Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
Hi all.
We had our hearts set on Finland a couple of years ago (after several visits) but unfortunately our house sale didn't complete in time and we couldn't move before Brexit happened.
The situation: Married couple, my wife has a degree in plantsmanship (horticulture) and I am a front end web dev who is learning software development. We have two children of primary school age who we want to go to school in Finland, and a new baby.
As i see it, we have some options:
1. I can learn Finnish to a good level and then try to apply for work. I don't have a degree or any formal computing qualifications but a good personal portfolio. I'm worried that it would be basically impossible since i'm up against Finnish people with degrees who are also basically bilingual.
2. I can learn Finnish to a good level and then try to get into university to study for a degree. I feel this is the easiest way, but i'm worried about how long it would take for me to sort visas for my family. I wouldn't want to be accepted and then keep having to defer because of visa problems and i cannot live apart from my family, even temporarily.
3. I can bring a huge chunk of money with me (more than 100k euros) to start a business.
How viable are all of these ideas for actually getting a residency permit and is there anything i've overlooked?
Thanks in advance.
We had our hearts set on Finland a couple of years ago (after several visits) but unfortunately our house sale didn't complete in time and we couldn't move before Brexit happened.
The situation: Married couple, my wife has a degree in plantsmanship (horticulture) and I am a front end web dev who is learning software development. We have two children of primary school age who we want to go to school in Finland, and a new baby.
As i see it, we have some options:
1. I can learn Finnish to a good level and then try to apply for work. I don't have a degree or any formal computing qualifications but a good personal portfolio. I'm worried that it would be basically impossible since i'm up against Finnish people with degrees who are also basically bilingual.
2. I can learn Finnish to a good level and then try to get into university to study for a degree. I feel this is the easiest way, but i'm worried about how long it would take for me to sort visas for my family. I wouldn't want to be accepted and then keep having to defer because of visa problems and i cannot live apart from my family, even temporarily.
3. I can bring a huge chunk of money with me (more than 100k euros) to start a business.
How viable are all of these ideas for actually getting a residency permit and is there anything i've overlooked?
Thanks in advance.
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Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
1) Many IT companies work in English. You can already start looking.hbar wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 10:42 pmHi all.
We had our hearts set on Finland a couple of years ago (after several visits) but unfortunately our house sale didn't complete in time and we couldn't move before Brexit happened.
The situation: Married couple, my wife has a degree in plantsmanship (horticulture) and I am a front end web dev who is learning software development. We have two children of primary school age who we want to go to school in Finland, and a new baby.
As i see it, we have some options:
1. I can learn Finnish to a good level and then try to apply for work. I don't have a degree or any formal computing qualifications but a good personal portfolio. I'm worried that it would be basically impossible since i'm up against Finnish people with degrees who are also basically bilingual.
2. I can learn Finnish to a good level and then try to get into university to study for a degree. I feel this is the easiest way, but i'm worried about how long it would take for me to sort visas for my family. I wouldn't want to be accepted and then keep having to defer because of visa problems and i cannot live apart from my family, even temporarily.
3. I can bring a huge chunk of money with me (more than 100k euros) to start a business.
How viable are all of these ideas for actually getting a residency permit and is there anything i've overlooked?
Thanks in advance.
2) Family members of students get decisions at the same time as the main applicant as long as all the applications have the embassy visit at the same time.
3) This would make it possible to create a solid entrepreneurship application from a financing perspective. However, you would need a business plan. The rules require that you can show the business will be profitable.
” Your business must be profitable. Your means of support must be secured by your income from your business. A Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) will assess whether you meet these requirements.”
https://migri.fi/en/entrepreneur
Since you are interested in studying, you could start the business while studying and later swap the permit type.
Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
Thank you so much for your response.betelgeuse wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 9:10 am1) Many IT companies work in English. You can already start looking.hbar wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 10:42 pmHi all.
We had our hearts set on Finland a couple of years ago (after several visits) but unfortunately our house sale didn't complete in time and we couldn't move before Brexit happened.
The situation: Married couple, my wife has a degree in plantsmanship (horticulture) and I am a front end web dev who is learning software development. We have two children of primary school age who we want to go to school in Finland, and a new baby.
As i see it, we have some options:
1. I can learn Finnish to a good level and then try to apply for work. I don't have a degree or any formal computing qualifications but a good personal portfolio. I'm worried that it would be basically impossible since i'm up against Finnish people with degrees who are also basically bilingual.
2. I can learn Finnish to a good level and then try to get into university to study for a degree. I feel this is the easiest way, but i'm worried about how long it would take for me to sort visas for my family. I wouldn't want to be accepted and then keep having to defer because of visa problems and i cannot live apart from my family, even temporarily.
3. I can bring a huge chunk of money with me (more than 100k euros) to start a business.
How viable are all of these ideas for actually getting a residency permit and is there anything i've overlooked?
Thanks in advance.
2) Family members of students get decisions at the same time as the main applicant as long as all the applications have the embassy visit at the same time.
3) This would make it possible to create a solid entrepreneurship application from a financing perspective. However, you would need a business plan. The rules require that you can show the business will be profitable.
