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 Lots of paperwork needs to be taken care of when the new expatriate family
arrives in Oulu. It is important to handle things in the right order: a social
security number cannot be obtained without a work or residence permit, and a
SIM card for a mobile phone cannot be obtained without a social security
number. Finding a grocery store, or a school for the children, or access to
Finnish language courses might turn out to be a problem and you need to be
able to find someone who can speak English to help you.
If more information is needed please contact aaltje.bos@ouka.fi
Hire a car
www.oulutourism.fi/eng/car_rental.htm
Finland car rental:
http://www.finland-carhire.com/Oulu.htm
Car rent online:
http://www.carrentonline.com/maps/country.php?
cont=europe&country=finland&pick_up_city=Oulu
Car renting/leasing:
http://www.scandiarent.fi/index_e.htm
Car rent:
http://www.autonvuokrauskeskus.com/default.asp?
t=1&f=1&search=true&suuralue=1&alue=1&lang=english
By bus
Single tickets can be bought in the bus but it is cheaper to buy a bus pass.
A bus pass can be bought at
- The Bus station.
- The Piccolo kioski, Otto Karhin puisto
- R-kioski, Isokatu 27
- Bus ticket office, Hallituskatu 11
In the bus, the card should be held against the reader. The reader will
give a signal and one zone will be taken off. Students may be eligible for
discounts and possibly a free pass for to /from school.
Bus nr 19 goes from the airport to the city of Oulu and further to the
University and Technopolis.
Timetables:
http://www.koskilinjat.fi/in_english/index.html
By bike
The city has an excellent network of cycle paths. Maps are available at the
tourist information. www.oulutourism.fi/eng
Footpaths and cycle paths
http://oulu.ouka.fi/tekninen/Kevytliikenne/
By taxi
Taxis can be ordered by phone
Tel. 10 041
or 0100-4181 when you call from a mobile phone.
Generally cab drivers do not speak English, but they can be trusted. Be
prepared to have your destination on paper.
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The very first thing to do is to visit the police station for a permit. It
would we wise to do this on the first or second day in Finland since it can
take time to get a permit, and the permit is needed to settle other
bureaucratic matters. A lot of time can be saved by visiting the offices in
the correct order.
1. Residence permit
The police in Finland handle residence and work permits as well as asylum
affairs.
When applying for a residence permit the following must be attached:
- Valid passport or other acceptable travel document
- Passport photographs (preferably black and white)
- Other documentation to support the permit application
www.poliisi.fi
www.intermin.fi/poliisi/oulu/home
http://www.suomi.fi/english/immigration_and_emigration/
Police station
Address: Rata Aukio 2
90100 Oulu.
Foreign Affairs, Tel. 313 7496.
Marja-liisa.marjomaa@oulu.poliisi.fi
2. Register office
The local register offices are responsible for maintaining their regional
Population Information System and their local information services. Notice of
moving should be made within the first week after the arrival.
http://www.maistraatti.fi/en/
Oulun Maistraatti
Address: Isokatu 4
PL 78 90101 Oulu.
Phone 020 517181
Telefax 020 5178466
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 09.00 – 16.15
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3. "SOCIAL INSURANCE INSTITUTION of Finland" in Oulu. (KELA)
The Health Insurance Card (KELA card) is issued by the Social Insurance
Institution. The card can be applied for at the local office of KELA in Oulu.
Kela manages the following social security benefits: social insurance,
rehabilitation, child benefit, disability benefit, basic pension security,
general housing benefit, basic security for the unemployed, child home care
allowance, financial aid to students, allowance for conscripts' dependants and
basic allowance for employment course participants.
Sepänkatu 18
PL 221, 90101 OULU
Tel. 020 43 54300
Telefaxi 020 43 54302
Contact address: Eija Männistö
Phone 020 4354415
eija.mannisto@kela.fi
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland
Moving to Finland
http://193.209.217.5/in/internet/english.nsf/
NET/220402105126EH?openDocument
Kela a service for everyone
http://193.209.217.5/in/internet/liite.nsf/alias/
yleisenglanti/$File/YENGverkko.pdf?OpenElement
4.Oulu Tax Office (Oulun verovirasto)
Torikatu21
Tel. 310 0311.
http://www.vero.fi/default.asp?
domain=VERO_ENGLISH&language=ENG
5. Customs
Importing personal belongings and private motor vehicles
Oulu Customs,
Poikkimaantie 16, PO Box 56, 90401 Oulu
Opening hours: monday-friday 8.00-16.15
Tuula Mätäsaho, tel. 020 492 8112, GSM 040 332 8112, fax 020 492 8180
Paula Kuosmanen, tel. 020 492 8113, fax 020 492 8180
e-mail: forename.surname@tulli.fi
www.tulli.fi/en/index.jsp?language=en
Having followed the above-mentioned steps you can concentrate on the
following practical issues. The headlines are given in alphabetic order:
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Nordea:
http://www.nordea.fi/eng/info/yritysinfo.ASP?navi=yritysinfo
http://www.nordea.fi/e/val-index.asp
Osuuspankki:
https://www.okobank.com/
Sampo
www.sampo.fi/english
| Syötä kortti |
Insert card |
| Tunnusluku |
Pin code (four numbers) |
| Seteliotot |
Cash withdrawal |
| Syötä summa |
Enter amount |
| Muu summa |
Other amount |
| Saldo |
Balance |
| Tilitapahtumat |
Account transactions |
| Kuitti |
Receipt |
| Kuitille |
On the receipt |
| Ei kiitos |
No thank you |
All travel Finland
http://www.alltravelfinland.com/Finland/Car_Rental/Driving_Tips.htm
Driving license:
http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/pages/
EB82BCA685998242C2256C370029B57D?OpenDocument
The electric current in Finland is 220V (230V), 50Hz. Plugs are the two-pin
continental size.
