Lots of weird questions about moving to Finland...

[IndiscriminateB]

I am in maybe a weird situation, because I can't find anyone else asking these questions.

First, about me:
- I am a Canadian/Finnish dual citizen. My mother was born in Finland, and I was born in Canada. On those grounds, I applied to be a Finnish citizen, and as of 2009 I was granted Finnish citizenship.
- I do not speak Finnish, but I'm trying to learn. I have family in Canada who speak fluent Finnish, but they don't have much time to teach me or practice with me, so most of my learning is independent.
- I am currently pursuing a BA in Psychology. I'm not going to a large or well-known school, but my grades are high.
- I am planning to permanently move to Finland in roughly one year's time, once I finish my BA. I've been to Finland twice in recent years, and I have family there.
- I plan on completing my education in Finland (in Finnish), but I won't even start applying to schools until my Finnish is good enough, so I haven't looked into this too much.
- I will have about $40000CAD saved up when I move, but how much that is in € will of course depend on the exchange rates. I am hoping to put a down-payment on a small residence with this money. I don't care about living in a big city, I just care that I'm somewhere in Western Finland, where all my Finnish relatives live.
- It will just be me moving, as I'm happily single and absolutely not looking.

So, these are my questions:
1. Since I am a Finnish citizen, can I just move to Finland, and register with the police once I have my own place (but within 3 months of moving)? Am I right in assuming that all Finnish citizens have a right to permanently reside in Finland? It would be weird if it didn't work this way, but there doesn't seem to be any information for citizens who are non-residents, and all the info available in English talks about resident permits and permanent resident permits. Can I just assume my Finnish citizenship is the same as a permanent resident permit in these cases? My next question contains a perfect example of this.

2. According to http://www.kela.fi/web/en/moving-to-fin ... r-capacity, it says "If, by reason of birth or descent, you have been issued a residence permit in Finland valid for at least a year, you will normally be covered by the Finnish social security system as soon as you move to Finland." But I don't have a resident permit, I just have my citizenship. The page at http://www.intofinland.fi/en/frequently ... estions#13 seems to be saying the same thing, but phrases it, "Your right to coverage under the Finnish social security system depends on the length of your stay in Finland. If you intend to move to Finland permanently, you will be covered under the Finnish social security system immediately upon arrival and will qualify for Kela benefits." That sounds like moving to Finland with the intent of never leaving is all I need to do to qualify for Kela benefits. So, does that mean a citizen like me will qualify right away upon moving? Am I covered as a citizen even now, as a non-resident (say, if I were to take a vacation in Finland and break my leg)? I couldn't find even a scrap of information on that last one.

3. I keep hearing that you have to live in Finland for at least 3 years before you qualify for free University, but I can't find anything official on that. Is it that you only qualify after you're a permanent resident, and a foreign citizen can't qualify as a permanent resident until they've been living in Finland for 3+ years? Would a Finnish-born citizen who moved abroad for a few years and then returned to Finland immediately be able to enter University without tuition fees, provided their grades were good enough and they passed all the required exams, or would they also have to wait 3+ years? Would I, as a citizen but never a resident, have to wait 3 years before continuing my studies in Finland? Where is everyone getting this "3 years" number?

4. I don't expect my Finnish to be good enough to work or study in Finnish by the time I move there. Will I qualify for adult integration programs, already knowing some Finnish? Does the fact that I plan on finishing my education instead of actively seeking full-time employment affect whether or not I qualify for integration programs? (Though obviously I would be seeking full-time employment if I actually have to wait 3 years before being able to continue University, as per my previous round of questions.) Does the fact that I'm already a citizen mean that Finland won't try to integrate me? I want to be a productive member of society, but it's hard when you don't speak the language! Opportunities to learn Finnish in Canada are also few and far between, so waiting around in Canada until my Finnish is good enough is basically a terrible idea.

5. This will be my first home (in any country), so my understanding is that I qualify for the First-Time Homebuyers' Exemption from Transfer Tax (https://www.vero.fi/en-US/Precise_infor ... 2817334%29). Is there normally Transfer Tax PLUS some other tax? Will I have to pay any tax on my home, or is that an exemption from all tax on my first home?

