5 tips for living and working in Finland – from people who’ve done it

Finland being named the happiest country in the world for the eighth year running has once again shone a light on the many aspects of society that simply work here – chief among them, the work-life balance. But what does this really mean for people moving here from abroad?

“We place a high value on work-life balance because happy workers are more productive and innovative as a result,” emphasised Laura Lindeman, head of the Work in Finland unit at Business Finland.

Wondering whether Finland is the place for you? Here are five tips from former newcomers to the country about how to succeed in life and work here.

1. LIVE YOUR DREAM – TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

“Ideas are easy – putting them into reality is hard.” In many parts of the world, that’s where momentum stalls. But in Finland, entrepreneurs often find that the journey from idea to action is surprisingly straightforward.

The country’s business environment is known for being efficient, supportive and unusually accessible – especially for those living here setting up a sole proprietorship, or toiminimi. In many cases, it takes just a few clicks.

For Hannah Lewis, a design and innovation leader originally from Australia , the experience was refreshingly simple.

“The actual process of setting up my company was simple – I went onto the Vero (tax administration) website, filled out a form, and a week later, I had a business ID,” she said. “That was it. It cost nothing. Even that alone is incredible. It’s been amazing to explore entrepreneurship here.”

Lewis had previously lived in Finland. After a short stint in the US, it was decided to move back north, in part because her husband Andy was ready to start a business of his own.

“We thought, let’s try [moving back to Finland]. We don’t have citizenship, and we don’t have an EU passport, but the startup ecosystem here is great,” she explained.

Andy applied for a startup visa, designed for startup entrepreneurs, specialists and their family members. This was a move that the couple were unsure about, particularly because his company was geared towards social impact rather than traditional tech. Their doubts were unfounded: the application was approved.

Read more about the startup permit via the Enter Finland online service.

2. DON’T GET STUCK ON DIFFERENCES – FIND YOUR TRIBE

For many, Finnish social habits – such as silence on public transport or not greeting strangers when out and about – can seem distant at first. But these behaviours are actually rooted in a respect for personal space rather than unfriendliness.

Lukumanu Iddrisu‚ a project manager and lecturer originally from Ghana , compares Finnish social culture to a coconut: “They look hard from the outside but are soft on the inside. If you understand the culture – how Finns do things, when they go for coffee breaks or lunch – it’s easy to use these smaller details to network with them.”

Elsewhere, Tássia Rebelo, a Brazilian entrepreneur , responded to her initial sense of isolation here by creating her own community. Secret Club, which she founded for immigrant women, began with informal coffee meetups and quickly developed into a growing network of events.

“We have more Finnish women joining and I’ve been learning about the other side of finding friends as an adult,” she said. “Now what I see is that sometimes people have friends from school, their own secret club, but then they move to another city and don’t know anyone there.”

“I didn’t plan the community to be only for internationals – it just happened at the start. We have people from over 20 countries. Today, it isn’t about being international but about being a woman looking for friendship.”

Learn more about Finnish customs

3. GET OUTDOORS – WHATEVER THE WEATHER

Whatever the season, Finns tend to make the most of the outdoors. With forests covering 75 per cent of the country, nature is never far away – and quickly becomes part of everyday life.

“I live one minute from the forest and five minutes from the sea,” said Erica Terranova, a growth marketing specialist from Italy. “There is a lot of greenery and nature around, which is amazing.”

That proximity has changed habits.

“I’ve started to spend more time outdoors,” said Bob Ruiken, a Dutch software engineer. “When I lived in the Netherlands, I was indoors a lot. It’s a positive change, being able to visit nature.”

“I like being outside and doing different sports, mainly with my girlfriend. Some running and biking. I enjoy biking to work – it’s really easy to bike around.”

Haianh Nguyen, a digital marketing manager from Vietnam, also found herself aligning with the local rhythm. “I love Finnish nature. I hate walking because, in my culture, we use scooters to go anywhere,” she said. “But I can walk in a forest for five hours without really stopping.”

She’s taken up mushroom picking, fishing, ice swimming and regular sauna visits. “A friend said I’m becoming almost too Finnish,” she laughed.

Nguyen is also active in her community garden. “I practise speaking Finnish there with older people and share tips on how to grow tomatoes or potatoes. I’ve made many friends that way.”

Read more about how people’s hobbies are supported here

4. WORK SMARTER – TRUST THE FLAT HIERARCHY

A typical work day runs from 8am to 4pm in Finland, with a half-hour break for lunch. The standard 37.5-hour week is not bound to this, however, and many workplaces employ a flexible approach to working hours The structure leaves more time for family or hobbies – and is underpinned by a culture of trust and autonomy.

“The work hierarchy in Finland is lower than in many countries,” observed Terranova. “In Italy, you wouldn’t necessarily use first names with your superiors. And the relationship between employees and employers is more balanced here because of the strong trade union system.”

Zak Allal, a doctor and entrepreneur from Algeria, specifically sought out a non-hierarchical work culture when choosing where he wanted to move to. Finland ticked that box.

“You might talk to a professor who has a huge profile – he’s like a neurosurgeon celebrity – but then you call him by their first name,” he said.

Indeed, on his first day at work, Allal addressed his boss as “professor”. She laughed and told him: “Don’t call me professor, because people are going to be laughing – just call me by my name.”

Find out more about Finnish work culture

5. LEARN SOME FINNISH – IT REALLY HELPS!

While you can live and work comfortably in English – particularly in the capital region – many newcomers find that learning Finnish goes a long way in daily life and integration.

“My top tip for people considering moving to Finland and starting a business here is that you should learn Finnish,” said Cleber Goncalves, a Brazilian entrepreneur who started CoolHead Brew. “Even if you can manage here without speaking it, because everyone speaks English, you should learn it. It’s useful in so many situations.”

Pamela Aranciaga Mauricio, a coffee roastery entrepreneur, from Peru , agrees. “My clients are Finnish, and they feel different when I speak Finnish to them. Of course, they notice it isn’t perfect, but they know the language is hard.”

“I don’t feel uncomfortable speaking it – I actually love the language,” she added. “The intonation is somehow poetic to me.”

Learn where to start learning Finnish.