Sarah Roseblade, a British professional who moved to Helsinki from Poland, shares her top tips for navigating the move. “What I really love in Helsinki is that the nature is always close by,” says Sarah. If you’re wondering how to handle the bureaucracy and practicalities of moving, Sarah’s firsthand experience will help. “First, we came to Helsinki because of the vibrant AI scene, but very soon we realised several other reasons to stay,” says Sarah, 51, who relocated in 2022 with her husband, two teenagers, and a lively Polish dog. “You don’t need to do everything by yourself. There is plenty of help available,” she advises.

Here are Sarah’s seven essential steps for making your move to Helsinki as smooth as possible.

The 90 Day Finn Experience

Sarah and her husband, Colin, are international talents who have lived in several countries. They first heard about The 90 Day Finn program, which gives international executives, entrepreneurs, and innovation leaders the chance to experience life in Helsinki for three months.

“We wanted to experience life in Helsinki, and this program made it easy,” Sarah says.

Of course, not everyone joins this program, nor does everyone need to. Many international professionals move to Helsinki with long-term job contracts and want to settle in right away.

Whatever your path, Sarah suggests focusing on key practicalities first.

“After that, everyday routines get a lot easier,” she says.

Tip #1: Book Free Guidance

What do you need to know about life in Helsinki? Sarah’s biggest concern was whether she could use public healthcare right away after moving. The answer? Yes, you can visit a health center as soon as you register.

The easiest way to get reliable, up-to-date information is by attending a Helsinki pre-arrival webinar. These online sessions, hosted by International House Helsinki (IHH), cover essential topics for international newcomers.

Sarah found the webinar very helpful. “And if you have personal questions, you can book a private online guidance session with IHH specialists.”

Depending on your needs, an expert can help with housing, job searching, or school options for your children. These sessions are free of charge.

Tip #2: Choose a Home That Suits Your Lifestyle

Finding a home in Helsinki can feel overwhelming. Some people prefer to stay in Airbnb rentals or furnished apartments like Noli Studios for the first few weeks.

“That is especially a good plan if you live with children,” Sarah says.

Sarah and Colin had moved internationally before and knew that finding a home without assistance can be stressful.

“Life can also be a bit easier.”

Many companies provide relocation services for international employees. But as entrepreneurs, Sarah and Colin decided to hire a relocation company themselves.

“We just told them we need a home with four bedrooms located close to nature, and they started looking.”

Sarah arrived in Helsinki before the rest of her family to view apartments. One of the first places she saw was a spacious, 1960s-style home in Myllypuro, surrounded by pine trees.

“I didn’t need to see more. I knew this airy and spacious apartment was our new home.”

Myllypuro is a practical choice, offering a metro connection, a small shopping center, and easy access to nature.

“I also like the communal laundry in the basement,” Sarah laughs.

A helpful tip: If you’re searching for long-term rentals months in advance, don’t worry if the market seems limited. In Helsinki, rental apartments usually become available just one or two months before the move-in date.

Tip #3: Apply for Daycare in Advance

In Finland, children start school the year they turn seven. Before that, they attend a mandatory one-year preschool program.

If your child needs daycare, Sarah recommends applying at least four months before your move.

Finland has a high-quality and affordable public daycare system, and the city is required to provide a spot for every child.

Private daycare options with English-language instruction are also available, but each has its own admissions process. Sarah advises choosing your neighborhood first before applying for daycare or school.

Tip #4: Immigration Rules Depend on Your Passport

Sarah used to have an EU passport, but no longer does since Brexit.

“We decided to stay in EU nations after that,” she says.

Immigration rules for moving to Helsinki depend on your nationality. Whether you are from a Nordic country, an EU member state, or outside the EU, the requirements vary.

Sarah and her family had a residence permit in Poland, which allowed them to move freely within the Schengen Area. They registered their new home address in Finland through Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service.

Tip #5: Book key appointments early

Sarah wishes she had known how important it was to schedule key appointments in advance.

“There are certain official registration procedures every person must do before life in Helsinki starts to flow freely,” she says.

Booking these appointments before arrival helps speed up the process. Ideally, you should handle these within your first day in Helsinki:

• Migration Office (Migri)
• City Registration Office
• Tax Office

Fortunately, all of these services are available under one roof at International House Helsinki (IHH).

Next, visit a bank.

“I was surprised how important the local bank account is in Finland,” Sarah says.

Your bank credentials are used for much more than payments—they serve as digital identification for online services, including taxes, insurance, and contracts.

Tip #6: Consider a local school

If Sarah could decide again, she would put her kids to a local, Finnish speaking school. 

“Children grab the language fast and make friends with kids in their own neighborhood. That is so important.”

But as Sarah’s family was first planning to stay in Helsinki only three months, they chose English speaking classes in Kulosaari school.

“The Kulosaari school is really good, my both kids loved it.”

And they also loved Helsinki. It was Sarah´s daughter Megan, who first said they should stay. She enjoyed her new friends, the snow and the chilly weather. The rest of the family didn´t have anything against her suggestion. Sarah had found producer work with Helsinki Philharmonic orchestra and Colin had started his own AI consulting company. So, the family stayed in Helsinki.

Both Sarah’s children have mild dyslexia. Sarah appreciates the extra support they have gained from the school. They for example have more replying time at the exams.

In Finland almost all studies are free of charge. One can study in English as well, but the IB high schools have quite high entry level requirements. In professional schools there are more options in Finnish. Universities offer education in both languages.

Megan and Toby speak nowadays good Finnish so they can later choose education on either language they like. 

Photo Outi Neuvonen

Tip #7: Build your community

Every Friday, Sarah meets women and their babies at Café Yesterday in Myllypuro Shopping Center. “Sometimes only one woman shows up, some other day the café gets full.”

She also volunteers with Neighbourhood Mothers, a community initiative run by Nice Hearts.

“I love big cities, but I prefer these smaller city centres. They are like villages where people feel they are part of the community.”

Her top winter survival tip is to wear spiked shoes.

“It may feel tempting to stay home, but we all need social contacts, new faces, and laughter.”

Settling into life in Helsinki

Moving to a new country comes with challenges, but as Sarah’s experience shows, Helsinki offers a welcoming and well-organised environment for newcomers. With the right preparation—booking key appointments in advance, securing housing, and understanding local systems—you can settle in smoothly and start enjoying everything the city has to offer.

Whether you come through a program like The 90 Day Finn or move independently for work or family, taking these steps will help make the transition easier.

As Sarah puts it, “You don’t need to do everything by yourself. There is plenty of help available.” By tapping into local resources, embracing the Finnish way of life, and building your own community, you’ll soon find that Helsinki feels like home.