Guide: Moving to Åland

If you move to Åland, you need to inform various authorities of your move. Moving can also affect things social benefits, healthcare and taxation. The guide also contains information on residence and work permits, accommodation, insurance, banking services, language courses and bringing removal goods, cars and pets into Åland.

If you are moving to Åland to work or study, also check the following guides:

If you are a citizen of a Nordic country, you do not need a work permit or residence permit in Finland. If you are a citizen of a non-Nordic EU/EEA country or any other country, there are certain conditions. Find out more on the page Work and residence permits in Åland.

If you move to Åland or Finland permanently, you get a Finnish personal identity code when you notify your move. In some cases you can also get a Finnish personal identity code if you are staying temporarily in Åland/Finland. Find out more on the page Personal identity codes in Åland.

In Åland it is the State Department of Åland that is responsible for notifications of move and population registration as well as personal identity codes (personal numbers). You need to visit them in person with a valid ID document.

Moving to Åland does not automatically mean that you are entitled to Finnish social benefits. When you apply for benefits, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela/FPA), which is responsible for basic social security in Finland, will assess whether you are permanently resident in Finland or whether you are entitled to Kela benefits because of your work. 

You can only be covered by one country's social security system at a time. You are usually covered by the social security system of the country where you work. If you are not working, you are generally covered by the social security system of the country where you live. Read more on the pages Social security in Åland and Which country's social security system are you covered by?

If you live or work in Finland, you are entitled to healthcare. Even if you are staying in Finland temporarily, you are entitled to certain healthcare services. You also have the right to seek treatment in another Nordic country from Finland or to seek treatment in Finland from another Nordic country. Find out more on the page Right to healthcare services in Finland.

If you move to Åland, you need to apply for a tax card from the tax office in Åland. Remember that you are liable for tax in both countries during the year. Also notify your address to the tax administration in your home country and your employer. You can also read about what applies if you live in one Nordic country and work in another on the page Tax in Åland.

It is important to check the situation with your unemployment fund before you move. Contact your unemployment fund for information about what to do.

For information on employment contracts, collective agreements and other employment terms, see the page Employees’ rights and obligations in Finland. You can find information on trade unions that protect workers' rights on the page Trade unions in Åland.

If you have a foreign degree, employers will in most cases make their own assessment of what qualifications your degree provides for the job. However, for some professions, you will need recognition of your degree or the right to practise the profession. Find out more on the page Recognition of professional qualifications and foreign degrees in Finland.

Here you can find information on the taxation of Finnish and foreign pensions.

Read here about how to find a home in Åland, buying a home or an apartment in a housing company, rental housing, housing waiting lists, housing allowance in Åland as well as about average rents in Åland etc.

Read here about what the rules are if you bring your car with you when moving to Åland. There is a car tax, the car has to be re-registered etc., but if you have a driving licence issued in another Nordic country, it is also valid in Åland.

Read about what the customs rules are if you move to Åland and the routes you can travel by when you move.

Read about what to do if you take pets with you, e.g. a dog or cat, when you move to Åland.

Contact the post office in the country you are moving from if you want your mail forwarded to your new address in Åland.

Read here about opening a bank account, insurance services in Åland, mobile phone and internet contracts, electricity contracts and about the media fee in Åland.

Ordinary municipal elections are held on the third Sunday in October every four years. Ordinary municipal elections are held at the same time as ordinary parliamentary elections. If you have been permanently resident in Åland for one year you can vote in municipal elections in your municipality of residence. Åland regional citizenship is required to stand and vote in parliamentary elections. You can read about your right to vote in the link Who can vote? 

Regional citizenship is not an obstacle to moving to Åland and if you move to Åland you can buy an apartment or build a house on zoned land with a land acquisition permit even without regional citizenship. You can find out more on the page Åland regional citizenship.

In Åland, municipalities are responsible for schools and pre-primary schools. Contact the municipality in Åland you are moving to for more information on childcare and schools and how to put your child on the waiting list for a pre-school place. Contact details for all municipalities can be found in the following link.

Courses in Courses in Swedish for immigrants (SFI) are organised by Citizens’ Institute. You can read more about the courses here:

If you are moving from another Nordic country to Sweden, there are a few things you should do before travelling to Sweden.

The links below provide information on what to bear in mind when moving from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands and Åland to another Nordic country.