I'm sure I will have more questions later, but those are the big (groups of) ones for now.

[Alex.Sm]

Morjens,

I don't see any problems, you have finnish citizenship! When you have the citizenship stop thinking about visas, resident permits and stuff like that otherwise you will get confused!

1: Buy flight ticket, come here, go to maistratti and that's it! I think you don't have to go to police to register, you just go to maistratti and tell them you leave here at address x. That's it! (Maybe fill some forms)
2. Go to Kela office and apply for Kela card. You are citizen of the country therefore entitled. That's it!
3. When is university application period, apply for the desired programme/programess if you meet all the requirements and if you get accepted you will start your studies. That's it! (No 3 years waiting or maybe if you don't get accepted to study)
4. As a finnish citizen I don't know if you are entitled for integration programmes as those are for foreigners NOT CITIZENS AS YOU ARE. Maybe I am wrong on this. You can ask anyway from the office. However there are many ways to learn the language (courses at school, private courses (not so expensive), other courses provided by the municipalities, etc etc). Integration program is for immigrants and is full time! I never took that myself so I don't know more.
5. If you buy a house yeap there will be no tax on it, I think the rule is you have to leave there at least 2 years before you sell it, otherwise you will get taxed ... maybe I am wrong?

Maybe I missed it somehow but if you are a guy, expect the army invitation if you haven't done it yet ...

Overall, as a citizen you have no restrictions, you get all benefits as any other citizen of this country ... you make some confusion between citizenship and residence permit.

P.S. I don't know if the bank will give you a loan, as you don't have a permanent job, and now there is a rule that you have to have 10% cash from the price of the house/apartment and the 40.000 $(CAD) will be like 26.000€ or so. BTW, maybe you know it already but don't come here with all the money on your pocket, move here first, open a bank account and then arrange a transfer maybe wait a bit finish your studies and buy something after. You will also need somebody to guarantee for your loan. If you take a loan, banks have different rules: some might consider the house/apartment 70% from the price, some might consider it 80% and so forth ... you must have 10% cash from the loan, and then for the rest that is either 20% or 10% or whatever you must have somebody whom will guarantee for you ... I think the state can also guarantee for a certain sum, I'm not sure but if that is not enough then you have to arrange it somehow ... anyway this is something else.

[rinso]

1: Buy flight ticket, come here, go to maistratti and that's it! I think you don't have to go to police to register, you just go to maistratti and tell them you leave here at address x. That's it! (Maybe fill some forms)

Getting a Finnish passport before you move might be wise. Coming to the maistratti with a Canadian pass and try to get registered as a Finn might be confusing.

[Alex.Sm]

1: Buy flight ticket, come here, go to maistratti and that's it! I think you don't have to go to police to register, you just go to maistratti and tell them you leave here at address x. That's it! (Maybe fill some forms)

Getting a Finnish passport before you move might be wise. Coming to the maistratti with a Canadian pass and try to get registered as a Finn might be confusing.

I was assuming he/she has already the passport ... but good point! OP: get a passport!

[betelgeuse]

1: Buy flight ticket, come here, go to maistratti and that's it! I think you don't have to go to police to register, you just go to maistratti and tell them you leave here at address x. That's it! (Maybe fill some forms)

Getting a Finnish passport before you move might be wise. Coming to the maistratti with a Canadian pass and try to get registered as a Finn might be confusing.

The OP might as well get the passport from the local police too. If he doesn't live near Ottawa or a consulate in Canada then getting the passport there is not trivial.

[betelgeuse]

5. If you buy a house yeap there will be no tax on it, I think the rule is you have to leave there at least 2 years before you sell it, otherwise you will get taxed ... maybe I am wrong?

If you buy a house and not shares in a limited liability housing company, then you must also pay real estate tax every year (in a housing company you still pay the tax but indirectly through the company). What you said about selling is correct.

