Moving from Australia to Finland.

[hiiidn]

Hi,

I am 25 year old male wishing to move to Finland with my girlfriend from Italy.

I am aware that I will require a resident's permit and from what I have read the chances of finding a job to obtain are slim to none, however any help on where and how to find a job would be greatly appreciated.

It seems that studying may be a better option, is this true?

We are hoping to move to Helsinki.

Like i said any help would be greatly appreciated, thankyou.

[rinso]

Search the internet for companies in Helsinki and send them your resume.

(without more information we cannot give you a serious answer)

[Pursuivant]

The thing is, if you move with your girlfriend to Italy, and she finds a job in Finland, and takes you as "baggage", then instead of the RP you get an EU-card which process is far less strenuous than getting a RP. Don't know how much "fun" the initial move to Italy would be.

[Adrian42]

I am 25 year old male wishing to move to Finland with my girlfriend from Italy.

Why?
You two dream of having less than 6 hours between sunrise and sunset on Christmas, 4-5 months a year every step outside the house on ice or snow, and sometimes for a month constant -20 °C night and day?
Finland also has it's nice sides, but you should explain why from all countries in the world you want to go to Finland.

In Italy at least your girlfriend would have a chance of finding a job.

In the UK even both of you have a chance of finding a job.

[Brent]

I'm planning to move to Oz so let's exchange our passport!

Seriously, you guys are making a bad move to move here. Of course if you really really and I mean really want to move here, then you might want to consider setting up a business here in Finland to employ yourself. I don't think it matters much that your girlfriend is an EU citizen.

Btw, what is your occupation?

[Flossy1978]

Yes, please do think very hard as to why you want to move here? As an Aussie who lives here, who had no connections with Finland before she moved here, I am telling you to think really hard. Life here is unlike anything in Australia. Of course things are the same, as both countries are of the Western World variety. But the people, socialisation, cost of living, etc.... All completely different. Some things are good, some things are bad. Or not good or bad, but different.

Life is very difficult here. The weather alone makes it much harder than Australia. Very long dark cold winters. Summer is beautiful. At least it has been the last decade or so. But summer can also be downright cold and rain all summer. In the year 2000, we had some snow in June. So yeah, Mother Nature can play games.

The economy isn't doing very well and people are being laid off everyday. As a foreigner I live in fear of this because I have zero possibility of finding another job. Although this being a socialist country and me with permanent residence, having paid into the system almost 14 years, I wouldn't be in as dire trouble as a foreigner who turned up with nothing looking for work, if I lost my job.

Don't listen to people who tell that Finland is a dream country. It is not a dream country at all. No offense to Fins. I like living here, but if given the chance I'd moved back home to Australia in a heartbeat. And probably half of Fins would move to Australia too LOL. I say that because every Fin I meet constantly tells they want to go visit there. So probably Australia is more of a dream country than Finland is LOL.

Helsinki is like any other capital city, granted on a much smaller scale. The cost of living has been sky rocketing of late.

You could easily make friends here, but probably they'd just be other foreigners. I don't live in the metropolitan area of Helsinki, so I've been fortunate to make mostly Finnish friends. But Finnish friendship is not the same as what you know from Australian friendships. You can't compare the two. Completely different.

Think really hard before you decide to come here. Even if you could get a permit to be here. Why not go to Italy with your partner? You could then come to visit Finland as much as you please and learn what it's really like, before you make your mind up.

Do you want to come here to make use of the free education?

Or what is the reason, may I ask?

Finland is a great country. It has it's ups and downs like any other country. It's very safe and you needn't worry about a lot of things as in other countries for instance. It's a good safe secure place to raise children etc. I don't mean to sound so negative about it. You should just think very very very hard about is this really what you want? Cause life is no easy ride here and it's getting harder year by year.

[wicked lewis]

Why???

[Upphew]

Don't listen to people who tell that Finland is a dream country. It is not a dream country at all. No offense to Fins. I like living here, but if given the chance I'd moved back home to Australia in a heartbeat. And probably half of Fins would move to Australia too LOL. I say that because every Fin I meet constantly tells they want to go visit there. So probably Australia is more of a dream country than Australia is LOL.