” Your business must be profitable. Your means of support must be secured by your income from your business. A Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) will assess whether you meet these requirements.”
https://migri.fi/en/entrepreneur
Since you are interested in studying, you could start the business while studying and later swap the permit type.
Do you think it would be a problem for work that I have no degree for computing? To clarify: i would be willing to be the worm for a few years just to earn my stripes so wouldn't be averse to taking on lower paying junior roles etc.
I just don't want to go for that option and then be up against Finns with degrees meaning it's almost impossible.
Thanks again for your response it means a lot to us.
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Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
Lack of a degree can be compensated with experience. There’s only time spent applying to lose to see how it goes.hbar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:21 am
Thank you so much for your response.
Do you think it would be a problem for work that I have no degree for computing? To clarify: i would be willing to be the worm for a few years just to earn my stripes so wouldn't be averse to taking on lower paying junior roles etc.
I just don't want to go for that option and then be up against Finns with degrees meaning it's almost impossible.
Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
I know i'm just an anonymous name on the internet but please understand your words have injected a real sense of optimism into our lives at a time where it's been difficult.betelgeuse wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 12:09 pmLack of a degree can be compensated with experience. There’s only time spent applying to lose to see how it goes.hbar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:21 am
Thank you so much for your response.
Do you think it would be a problem for work that I have no degree for computing? To clarify: i would be willing to be the worm for a few years just to earn my stripes so wouldn't be averse to taking on lower paying junior roles etc.
I just don't want to go for that option and then be up against Finns with degrees meaning it's almost impossible.
I thank you so much.
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Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
The income requirement for a family of 5 is 2900 Euro per month after taxes.
Junior roles are for recent graduates from universities or vocational schools who do not yet have work experience.
After a few years of work experience you are senior, and the education background matters less.
In practice this means you can either get a senior position based on your personal portfolio, or no job offer at all.
IT is the only field in Finland with a large amount of job opportunities that do not require Finnish.
If you start applying and fail to get any job offered the problem would be that your personal portfolio is unimpressive, not the lack of Finnish.
You should apply for an English-language UAS Bachelor, learning Finnish from scratch to a level sufficient for studying in the language while living abroad is unlikely to be fast if you manage to do it at all.hbar wrote: ↑Wed Jun 23, 2021 10:42 pm2. I can learn Finnish to a good level and then try to get into university to study for a degree. I feel this is the easiest way, but i'm worried about how long it would take for me to sort visas for my family. I wouldn't want to be accepted and then keep having to defer because of visa problems and i cannot live apart from my family, even temporarily.
Application period for studies starting autumn 2022 will be around January 2022, entrance exams in spring 2022.
As already mentioned, your family can move with you immediately if they apply together with you.
Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
Do you know if there's a minimum amount of money you'd have to bring with you to study, in my situation? Like an amount per year per person?FinlandGirl wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:51 pmThe income requirement for a family of 5 is 2900 Euro per month after taxes.
You should apply for an English-language UAS Bachelor, learning Finnish from scratch to a level sufficient for studying in the language while living abroad is unlikely to be fast if you manage to do it at all.
Application period for studies starting autumn 2022 will be around January 2022, entrance exams in spring 2022.
As already mentioned, your family can move with you immediately if they apply together with you.
The only thing with learning Finnish first would be that there appear to be many many more degree programs in my topic of choice (computer science/information technology) - i'm not sure pinning my hopes on going to one of two choices in these fields that teach in English would be a smart move since they could easily reject me.
I've studied a bit of Finnish before now and i didn't find it that difficult - seems logical for the most part. I already speak a couple of other languages so shouldn't be like a regular adult starting from scratch. I think i could get the Level 4 (B2 ish) required in less than 2 years.
Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
Hi FinlandGirl do you have a source for this so i can read it? And also do you know roughly what 2900e after tax would work out at as a salary, ie what amount salary would i have to earn pre-tax to qualify?FinlandGirl wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:51 pmThe income requirement for a family of 5 is 2900 Euro per month after taxes.
Cheers
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Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement- ... in-finlandhbar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 11:43 pmHi FinlandGirl do you have a source for this so i can read it?FinlandGirl wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:51 pmThe income requirement for a family of 5 is 2900 Euro per month after taxes.
Around 4000-4500 Euro per month.
Median salary in Finland is 3100 Euro per month.
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Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
Moving before the end of the Brexit transition period 6 months ago would have given you EU citizen treatment, like not requiring a residence permit for moving to Finland and permanent exemption from tuition fees.
Now you are moving as non-EU citizen, under the same rules and in the same queues as people from countries like India or Nepal who also want to study or work in Finland.
https://migri.fi/en/means-of-supporthbar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:58 pmDo you know if there's a minimum amount of money you'd have to bring with you to study, in my situation? Like an amount per year per person?FinlandGirl wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:51 pmThe income requirement for a family of 5 is 2900 Euro per month after taxes.
You should apply for an English-language UAS Bachelor, learning Finnish from scratch to a level sufficient for studying in the language while living abroad is unlikely to be fast if you manage to do it at all.
Application period for studies starting autumn 2022 will be around January 2022, entrance exams in spring 2022.
