Moving to Finland with family

Your child will need a residence permit to arrive and live in Finland. Please see the Finnish Immigration Service’s instructions for the same and apply for a suitable permit.  

Please note that besides sufficient financial resources for living in Finland, a DNA test might be a part of the process to gain a permit. In case of any clarifications, please contact the Finnish Immigration Services. 

In Finland, everyone has the right to basic education free of charge. Basic education covers early childhood education and care, one year of pre-primary education, basic education and upper secondary education. Basic education is compulsory to all children living permanently in Finland, starting from pre-primary education (age 6) to upper secondary education (compulsory until the age of 18). 

All cities in the capital region have comprehensive websites where you can learn more about the education system and how to find your child the right place of education: 

• Childhood and Education Information by the City of Helsinki  
• Childcare and Education Information by the City of Espoo  
• Education and Learning Information by the City of Vantaa 

 
Pro tip: if you can’t find what you’re looking for on the website of your home city, or just generally feel a bit unsure of how to proceed, International House Helsinki, a service that provides a wide range of information and services for international newcomers in the capital region, has a great basic guide for starting daycare and education – and they also offer the option of calling or booking an appointment for guidance. 

Since a lot of matters depend on your housing location, we recommend you start the application process for securing accommodation at the earliest. While family apartments by HOAS are a popular choice among students with children, we encourage you to also check other options available to you.  

After your arrival in Finland, you will need to register with the Population Information System of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Please note that a family member is not automatically registered along with the student, so a separate registration application for a child must be initiated.  

While we encourage all students to register themselves with DVV during the Check-In Event, we suggest that students moving with their children register as soon as they arrive in Finland as processing times can be long for a family member.  We also recommend that you book an appointment with DVV for this purpose much in advance. It is possible to book this from abroad for a date after your arrival in Finland. 

Even as an international student in Finland, you might be eligible for some childcare benefits from Kela which is the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. You should contact Kela and check what benefits your unique situation entitles you to.  

The Student Union also has a guide for students with children which describes the students’ rights while raising a family, available benefits, temporary childcare help, and avenues for support among other things. 

Here are some pages that partners of international students might find useful:

1. International House Helsinki's Spouse Program (for residents of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa)
2. Working in Finland for spouses
3. Study guidance and options in Finland for spouses

1. City of Helsinki’s Child and Family Services 
2. City of Espoo’s Youth Services 
3. City of Vantaa’s Youth Services 
4. School Transport Subsidy 
5. Cost of Living in Finland