None taken

Finland is fine country for Finns. And while Australia might be dream country to some of us, they do just the same as op and think only the positive things. We have cold winter here, Australia has warmth and so all the bugs that can kill you will thrive... etc. etc.

[Flossy1978]

That's funny about the bugs....

I am an Aussie who grew up up there. I met only one person ever bitten by a killer animal. A red back spider. Her leg went black. I knew a lot of people who lived on farms, family members and family friends, where these killer animals and insects live. They got along with them fine. Knew what to do, what not to do. Just things you learn to keep yourself safe.

We just knew to shake our shoes out before we put them on, like breathing.... You didn't think of it. Check under your bed covers before you get into bed, especially if it's cold. Don't go putting your hands into dark scary looking corners etc. Lift up a swing seat before you sit on it, because there could be a red back spider under it.

Seriously, with all the new urban housing estates having knocked down all the nature, the chance to come face to face with a really deadly animal other than a spider or bug, is quite low these days. You see seas of orange tiled roofs in certain areas of Sydney and can barely spot a tree amongst it all.

Ironically I believe it's more dumbarse tourists who go swimming up north in rivers etc, when there are signs telling not to, so a croc gets them LOL, than the everyday average Aussie being killed by some dangerous creature. Because Aussies know the danger signs and Aussies aren't 'all' dumbarses LOL.

[Upphew]

That's funny about the bugs....

I am an Aussie who grew up up there. I met only one person ever bitten by a killer animal. A red back spider. Her leg went black. I knew a lot of people who lived on farms, family members and family friends, where these killer animals and insects live. They got along with them fine. Knew what to do, what not to do. Just things you learn to keep yourself safe.

We just knew to shake our shoes out before we put them on, like breathing.... You didn't think of it. Check under your bed covers before you get into bed, especially if it's cold. Don't go putting your hands into dark scary looking corners etc. Lift up a swing seat before you sit on it, because there could be a red back spider under it.

Seriously, with all the new urban housing estates having knocked down all the nature, the chance to come face to face with a really deadly animal other than a spider or bug, is quite low these days. You see seas of orange tiled roofs in certain areas of Sydney and can barely spot a tree amongst it all.

Ironically I believe it's more dumbarse tourists who go swimming up north in rivers etc, when there are signs telling not to, so a croc gets them LOL, than the everyday average Aussie being killed by some dangerous creature. Because Aussies know the danger signs and Aussies aren't 'all' dumbarses LOL.

Same thing here with Helsinki and heated sidewalks, shopping malls and all that. In my youth you knew to put on your pipo and enough clothes. You enjoy summer and get through winter. Then foreigners come and can't cope with darkness or cold... so Finland = Australia, the bad and dangerous things just aren't the same

[alexander.pitt1990]

Hey mate,

The only reason ive been able to hold it together over here is because i met some Finns who were backpacking Oz. I've relied heavily on them for roughly the last 2 months and i'm only now branching out with my own work and an apartment etc. But if i were to lose my job it'd be game over, take a loan and go home.

If you're gunna come here, get some real good saving behind you and make contacts quickly. Better if you meet some Finns in Aus but i was just real lucky. FYI hostels seem to be a good sort.

When you get here you'd be looking at 8 Euros an hour, for !"#¤% jobs like cleaning. Learn finnish, I've been turned away from so many job opportunities because i dont speak enough Finnish.

When you do learn finnish, you can get 10-12 an hour. If you have a skill.
If you dont have something that no one else in finland does, not many people will employ you. Pretty much companies prefer Finns over foreigners, unless that foreigner is valuable to the company in some way.

PM me if you need more info.

[Oombongo]

The economy isn't doing very well and people are being laid off everyday. As a foreigner I live in fear of this because I have zero possibility of finding another job. Although this being a socialist country and me with permanent residence, having paid into the system almost 14 years, I wouldn't be in as dire trouble as a foreigner who turned up with nothing looking for work, if I lost my job.

