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When you move to a new country, there are many tasks to complete and the order you tackle them matters. Taking care of the essential formalities ensures that you meet all legal obligations for entering, living, studying, or working.
Among the first and most important steps are applying to the immigration authorities, gathering the right documents, obtaining a social security number, and registering your place of residence. Once these essentials are in place, completing the remaining steps will be much easier.
There are some things you should do before your move and other things you should think about and prepare before the actual moving day.
Start by contacting the authorities in your home country to find out what information they need from you before you move.
If you are moving to Åland from an EU country, you should first inform the population register authority in your home country that you are moving abroad permanently.
On arrival in Åland, you need to register your right of residence with the State Department of Åland (Statens ämbetsverk på Åland).
Statens ämbetsverk på ÅlandTorggatan 16B, Mariehamninfo@ambetsverket.fi
Right of residence applies to citizens of EU countries, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.If you intend to stay in Åland for less than 90 days, registration is not required. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you must register your right of residence within three months after your arrival.
Note: Registration for EU citizens in Åland is handled locally by the State Department in Åland, not through the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) or Enter Finland.
After registering your right of residence with the State Department of Åland, you also need to register your address and personal information in the Population Information System.
This means that you become officially registered as a resident and are assigned a municipality of residence in Åland.
At the same time, you can apply for a Finnish social security number if you do not already have one. The social security number is necessary for accessing services such as healthcare, social security, and banking.
You will receive a certificate confirming your registered right of residence.
If you intend to stay in Finland or Åland for less than 90 days, you usually only need a valid tourist visa – depending on your nationality. Please check the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ visa requirements to see if you need a visa.
If you are a citizen of a non-EU country and plan to stay for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit before arriving in Finland. When applying, you must state the purpose of your stay (such as family, work, or studies) and demonstrate that you can financially support yourself.
In most cases, residence permit applications must be submitted before entering the country. Applicants are required to visit a Finnish embassy or consulate abroad in person within three months of applying, in order to verify their identity and provide supporting documents. This also applies to any accompanying family members.
You can apply for a residence permit either by submitting a paper application or digitally via the Enter Finland service managed by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri).
Information on residence permits via the Migration Agency (Migri).
What applies when you move from outside the EU to Åland? See the latest information from the Finnish Immigration Service.
Read more about moving to Finland for non-EU citizens at InfoFinland.fi.
For stays of 3–12 months, you must report a temporary move. If you move to Åland for less than a year, you will get a temporary social security number, and your municipality of residence will not change.
If you work in Åland for less than 3 months, you do not need to submit a notification of move.
Read more about how to register your move at DVV - Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
It is important to organize your documents before moving to Åland. This will make it easier to handle immigration matters, register your address and municipality of residence, manage tax issues, arrange housing, and more.
If you are moving with family members (spouse, registered partner, or children), you need to bring:
Please note that if the documents are issued outside the EU, they must be legalized, either with an Apostille certificate or with stamps from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish diplomatic mission in the issuing country.
The Finnish population register, or the Population Information System, is a national electronic basic register that contains up-to-date personal data on Finnish citizens and foreigners residing permanently or temporarily in Finland.
After your residence permit is approved and you arrive in Åland, you must register your address and personal information within one week in the Population Information System through the State Department of Åland (Statens ämbetsverk på Åland), Torggatan 16 B, Mariehamn. This is necessary to gain access to local services and social benefits.
The notification of move must be made in person. Bring a valid document of identification. If you are moving with a minor child, the child’s parents/guardians must be stated on the child’s identification document, or the child must have their own identification document.
Remember that some benefits, such as social security through FPA (Kela, the Finnish social insurance institution), may require a qualifying period after your arrival.
You must also submit a notification of move (address notification) when you settle permanently in Åland.
Once you have submitted your notification of move, you will receive your Finnish social security number. At the same time, you will be registered in the Population Information System. The social security number is a means of identification that individualizes citizens in a way that is better than by name alone.
The social security number has eleven characters that are formed based on a person’s date of birth and gender. The first six digits are the date of birth (DDMMYY). You need a social security number to deal with authorities, banks and your employer.
When you get a Finnish social security number, it does not affect social security numbers you have received in other countries. You use the Finnish social security number in Finland and the social security number valid in other countries in those countries.
Read more about how to get a social security number in Åland at Info Norden.
When a child is born in Finland, their details are entered into the Population Information System directly from the hospital. Citizenship depends on the parents’ nationality.
