Help! Seeking advice

paintartist · Post by **paintartist** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:50 am

Good evening,

I recently just 'discovered' Rovaniemi and the beauty of it and Finland in general.

Here is my situation/dilemma and I hope that someone can provide a realistic answer as so I can either continue this dream or let it be just that and spend the rest of my days wishing.

I am presently in the US working on my goal of being an artist and writer and possible pursuit of music. At the age of 50 I have finally realized that I want to be a part of something else and live abroad in a country that can offer a quality of life and standard of living as well as have superb natural beauty. A place where things work, there is order and everyone seems to actually care. My question is this: what are my chances of being accepted for residency at this age and without a technical skill? Can I hope to be granted entrance and live here as an self employed artist or should it require be able to find some type of general employment?

Other questions. Would I need to possess a certain amount of money to qualify? Are Americans welcome?

Hope to hear from someone. I know that the application process is probably somewhat lengthy. But that will just give me time to learn the language and history. Thanks in advance~

**Sponsor:**

tuulen · Post by **tuulen** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:13 am

Hi

I am American, am 56, almost 57, and am an amateur musician, too. Good to meet you!

Yes, Americans are welcome in Finland, but for any extended stay you must meet Finnish immigration standards, and there you are in for a tough road to hoe. Let me be honest.

You are allowed to "visit" Finland as a "tourist" for 90 days, but beyond that amount of time you must qualify for a Residence Permit, and to do that you must be a student, or must be employed in Finland BEFORE moving to Finland, or you must have "family ties" such as being married to a Finn. That is Finnish law.

Let me assume that you have no immediate marriage plans, and so that leaves being a student, or being employed, as an option.

If you could somehow arrange employment in Finland, of legally sufficient income, then all well and good.

Then there is "student" status. Finland does promote "lifelong" learning, for students of all ages, and that could be your opportunity. However, at the end of your studies you must then become employed in Finland, or else your student Residence Permit ends, ceases, vanishes, and you must then leave Finland.

Finland is a wonderful place, but Finland does have its laws, and so one of those three things are required of you.

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:17 am

I'm sorry to kill your dream, but it is not going to happen.
To get a residence permit you need a "reason". Accepted reasons are; "married to a Finn", "studying for a degree" and "work".
So work is probably the only option and with your age and profession it is highly unlikely you'll find anything.

If it is the landscape in Lapland you like, better focus on Alaska or Canada.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:37 am

paintartist wrote:Can I hope to be granted entrance and live here as an self employed artist

Poor, as it seems that you don't even have "track record" of being able to generate enough income as an artist.

or should it require be able to find some type of general employment?

...and that would be hard without knowing the language. Also the local employment office should think there aren't people on their records that could do the job you'd be qualified.

Other questions. Would I need to possess a certain amount of money to qualify? Are Americans welcome?

As tourists, yes. Maximum 3 months of any half a year period (By the way, have you been in Lapland also in midwinter?)
You may try a temporary residence permit in the "other grounds" category. With a health insurance and good enough finances that they don't expect you to become a burden to the society it might be granted.

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:46 pm

paintartist wrote:My question is this: what are my chances of being accepted for residency at this age and without a technical skill?

0, zero, zilch, zip, nola, nill, nothing.

I'm sorry but what can you give to Finland?

pierrot · Post by **pierrot** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:18 pm

Kutittaa wrote:
paintartist wrote:My question is this: what are my chances of being accepted for residency at this age and without a technical skill?
0, zero, zilch, zip, nola, nill, nothing.

I'm sorry but what can you give to Finland?

About as much as you? What has been your big contribution to this country? Are you even paying income taxes?

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:21 am

Of course I am or I would be in jail. I'm teaching here currently

so I think I'm doing more than some of the locals and most of the refugees not to mention many others to say the least. There are lots of lazy people up here in Oulu :/

In the long run though I need to finish my degree before I can really put back into the community. Though in the end, very few people can REALLY put back into the community. Although at least Finland will be a place where I haven't taken so much from before I start giving back. Whereas if you were to compare the amount of SC I have taken from Australia

well.. that 'debt' (if you can call it that) would take years to work off

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