infopankki.fi, www.
mol.fi/mol/fi/04_maahanmuutto/index.jsp and on the
joint public services portal at www.suomi.fi . Information
on the services of one’s own place of residence is found
on the website of the district of residence or city you
live in.
experience in immigration has proven useful, the
subjects collected in this guide were chosen on the
basis of how often advice on them has been asked.
This guide is produced in cooperation with the ESR-
financed Equal projects, Becoming More Visible/Red
Cross Finland, South-West district and The Route of the
Professional Shipyard Worker on the Baltic Sea / Turku
Cultural Centre, International Meeting Point.
Many of the issues handled in the guide may appear self-
evident. Nevertheless, there may be great differences
between cultures and procedures in countries with
different kinds of social structures. Ignorance of
the contents of laws does not exempt people from
responsibility; therefore, it is important to know about
the rules guiding Finnish society and life.
This guide - Living in Finland - consists of information on
Finnish culture, history and traditional customs, as well as
procedures and rules related to the society and working
life. The guide is meant as an aid, which makes it easier
for immigrants, migrant workers and asylum seekers to
get to know and adjust themselves to Finland. It is also
suitable as a guide and training material for employees
working with immigrants, especially regarding societal
matters.
Wishing you a rewarding and
educational read,
Our work has for a long time centred on immigrants
and immigration issues. Besides the matters our long
Suvi Kaljunen
Sari Kanervo
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MOVING TO FINLAND
Moving to Finland and working in
Finland are regulated by sev-
eral laws, the most important of
which are:
people have been forced to leave their home
country because of its religious or political
situation, or because they have tried to escape
life-threatening war.
also applies to citizens of countries
outside the area who permanently
live in the area. The Schengen
countries have also jointly decided
on the countries whose citizens need
a visa to enter the area. The Ministry
for Foreign Affairs’ website at: www.
formin.fi contains information on all
the visas required and information
on what travel documents citizens
of each country should have when
entering the country.
order to build a new life in the
new country. A migrant worker
moves from one country to
another to make a living, but does
not move to the new country
permanently. A returnee is a Finn
in exile who returns to Finland. A
person whose grandparent has
been a Finnish citizen may also be
granted the status of returnee.
Right to enter the country and
immigrant status
An immigrant refers to a person who is not a
Finnish citizen. The right to enter into Finland
and work in Finland is primarily based on the
immigrant’s nationality and/or country of
residence, as well as on his/her reasons for
coming to Finland.
. Aliens act (301/2004)
. Act on the Integration of Immigrants
and Reception of Asylum Seekers
. Decree on the Integration of
Immigrants and Reception of Asylum
Seekers
. Act on Employees
Posted Abroad (142/2005)
. Acts on the Register of Aliens and
Registering of Foreign Employees
. Decision by the Finnish Government
on the national outlines for general
preconditions for using foreign
labour (27 Oct 2005), on the basis of
which also regional outlines have
been made
. Government Immigration Programme
(19 Oct 2006)
The issues listed below have an impact on the
right of a foreigner to move to Finland as well
as on his/her rights and obligations when in
Finland:
When talking about
immigrants, we
mean all the people
who have for some
reason permanently
moved to Finland.
The reasons for
immigration vary
to a great extent.
Some people have
voluntarily left
their home country
because of love,
family or work.
Meanwhile, some
. the person’s country of origin (EU/EEC
area or outside EU/EEC area)
. reason for entering Finland (humanitarian,
family ties, studying, working, etc)
. whether the person will become a
permanent resident or only stay for a
short while
. the residence permit and status granted
by the Finnish Directorate of Immigration
(this only applies to non- EU/EEC citizens)
The official definition of a
refugee in the UN’s general
agreement on the status of
refugees emphasises the
personal persecution of refugees
for reasons of race, religion,
nationality, membership of a
particular social group or political
opinion. On a more general level,
however, a refugee is regarded as
a person who has been forced to
leave his/her native country due
to persecution, crimes against
humanity, war or social unrest.
Foreigners who enter into Finland
and who wish to permanently
stay in Finland can be divided into
migrants, returnees and refugees
on the basis of their reason to come
to Finland. In addition, a foreign
citizen can stay in Finland with
a fixed-term residence permit or
tourist visa.
The countries of the Schengen area, including
Finland, have agreed on free mobility of
citizens within these countries, which usually
A migrant is a person who moves
from one country to another in
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