Only one native language can be registered, but it can be changed later. If the language is not Swedish, the child can study Swedish as a second language. It is also possible to study the registered native language at school, though this is optional for the municipality to provide.
If you plan to live in Åland for at least one year and your stay is legal, you may be eligible to register a municipality of residence. This registration grants access to local services such as healthcare, education, and social benefits. Eligibility depends on factors like citizenship, type of residence permit, and family ties. For instance, citizens of EU/EEA countries must have their right of residence registered, while non-EU citizens typically need a continuous or permanent residence permit.
Note that a temporary address notification does not suffice for registering a municipality of residence.
For detailed information and application procedures, please visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency's website.
All individuals working in Finland are required to pay income tax. The Finnish tax system is progressive, meaning that your tax percentage increases with your estimated income. In addition, the amount of municipal tax you pay depends on the tax rate in the municipality where you reside.
To get an estimate of your income tax in Åland, you can use the Tax Percentage Calculator.
Use the Tax rate calculator at Skatt.fi.
The following taxes are deducted from your salary in Finland:
If you work in Åland for less than six months, there are two options for taxation:
For more detailed information on taxation, contact the Tax Office in Mariehamn, tel. +358 29 512 001.
Read more on the Tax Administration website, Åland Tax Office.
Tax information in English: Contact the Finnish Tax Administration (Vero) with questions about taxation.
Visit The Tax Campus (Verokampus) website – aimed at everyone needing help with managing their taxes or understanding the Finnish tax system.
Are you going to work remotely? Read more about taxation of remote work in Åland Living.
The right to social security benefits is based on whether you live or work in Åland. Social security for persons living in Åland is administered by FPA, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela).
Social security benefits include:
When applying for a benefit, you must also report your move to Åland using form Y77e, Moving to Finland.
Download the form from FPA’s website.
The FPA card is a personal health insurance card issued by Finland’s Social Insurance Institution (FPA). It is available to those covered by the National Health Insurance scheme, typically permanent residents. The card provides partial reimbursement for private healthcare and discounted prices on prescription medicines. However, access to public healthcare in Finland, including in Åland, is based on municipal residency — not on having a FPA card. You can apply for the card online or at the local FPA office.
Contact details for FPA Åland: Visiting address: Nygatan 7A in Mariehamn. Postal address for submitting documents: FPA, PB 10, 00056 FPA.
If you have the bank codes/BankID of an Åland/Finnish bank, you can apply through FPA’s e-service.
More information:For more information on applying for and receiving social security benefits, see “From abroad to Finland”.
You can also contact FPA’s service number for relocation issues at +358 (0)20 634 0200.
See the Centre for International Affairs.
See Call FPA (Kela).
Childcare, schools, family benefits and other information for parents can be found on our family life webpages.
In Finland and Åland, all mothers who give birth receive a free maternity package from the government. This special box contains essential items for newborns, such as clothes, diapers, and baby care products. The maternity package has been provided for decades and is a unique symbol of Finland’s support for families and child welfare.
Read more about family life in Åland Living.
Download the Children’s Rights Manual and find out more about laws and policies affecting children at www.ombudsman.ax.
You need to be a Finnish citizen to apply for a passport in Åland and in Mainland Finland.
If you are a foreign national, you may be granted an identity card if:
When applying, you must present a valid passport or identity card to apply for a Finnish identity card. If you do not have one, you must present a valid residence permit card or residence card.
You can renew or apply for a passport, ID card or ID card via the police’s e-service or in person at Strandgatan 27 in Mariehamn (in Swedish).
If you are not a Finnish citizen, you will need to contact the embassy or passport-issuing authorities of the country of your citizenship.
Foreign citizens who live permanently in Finland can apply for an identity card from the Finnish police. It is useful if you don’t want to carry your passport. Driving licenses are not accepted as valid ID in Finland.
Banks may require a Finnish identity card to provide strong electronic identification, especially for non-EU/EEA citizens. You can apply for the card online or at a police station.
Note: this card cannot be used for travel.
You need a bank account to enable your employer to pay your salary. Check with your employer whether the account you already have will work or whether it is better to open an account with a bank in Åland. This applies to persons moving to Åland from a country other than Finland.
Most major banks in Finland offer services in English, and online banking is the standard. To open an account, you need to book an in-person appointment and provide identification documents — requirements vary, so it’s best to check with the bank beforehand.
When opening your account, ask for online banking codes, a bank card, and access to strong electronic identification. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday, 9:00–16:00, and appointments are often required. Many banks no longer handle cash, so check in advance if you need to make deposits.
