First steps in Espoo

Kela provides a quick guide about social security(external link, opens in a new window) in Finland. Please note that when you move to Finland from another country, your entitlement to benefits from Kela is determined on the basis of 

• how long you intend to stay in Finland
• which country you come from  
• and your reason for the stay in Finland. 

Our Service Points can also help you with KELA related issues. 

In Finland, tax money is used for example for the following:

• health care
• education
• early childhood education and care
• defence.

A withholding tax percentage (veroprosentti) is calculated separately for each person in Finland and can be found on the tax card (verokortti).

You can get information about taxation from the representatives of the Finnish Tax Administration(external link, opens in a new window) at International House Helsinki.

You can view data on your wages, pensions and benefits in the Incomes Register’s e-service(external link, opens in a new window).

• InfoFinland provides instructions for opening a bank account(external link, opens in a new window). To do so, you will need a passport or an identity card for foreign citizens, and an address in Finland or abroad.
• After you open a bank account, you will get online banking credentials from your bank. These are very commonly used in Finland as a way of identification when you use government, municipal and other services online.

You can buy a pre-paid subscription from the internet and several locations, for example supermarkets and convenience stores. For this you don't need a Finnish personal identity code or an address in Finland.

In order to get a mobile phone subscription, you must have a Finnish personal identity code and an address in Finland.

InfoFinland provides more information about mobile phone subscriptions in Finland(external link, opens in a new window).

You can purchase an internet connection to your home by making a contract with an internet service provider. Find more detailed instructions on InfoFinland's website.(external link, opens in a new window)

Our libraries offer free internet if you have a library card. You can get a library card free of charge from any library.

Helsinki Region Transport, commonly known as HSL, is a joint local authority that provides public transportation for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. You can easily schedule your journeys with the Journey Planner(external link, opens in a new window), Reittiopas. We recommend installing HSL mobile application(external link, opens in a new window) on your phone for travel tickets and the Journey Planner.

From spring to autumn, city bikes(external link, opens in a new window) and electric scooters are fast, sustainable and convenient ways to commute in Espoo and Helsinki. In Espoo, there are a total of 105 city bike stations, mostly located near the metro line.

If you want to drive in Finland, you must have a driving licence(external link, opens in a new window). If you already have a driving licence from your own country, you should check validity of foreign driving licences in Finland(external link, opens in a new window) on Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom.

In addition, traffic rules in Finland must be observed carefully. InfoFinland gives information regarding owning a car and driving(external link, opens in a new window) in Finland. Learn more about parking rules in Espoo.

Your health center is determined based on your home address but you can use another health center at any time. Here is the list of health centers in Espoo. If you have an online banking code, you can book appointments online for the Social and Health Services. Read more about what health services you can use(external link, opens in a new window) on InfoFinland.

Public Health Services in Espoo offer: 

• dental care 
• health services for students,
• laboratory services by HUSLAB(external link, opens in a new window),  
• therapy and rehabilitation and
• mental health and substance abuse services.

Please note that client fees apply for many services.

If you are expecting a baby or you have small children, our services cover pregnancy, childbirth and baby in family. Maternity and child health clinics (neuvola) offer individual appointments and visits to home, group clinics and open clinics. If you are planning to grow your family, get acquainted with our services for families with children.

Our MONIKU-service for multilingual families provide support and assistance in native language development and parents’ interactional skills with children.

• We offer early childhood education at Day Care Centres, group family daycare centres and in family daycare. Please note that there are fees for early childhood education. 
• You can find your closest Day Care Center(external link, opens in a new window) on the city map.
• Find out how to apply for early childhood education. 
• We also organise open early childhood education at residents' parks, open day care centres and clubs. 

Preschool education (esikoulu) is compulsory. Before the beginning of compulsory education, children must attend one year of preschool education or other activities that meet the objectives of preschool education. Children normally enter preschool education at the age of six.

In preschool, children have the opportunity to try out, learn and get excited about new things. Children have opportunities for diverse interaction and strengthening their social skills.