You are here longer than me, and obviously played your part in the economy, paying for free lunch for politicians and running their mental assylum formerly known as Parliament so why haven't you applied for citizenship (yep that q might be personal but I am a curious cat).

Don't listen to people who tell that Finland is a dream country. It is not a dream country at all. No offense to Fins. I like living here, but if given the chance I'd moved back home to Australia in a heartbeat. And probably half of Fins would move to Australia too LOL.

I'd be one of those ready to throw the towel and run away. In fact, I went to IELTS in Feb 2013 and boy Australian bureaucracy got some very tough requirements. 7 is mandatory in ALL modules (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). I managed to get 7,5 in listening and writing and heck 8,5 even in speaking. But was unfortunate enough to score 6,5 in writing Perhaps because I write American? (color, aluminum etc etc) . That piece of paper which can be used for an airplane now costed me 200+ €.
Pretty sure that if natives are required to take IELTS then more than half of them would fail the test

[onkko]

Pretty sure that if natives are required to take IELTS then more than half of them would fail the test

You cant choose natives but you can choose immigrants, well atleast country should be able to choose....

[Flossy1978]

I do not have a Finnish Passport because I cannot learn the language. Please, I don't need to hear that I just need to work harder at it, do this or that..... I've been to several courses and I am now so confused and messed up about all the grammar, it's gone over my head. I do however write Finnish everyday at work. My reports are written in Finnish. But the Finnish is not everyday Finnish and is Finnish often invented for the sole purpose of what I do for my job, nothing more.

I have Finnish friends, but they refuse to speak Finnish. And I have no means to go to any more courses. Nurmijärvi has one course every year and that's for beginners to the country. It goes no further than that. As well as having a bilingual child who refuses to speak Finnish with me, doesn't help. And being a single mum, where to put the child when I'd have to travel back into Vantaa, Helsinki, Espoo or even to Hyvinkää to go to evening classes? The distance and the cost involved are too much for me to afford. These are all great excuses for not learning the language of a country I reside in. I know how it sounds. I am not lazy, I am basically 'language stupid'. I could read a grammar book over and over and still not get what I am reading. As I have done many a times.

I find I am a rude person because I live here and haven't learned the language properly. It is very rude. And there really shouldn't be any excuses for it. For that I apologise. I am capable of holding basic conversations etc. So I am not entirely without knowing anything, but the fact of the matter is, I will never learn this language properly. Nothing I can do about it, so rude I remain, I guess.

And to be frank, I don't live here because I want to. I, like many other non Fins had a child with a Fin who decided to divorce me. Apparently my ex has had all the rights and I have none. I have no right to take my child home to my own country. Of course I could leave, but then my child would have to stay here, which means abandoning my child. What kind of a mother would that make me? I love my child too much to ever be so selfish. I like Finland, I like living here. But would I ever come here again knowing what was to happen? No, I am sorry, I wouldn't. I am so very grateful for all Finland has given me over the years and I never complain about paying such high taxes etc, because I have a child. My child benefits greatly for living here. Much more than he would if we lived in Australia on my salary. But home is home. Home is where my family is.... Where I 'myself' have a better chance in life, than here. Yes, life is what you make it. And I am making it the best I can. I focus on making sure my child has a good upbringing and will be a good adult. That's what I focus on. That's what matters most to me. Not myself anymore.

Of course Australia has much tougher standards than Finland would for English, since it's an English speaking country. They're having elections there now. Or they are over. I don't keep up with politics. Even if I lived there I wouldn't. I just use to always vote for the environmentalists LOL. They never win, but you have to vote there, so at least I know I am voting for a good cause LOL. Maybe the new Primeminister will lower the English level needed for you LOL.

[Adrian42]

I'd be one of those ready to throw the towel and run away. In fact, I went to IELTS in Feb 2013 and boy Australian bureaucracy got some very tough requirements. 7 is mandatory in ALL modules (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking).

For which visa is 7 mandatory?

For the Skilled Independent visa (that allows you to do whatever you want in Australia) I was looking at only 6 in all parts is necessary.
But having 7 in all parts or 8 in all parts gives you bonus points.