As already mentioned, your family can move with you immediately if they apply together with you.
https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement- ... in-finland
That would be 29 520 Euro per year plus tuition fees.
Check exact admission criteria for the Finnish language studies you are interested in, competing with B2 against native speakers in an entrance examination would also be a challenge.hbar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:58 pmThe only thing with learning Finnish first would be that there appear to be many many more degree programs in my topic of choice (computer science/information technology) - i'm not sure pinning my hopes on going to one of two choices in these fields that teach in English would be a smart move since they could easily reject me.
On a plus side, studying in Finnish would avoid tuition fees.
You would aim at starting university and moving to Finland in autumn 2023 or 2024, and then graduate around 2027?hbar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:58 pmI've studied a bit of Finnish before now and i didn't find it that difficult - seems logical for the most part. I already speak a couple of other languages so shouldn't be like a regular adult starting from scratch. I think i could get the Level 4 (B2 ish) required in less than 2 years.
Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
Unfortunately we didn't release our funds in time so couldn't make the move. Silly Brexit.FinlandGirl wrote: ↑Fri Jun 25, 2021 12:19 amMoving before the end of the Brexit transition period 6 months ago would have given you EU citizen treatment, like not requiring a residence permit for moving to Finland and permanent exemption from tuition fees.
Now you are moving as non-EU citizen, under the same rules and in the same queues as people from countries like India or Nepal who also want to study or work in Finland.
https://migri.fi/en/means-of-supporthbar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:58 pmDo you know if there's a minimum amount of money you'd have to bring with you to study, in my situation? Like an amount per year per person?FinlandGirl wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:51 pmThe income requirement for a family of 5 is 2900 Euro per month after taxes.
You should apply for an English-language UAS Bachelor, learning Finnish from scratch to a level sufficient for studying in the language while living abroad is unlikely to be fast if you manage to do it at all.
Application period for studies starting autumn 2022 will be around January 2022, entrance exams in spring 2022.
As already mentioned, your family can move with you immediately if they apply together with you.
https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement- ... in-finland
That would be 29 520 Euro per year plus tuition fees.
Check exact admission criteria for the Finnish language studies you are interested in, competing with B2 against native speakers in an entrance examination would also be a challenge.hbar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:58 pmThe only thing with learning Finnish first would be that there appear to be many many more degree programs in my topic of choice (computer science/information technology) - i'm not sure pinning my hopes on going to one of two choices in these fields that teach in English would be a smart move since they could easily reject me.
On a plus side, studying in Finnish would avoid tuition fees.
You would aim at starting university and moving to Finland in autumn 2023 or 2024, and then graduate around 2027?hbar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:58 pmI've studied a bit of Finnish before now and i didn't find it that difficult - seems logical for the most part. I already speak a couple of other languages so shouldn't be like a regular adult starting from scratch. I think i could get the Level 4 (B2 ish) required in less than 2 years.
It seems from what you've said that studying is out, and it also seems like the salary requirement is probably too high given my family members requirements upping the amount.
Not sure i could just walk into such a high paying job right off the bat.
And if i studied if i can't find a qualifying job at the end i'm presuming i'd get asked to leave? After the kids being at school for 4 years that would be horrible.
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Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
It's not a fast or cheap option for you now, and might not work in the end.
How much is the salary in your current web development job in the UK?
The easiest way would be to work your way up in IT in the UK, and then apply for similar jobs in Finland.
Already learning Finnish would be an optional bonus, but having proven relevant IT skills is more important.
By then your wife should also be fluent in Finnish and have found a job.
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Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
The salary required would actually be less because any family benefits can be included. With a new baby, the mother will be eligible for a while and there will be child benefit for all three.FinlandGirl wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 11:56 pmhttps://migri.fi/en/income-requirement- ... in-finlandhbar wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 11:43 pmHi FinlandGirl do you have a source for this so i can read it?FinlandGirl wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:51 pm
The income requirement for a family of 5 is 2900 Euro per month after taxes.
Around 4000-4500 Euro per month.
Median salary in Finland is 3100 Euro per month.
Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
Any idea how much less? I would need to know before committing to the idea really.betelgeuse wrote: ↑Fri Jun 25, 2021 2:05 amThe salary required would actually be less because any family benefits can be included. With a new baby, the mother will be eligible for a while and there will be child benefit for all three.FinlandGirl wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 11:56 pmhttps://migri.fi/en/income-requirement- ... in-finland
Around 4000-4500 Euro per month.
Median salary in Finland is 3100 Euro per month.
Re: Moving from the UK - i have several options, which is best?
hbar wrote: ↑Fri Jun 25, 2021 12:47 amHi where did you get this number from? The means of support page says 13,440e per year for the student but the requirement for family members page appears to be stating if you come as an entire family under a work permit not as a student, and even then 2900 x 12 would be 34k a year not 29520. Just wondering how the numbers are being arrived at?FinlandGirl wrote: ↑Fri Jun 25, 2021 12:19 am
https://migri.fi/en/means-of-support
https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement- ... in-finland
That would be 29 520 Euro per year plus tuition fees.