Read more about enrolling in preschool.

Comprehensive school (peruskoulu) starts when your child turns 7 years old. It is free of charge and the pupil receives free textbooks and other learning material chosen by the school.

Comprehensive school covers from 1st grade to 9th. We offer education in English, Finnish and Swedish. Bilingual education is also possible. We also offer weekly mother tongue lessons to preschool and comprehensive school pupils free of charge.

Read more about our comprehensive school system.

The nine years of comprehensive education are followed by upper secondary education. There are two options: general upper secondary school (lukio) and vocational education (ammattikoulu).

General upper secondary school offers a good, all-round foundation for further studies, especially for theoretical university studies. In Espoo, there are two general upper secondary schools that offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, 10 Finnish-speaking general upper secondary schools, a Swedish-speaking general upper secondary school and one adult general upper secondary school. ‘Ohjauksella onnistumisiin’ project (2022-2023) is piloting an operating model for cultural instruction in Espoo’s general upper secondary schools, training teaching and guidance personnel to consider in their work the need for information and support among foreign-language students, students with an immigrant background, and their families.

Vocational education in Espoo is arranged by Omnia(external link, opens in a new window), a joint authority of education in the Espoo region, on behalf of its member municipalities Espoo, Kauniainen and Kirkkonummi. In Omnia, you can choose from 22 different vocational qualifications in the fields of culture, natural sciences, tourism, catering and economics, social and health care, sports, technology and transport, social sciences, business and administration.

The Finnish School of Watchmaking(external link, opens in a new window) is located in Leppävaara, Espoo. It is a private vocational institute and the teaching at the school is conducted in Finnish. The school works in active cooperation with educational institutions which train European watchmakers.

After receiving a vocational upper secondary qualification or a matriculation examination certificate, you may wish to continue in higher or university education. Finland has two types of higher education institutions: universities (yliopisto) and universities of applied sciences, UAS (ammattikorkeakoulu).

Study programmes in English in Espoo are provided by:

• Aalto University(external link, opens in a new window)
• Laurea University of Applied Sciences(external link, opens in a new window)
• Metropolia University of Applied Sciences(external link, opens in a new window)

Study in Finland provides information(external link, opens in a new window) about admission, fees, scholarships and studying in Finland in general.

Adult education (aikuisopetus) can be preparatory, ancillary or supplementary education according to the learner's study goals and life situation. Several institutes in Espoo offer adult education. These include Työväenopisto (Espoo Adult Education Centre)(external link, opens in a new window) and Omnian aikuisopisto(external link, opens in a new window) (International Omnia).

The Finnish School of Watchmaking(external link, opens in a new window) is located in Leppävaara, Espoo. It is a private vocational institute and the teaching at the school is conducted in Finnish. The school works in active cooperation with educational institutions which train European watchmakers.

Espoo Adult Education Centre provides a large variety of subjects to study.

Ilmonet is an enrollment service for all adult education centres(external link, opens in a new window) of the capital area.

• Finnish Courses service contains information on Finnish courses offered by several training providers(external link, opens in a new window). 
• There are many places in Espoo where you can learn Finnish or Swedish, both during the day and in the evening. 
• Omnia offers Finnish courses(external link, opens in a new window) for different language skill levels. 
• Aalto Open University provides Finnish courses for students, staff and others(external link, opens in a new window). 
• Ilmonet.fi(external link, opens in a new window) shows Finnish courses from beginner to proficiency level in adult education institutes in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa.
• Aalto Open Learning offers introductory Finnish courses(external link, opens in a new window) for self-study. 
• Yle Kielikoulu – Yle Språkskolan service(external link, opens in a new window) enables you to study Finnish or Swedish by watching media content in an application or a browser. For subtitles in Finnish, the service produces translations in nine different languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Persian, Turkish, English, Swedish, Somali, Russian and Estonian. 
• If you are a newcomer and looking for a job, you can take part in a Finnish or a Swedish language course organized by the TE Office as a part of integration training(external link, opens in a new window). 
• Helmet Libraries provide Finnish language cafés and discussion groups(external link, opens in a new window).   