ATMs (bankomat) are available in Mariehamn and Godby and accept major credit cards (Otto); only TalletusOtto machines allow cash deposits.
The following banks have offices in Åland:
Read more about bank accounts in Åland at Info Norden.
Strong identification is a secure way to prove your identity online in Finland. Most people use either online banking codes or a Mobile ID.
Note: Not all newcomers have access to strong identification right away. You can find more options on Suomi.fi.
When you work or run a business in Åland (and in Finland), you earn a pension based on your income. This pension stays in the Finnish system, even if you move to another country. You can receive your Finnish pension anywhere in the world once you reach retirement age.
If you are an employee, your employer handles the pension payments. If you are self-employed, you must arrange pension insurance yourself.
For more information, visit the Finnish Centre for Pensions.
Ålcom and Midax offer mobile and internet subscriptions and broadband.
Finland’s country code is 358 and Åland’s area code is 018. So, when calling Åland from abroad, for example, you would dial +358 18 12345.
Mobile phone numbers in Åland usually start with +358 457, +358 40 or +358 50.
(Example: +358 457 123 4567)
To call abroad, dial 00 (or + if you are using a mobile phone) followed by the country code. For example, if you were calling Stockholm, you would dial 0046 8 123456.
A media fee is paid by everyone who is at least 18 years old, is a resident of a municipality in Åland and earns over €14,000 a year. The media fee is deducted in connection with income taxation.
Read more about the media levy in taxation here.
Media in Åland:
When moving to Åland, you may need to cover some of the following one-time costs:
These costs vary depending on your personal situation, but planning can make your move smoother.
Remember! Personnel at Åland Living can help you find answers to any questions you may have about taxes, pensions and social security in Finland.
Åland is part of Finland, but it has a special tax status. It is not part of the EU’s VAT (value-added tax) or excise duty area. Therefore, goods trade with the rest of the EU, including the rest of Finland, is import and export and customs formalities are applied.
This means:
Finnish Customs (Tullen) is the customs authority in Åland. Always check their website before sending or receiving packages across the Åland border.
Declarations for goods sent between mainland Finland and Åland as well as between the EU and Åland – for individuals.
Declarations for goods sent between mainland Finland and Åland as well as between the EU and Åland – for businesses.
Åland Post manages postal services in Åland. There are post offices or postal agents in most municipalities. As Åland is outside the EU’s VAT, goods sent to Åland must be cleared through customs. This also applies to goods coming from EU countries.
Here you can read more about postal services and other things that concern you as a recipient (in Swedish).
Read more about importing removal goods before moving in at Customs.
Bringing your car with you when you move to Åland involves a cost. This sum may vary depending on where you are moving from.
It is best to contact the Finnish Customs authorities for more information on bringing a car into Åland before your move. Otherwise, you can contact Customs in Mariehamn upon arrival in Åland and inform them that you have a car with you.
Åland Customs District, tel. +358 (0)295 5200 (Customs switchboard).
If you are moving from outside of Finland, you should also contact Skattebyrån (The Tax Office) for information on car tax.
Service number for private individuals at the Finnish Tax Administration.
More information: Read more about “Car tax - when entering the country or registering a vehicle not registered in Finland” at Skatt.fi.
You can use the car tax calculator at Skatt.fi to get an estimate of how much car tax you will have to pay when you import your car to Åland/Finland.
At Skatt.fi you’ll find tables of the taxable values applied to cars that have previously been imported into Åland/Finland.
Remember to register your car with Fordonsmyndigheten (The Åland Vehicle Administration). This also applies to those moving from Mainland Finland.
Detailed information on how to do this can be found on the website of the Fordonsmyndigheten under “Fordon” (in Swedish).
More information:
Importing vehicles from Mainland Finland.
Importing vehicles from abroad.
Read more about the rules that apply to you if you work remotely and drive a foreign-registered car in Åland.
See also Info Norden for more information on bringing cars, vans and motorcycles into Åland.
Find out what rules and vaccinations apply to you if you are moving with your pet.
Contact the small animal clinic Zoodiaken at the Åland Environmental and Health Protection Authority (ÅMHM) tel. +358 18 21000 for more information about importing pets (in Swedish).
Please also visit the Finnish Food Authority for more information on importing pets.
When relocating to Åland, it's helpful to prepare a folder with key documents for you and your family. Here’s a checklist to help you stay organized:
Tip: Make copies (paper and digital) of all important documents and keep them safely stored when travelling and after arrival.
