Other types of support and services

Information and guidance on asylum and integration

• Infopankki website provides information about moving to Finland as an asylum seeker. 

• The Finnish Refugee Advice Centre provides legal aid and advice to asylum seekers, refugees and other foreigners in Finland.

• Finnish Immigration Service’s helpline provides phone advice on residence permits, EU registration, applications for and decisions on asylum, alien’s passports and citizenship matters. 

• Municipalities provide relevant information as well as arrange integration and support programs for migrants and refugees living in Finland. Comprehensive information about living and settling in Finland, including information about integration programs generally in Finland and in particular municipalities can be found on the InfoFinland website.

• International House Helsinki provides a wide range of information and public authority services to meet the needs of international newcomers in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

Residence permits and legal aid

• State-funded legal assistance

• MIGRI (Finnish Immigration Service) provides information and instructions on different types of residence permits. (Also under "Legal Frameworks and Policies"). Finland also offers a residence permit for start-up entrepreeneurs. The information can be found on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.

• Social Insurance Institution of Finland.

Trade unions for various groups and professions

• Trade unions provide various forms of support to their members, including earnings-related unemployment benefits or legal counselling related to employment and grant-based research. Relevant trade unions in higher education are listed below:
  • Tieteentekijoiden liitto (Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers)
  • Professoriliitto (Finnish Union of University Professors)

• SAK, confederation of 17 trade unions in industry, public sector, transport, private services and culture, provides advisory service for immigrants. 

Other

Access to libraries: libraries in Finland are in principle open to everyone - an ID document and a valid address in Finland might be required for obtaining a library card. Access to the Library of the Parliament and the National Library.

Information and services on suomi.fi.