• Hello Espoo Facebook group(external link, opens in a new window) is a platform for international residents to interact and share your experiences of living in Espoo.

• Espoo Events will help you integrate into Finnish culture, build networks and be a part of a community.  

• Libraries also organize events for networking and language learning(external link, opens in a new window).  

• In Espoo you can participate in sports, recreation and culture, learn new skills or be a volunteer. In Espoo and the Metropolitan Area there are many faith communities and churches that you can join.

Espoo city library was chosen as the best library in the world(external link, opens in a new window) at London Book Fair 2019. Espoo City Library has open and innovative spaces for everyone, and also offers reading challenges that take into account all age groups. 

Espoo has several libraries, some of which also serve as self-service libraries. Two mobile libraries, Helmi and Välkky, serve schools, kindergartens and areas with no local library.

You can get a library card(external link, opens in a new window) from any Helmet library by providing your address and presenting a valid photographic proof of identity with your personal identity code. You need to have an address in Finland to get a library card. You only need one library card to access and use all Helmet library services in the capital area. You can access for example:

• books
• online magazines
• 3D printers
• workshops 
• events.

You can check out what our libraries offer at Helmet libraries website(external link, opens in a new window). 

We  offer access to cultural activities for everyone at cultural centres and cultural houses in Espoo. Espoo City Museum was established in 1958. Today, the Espoo City Museum family includes:

• Espoo City Museum KAMU(external link, opens in a new window) in the WeeGee Exhibition Centre(external link, opens in a new window)
• Glims Farmstead Museum(external link, opens in a new window) 
• Villa Museum(external link, opens in a new window)
• Lagstad School Museum(external link, opens in a new window) and 
• Pentala Archipelago Museum(external link, opens in a new window). 

We also offer many activities for you if you are interested in for example orchestras & choirs, theatres & dance or festivals.

You can find more information about clubs, courses and other options in Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa from the Harrastushaku.fi(external link, opens in a new window) website.

You can explore many nature destinations in Espoo with nature trails and bird-watching at the Keskuspuisto central park and Nuuksio National Park(external link, opens in a new window).   

In addition, we offer opportunities for outdoor and sport(external link, opens in a new window) activities such as camping and hiking, berry-picking, fishing and scheduled boat services to Espoo's islands. 

There are fun routes(external link, opens in a new window) that combine book tips, exercise, and storytelling, as well as introduce you to different parts of Espoo.

Enjoy and relax in the magnificent wilderness areas of Espoo!

• Dial the emergency services number 112 in genuine emergencies where someone’s life, health, property or the environment is threatened or in danger.
• In the event of an illness or an accident, you can either book an on-call appointment at www.espoo.fi/ehealth or come to a health centre directly without an appointment.
• For advice, call +358 9 81634500. The medical helpline 116117 is open when the health centres are closed.
• We also provide urgent social care and crisis support(external link, opens in a new window) around the clock on tel. +358 9 81642439.
• Omatila is a low-threshold service that supports Espoo residents who have experienced or fear violence in intimate relationships or suffer from domestic violence.

Citizens can provide feedback to municipal decision-makers and officials through the electronic feedback system(external link, opens in a new window) as well as traditional methods of communication. 

Hello Espoo webpage offers up-to-date information in English regarding visiting, moving to and living in Espoo. Hello Espoo Facebook group(external link, opens in a new window) is a platform for international residents to interact and share their experiences of living in Espoo.

 The Espoo Town Hall Meetings are a series of interactive events in English where international residents can have a direct dialogue with city experts. The results of the dialogues are used to improve the city service development.

The residents can make their voices heard through the Advisory Board of the Council. The Advisory Board handles current issues that will be decided in the Council and issues statements concerning major upcoming projects.