P.S. I don't know if the bank will give you a loan, as you don't have a permanent job, and now there is a rule that you have to have 10% cash from the price of the house/apartment and the 40.000 $(CAD) will be like 26.000€ or so.

There is no rule yet. A new law is planned but no such thing has passed yet. Usually banks do want some cash. However, if you can provide collateral up to 100% of the loan, then it's possible to get a loan with cash. This does require a permanent job though.

Am I covered as a citizen even now, as a non-resident (say, if I were to take a vacation in Finland and break my leg)? I couldn't find even a scrap of information on that last one.

You are not. You should have travel insurance when coming to Finland.

[betelgeuse]

4. As a finnish citizen I don't know if you are entitled for integration programmes as those are for foreigners NOT CITIZENS AS YOU ARE. Maybe I am wrong on this. You can ask anyway from the office. However there are many ways to learn the language (courses at school, private courses (not so expensive), other courses provided by the municipalities, etc etc). Integration program is for immigrants and is full time! I never took that myself so I don't know more.

http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/1999/19990493

You are wrong about this. The law uses the general term "maahanmuuttaja" which translates as immigrant and includes citizens too. Citizens do not usually get an integration plan because it is only available for three years from first moving to Finland.

[Alex.Sm]

4. As a finnish citizen I don't know if you are entitled for integration programmes as those are for foreigners NOT CITIZENS AS YOU ARE. Maybe I am wrong on this. You can ask anyway from the office. However there are many ways to learn the language (courses at school, private courses (not so expensive), other courses provided by the municipalities, etc etc). Integration program is for immigrants and is full time! I never took that myself so I don't know more.

http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/1999/19990493

You are wrong about this. The law uses the general term "maahanmuuttaja" which translates as immigrant and includes citizens too. Citizens do not usually get an integration plan because it is only available for three years from first moving to Finland.

I never took that integration program so I was not sure about it, I just had some vague information but good you clarified it

[Alex.Sm]

1: Buy flight ticket, come here, go to maistratti and that's it! I think you don't have to go to police to register, you just go to maistratti and tell them you leave here at address x. That's it! (Maybe fill some forms)

Getting a Finnish passport before you move might be wise. Coming to the maistratti with a Canadian pass and try to get registered as a Finn might be confusing.

The OP might as well get the passport from the local police too. If he doesn't live near Ottawa or a consulate in Canada then getting the passport there is not trivial.

Of course the passport can get here + ID card (which I recommend). ID card is credit-card size so you can have it in your wallet instead of carrying the passport. But if the OP has time in Canada, will maybe be easier to apply for passport there and when will arrive to Finland, just smooth registration (instead of waiting few days for passport).

[jahasjahas]

3. I keep hearing that you have to live in Finland for at least 3 years before you qualify for free University, but I can't find anything official on that. Is it that you only qualify after you're a permanent resident, and a foreign citizen can't qualify as a permanent resident until they've been living in Finland for 3+ years? Would a Finnish-born citizen who moved abroad for a few years and then returned to Finland immediately be able to enter University without tuition fees, provided their grades were good enough and they passed all the required exams, or would they also have to wait 3+ years? Would I, as a citizen but never a resident, have to wait 3 years before continuing my studies in Finland? Where is everyone getting this "3 years" number?

There absolutely isn't such a rule. There are no tuition fees, period. (Except for a small tuition fee trial for some English-language programs in a few universities, but it hasn't lead to anything yet, and has mostly been deemed a failure.)

You just need to apply and pass the entrance exam. Check out https://www.yliopistohaku.fi/ and http://www.studyinfinland.fi/ for additional information.

Could you show me some of the discussions on the "3 year rule"?

[Pursuivant]

Would that be regarding the KELA handouts?

[Rip]

I'd just add that when registering at maistraatti, any questions regarding length of the planned stay are best answered with "permanent".

[onkko]

I will answer as my friend, canadian, got it.
As male he was arrested while entering in finland, problems with registering and moving, no prob No need to canadian forces to help him.
In 2000s he got finnish citizenship by saying "my dad and mom were FI, gief plz"
I am, by fact, registered in finland in sweden, how much swedish ID would cost