Local Regulations and Practical Advice

Karoliina Kokko, Senior Program Manager, Fulbright Center

RekisteröintiRegistration at Maistraatti

Visit the Register Office (“Maistraatti”)

Registering your stay at the local register office is optional (since your stay in Finland is less than a year), but would be beneficial

Benefits: considerable discount on a local bus pass and possibly a Finnish ID which can make running errands easier

Bring along: Passport, Residence permit card, Fulbright documents + university invitation letter (scholars) or letter of attendance (students), marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates

Differences in procedures between Register Offices Some Register Offices will give you a Finnish ID number

Let Maistraatti know if you stay longer in the country than you initially planned

MuuttoilmoitusChange of Address Notice

- Required whenever you move to Finland and inside Finland

- Submit a change of address notification by

a) Filling in a form at the post offices or register offices (Maistraatti)

b) Filling in an online form at www.posti.fi/changeaddress/

- If you remember to file a Change of Address Notice when you leave Finland, your letter mail up to 50 g will be forwarded to your new home address

OleskelupaResidence Permit

Working in Finland while on Fulbright

•Student Residence Permit: Allows you to work on average 25 hours/week. During breaks full time work is allowed. Also internship or final work which will give you credits is allowed.

•Scholar Residence Permit: Fulbright Center will contact the Immigration Services and find out does your current residence permit allow you to do the additional work you have been offered.

•Make also sure you understand the possible tax implications

Oleskelupa Residence PermitExtending your stay

•According to Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), you have a possibility to stay in Finland for 3 months as a tourist (+ as an employee in certain jobs) after the end date of your permit without filing any paperwork for permit extension

•If filing an extension is needed, it must be done at the local police station early in advance

•Further information on permit extension: www.migri.fi/information_elsewhere/permit_extensions

•You are required to have a valid insurance for the time of the permit extension

Safety Matters• Adhere to the FC Terms and Conditions as well as the local laws

• Keep FC always updated on your contact information (phone, address, e-mail)

• Inform FC about all travels abroad (not only Fulbright related travels)

• If something happens to you, inform FC immediately about it

• Save the emergency number 112 to your phone (EU wide number)

• Save the In Case of Emergency (ICE) number to the mobile phone as well as store it on your wallet

• Sign up with the U.S. Embassy Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, STEP