Everyday Life in Finland: A Practical Guide for Newcomers

Moving to Finland is exciting, but the first few months can feel confusing. The rules are different, the winters are long, and people can seem quiet at first. This guide covers the everyday things I wish someone had told me when I arrived.

ফিনল্যান্ডে নতুন এসেছেন? প্রথম কয়েক মাসের দৈনন্দিন জীবনের জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় তথ্য এখানে সহজ ভাষায় দেওয়া হলো।

1. Your first weeks: the paperwork

A few registrations unlock almost everything else, so do them early:

• Register your address with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). You’ll get a Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus), which you need for banking, healthcare and work.
• Open a bank account. Ask for online banking codes. They also work as your strong electronic identification, which you’ll use to log in to almost every public service online.
• Get a tax card (verokortti) from the Tax Administration (Vero) before your first payday. Without one, your employer has to withhold a very high rate of tax.
• Check Kela, the social insurance institution, to see whether you qualify for benefits such as healthcare coverage or family support.

InfoFinland.fi explains all of this step by step in many languages. It’s the best official starting point.

প্রথমেই ঠিকানা রেজিস্ট্রেশন, ব্যাংক অ্যাকাউন্ট ও ট্যাক্স কার্ড করে ফেলুন।

2. Finnish manners: what’s normal here

• Be on time. Arriving five minutes late without a message is considered rude. For meetings, a doctor’s appointment or a dinner invitation, arrive exactly on time.
• Silence is okay. Finns don’t feel a need to fill quiet moments with small talk. If someone is quiet, they are not being unfriendly.
• Personal space matters. People keep a comfortable distance at bus stops and in queues. Don’t stand too close.
• Take your shoes off when you enter someone’s home.
• Say what you mean. Finns value honesty and directness. A plain “no” is not impolite, and a promise is taken seriously.
• Sauna is part of life. If you’re invited to a sauna, it’s a sign of friendship.

Want to go deeper? Read ফিনল্যান্ডের দৈনন্দিন সংস্কৃতি (Everyday Finnish Culture).

3. Shopping and paying

• The main grocery chains are K-Market / K-Citymarket, S-Market / Prisma and Lidl. Joining the K-Plussa or S-Bonus loyalty programmes gives you discounts.
• Cards are everywhere. You can pay almost anything by card or phone. Many people send money to each other with MobilePay.
• Return your bottles and cans. Most drinks have a deposit (pantti). Put empties in the return machine at any supermarket and get a receipt you can use at the checkout.
• Strong alcohol is sold only at Alko shops. Supermarkets sell only lighter drinks.

4. Recycling and home life

• Finns sort their rubbish carefully. Most buildings have separate bins for bio-waste, cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, metal and mixed waste. Check the signs in your waste room.
• Many apartment buildings have a shared laundry room and sauna that you book on a schedule. Respect the booking times.
• Keep noise down late at night. Most buildings have quiet hours, usually from 10 pm to 7 am.

ময়লা আলাদা করে ফেলা এবং রাতে শব্দ কম করা এখানে খুবই গুরুত্বপূর্ণ।

5. Getting around

• Public transport is reliable and runs on time. In the Helsinki region, use the HSL app to buy tickets and plan trips. Other cities have their own apps.
• Trains between cities are run by VR. Booking early is usually cheaper.
• Cycling is common, even in winter. Use lights in the dark, as the law requires.
• In winter, wear reflectors (heijastin) on your coat or bag so drivers can see you in the dark.

6. Surviving the weather

• Dress in layers. A warm base layer, a sweater and a windproof, waterproof jacket will get you through most days. Good winter shoes with grip are essential on icy streets.
• Winters are dark, especially in the north. Get outside during daylight hours, stay active and keep a regular routine.
• Summers are bright, with very long days. Many Finns spend them at a summer cottage (mökki).
• Thanks to everyman’s right (jokamiehenoikeus), you can walk in forests and pick berries and mushrooms freely. Just respect nature and people’s homes.

শীতকালে স্তরে স্তরে কাপড় পরুন এবং দিনের আলোয় বাইরে সময় কাটান।

7. Healthcare and emergencies

• 112 is the emergency number for ambulance, fire and police.
• 116117 is the medical helpline. Call it when you need urgent advice but it isn’t a life-threatening emergency.
• For ordinary health issues, contact your local health centre (terveysasema). Many areas also offer online services.

8. Learn some Finnish, even a little

Many Finns speak excellent English, but knowing even a few words of Finnish makes daily life easier and opens doors at work. Start with these:

• Moi / Hei – Hi
• Kiitos – Thank you
• Anteeksi – Sorry / Excuse me
• Puhutko englantia? – Do you speak English?
• Kuitti, kiitos – Receipt, please
• Hei hei / Moikka – Bye

Ready to learn properly? Follow my step-by-step Finnish learning plan, explained in Bengali.

9. Finding work and making friends

• Look for jobs on the sites listed on my Job Search page, and register with the TE services / employment office in your municipality.
• Join a hobby group, sports club or language café. Finns often make friends through shared activities rather than casual conversation.
• Be patient. Friendships here can take time to form, but they tend to be deep and long-lasting.

Final tip

Give yourself time. Everyone finds the first winter hard, and everyone makes small mistakes with recycling or bus tickets. Ask questions, stay curious, and Finland will soon start to feel like home.

ধৈর্য ধরুন। কিছুদিনের মধ্যেই ফিনল্যান্ডকে নিজের ঘরের মতো মনে হবে। শুভকামনা!

Information can change, so always check official sources such as InfoFinland, DVV, Kela and Vero for the latest rules.