Energy Board, Kasarmintie 6,
Tel. 558 3300
The Customers Service Office helps in matters concerning electricity supply
and payments. Information Tel. 558 43100.
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Finding a capable dentist, doctor or therapist is already a delicate matter
in your native country, let alone in a foreign country. The social skills and
the techniques might differ from what you were used to. Ask other expatriates
to give you the names from healthcare workers they were satisfied with. Keep a
record of your immunisations, ensure they are kept up to date, and if you have
your own national health insurance, check coverage if you move to Oulu.
Health care in Oulu oulu.ouka.fi/sote/english/health.html
Tricky task of choosing a therapist
http://www.iht.com/ihtsearch.php?id=100431&owner
http://www.oulu.ouka.fi/sote/english/
Dental services in Finland: http://jasenpalvelut.hammasll.fi/eng/finland.htm
EU healthcare: http://europa.eu.int/comm/
employment_social/missoc2000/sf_part2_en.htm
http://www.ouluninvalidienyhdistys.fi/ouluterv..htm
Social welfare and Patient Ombudsman-Oulu region
http://www.stm.fi/Resource.phx/eng/subjt/famil/fpoli/index.htx
- Health centre: Tuira, Kangastie 12
- English speaking:
public health nurse
Maria Maatla-Hiljainen
phone: (08) 558 44464
- English language birth courses: Kaijonharju neuvola, Kalevalantie 5,
(08) 5584 4690, 5584 4689
- pharmacies (apteekkeja)
- Medicines are sold at pharmacies.
Yliopiston apteekki is open daily from 8.00-23.00
Isokatu 27 Oulu.
- Pharmacies addresses and opening hours:
Search for shops (ouluthisweek)
- specialists:
- Orthopaedic:
Dr. Esa Jormakka
Botnia Clinic building
Kauppurienkatu 27-29
Phone: (08) 323 2400
AON
http://www.aon.com/fi/fi/about/aon_finland/english_summary.jsp
Suomi-Yhtiö
http://ar2004.suomi-yhtio.hs.evia.fi/?s=2&p=978
Pohjola
http://www.pohjola.fi/_MuutSivut/InEnglish/default.htm
Pohjantähti
www.pohjantahti.fi/yhtio/english.htm
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Housing fund of
Finland
The Finnish property market
Rentals
Purchasing a house: For non-Finnish speakers it's probably challenging to
buy a house, however it is possible. The local newspaper (Kaleva) publishes a
real estate section on Saturdays. Some translations for commonly used
abbreviations are given below.
Abbreviations:
| Abbrevation |
Finnish |
English |
| h |
huone |
room |
| k |
keittiö |
kitchen |
| khh |
kodinhoitohuone |
household/storage room |
| mh |
makuuhuone |
bedroom |
| |
takka |
fire place |
| |
takka huone |
fire place room |
| p |
parveke |
balcony |
| rp |
ranskalainen parveke |
little balcony |
| et |
eteinen |
hall/ vestibule |
| sa |
sauna |
sauna |
| wc |
wc |
toilet |
| kph |
kylpyhuone |
bathroom |
| ph |
pesuhuone |
laundry room |
| var |
varasto |
tool shed |
| |
piha |
yard |
| tupak/tk |
tupakeittiö |
kitchen/living |
| |
aula |
lounge/lobby/foyer
|
| krs |
kerros |
floor, storey |
| |
talo |
house/ building |
| |
tontti |
lot/ piece of land |
| |
autokatos |
carport |
| |
suihku |
shower |
| okt |
omakotitalo |
single family house |
| kt |
kerrostalo |
block of flats/ apartment house |
| pt |
paritalo |
semidetached house/ duplex |
| rt |
rivitalot |
houses on a row |
| |
loma-asunto |
cottage |
Renting:
http://www.oulunsivakka.fi/web/viewer.php?id=13
Real estate:
Generally real estate agencies are willing to help you in English.
http://www.oikeus.fi/17293.htm
Real estate agencies:
House inspections
It is possible to have the house checked by an independent building inspector
before the financial offer is made. The inspector checks the house thoroughly
(cracks, moisture and other damage), determines its condition and gives his
report.
Renovation
If the house/ apartment needs renovations and you need English speaking
contractors, please contact aaltje.bos@ouka.fi
Student housing:
www.psoas.fi/en/
Area: http://kartta.ouka.fi/index_us.htm
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It is always good to broaden your horizons and learn the Finnish language. But
for expatriates staying on a short-term assignment it might seem an
unnecessary waste of time. At least do a survival course. It will help you in
reading the mail, the road signs and the labels in grocery stores. All the
above-mentioned contact people speak English.
http://finnishcoursesinoulu.blogspot.com/
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Employment office Oulu region
Torikatu34-40
90100 Oulu.
Tiina Sundqvist tiina.sundqvist@mol.fi
08-8884355
Language courses are offered to the job seekers registered at the
employment centre.
For more information www.mol.fi/migration/muuttaja.html
International newspapers and magazines can be bought at the railway
station.
The library in Oulu has a good collection of international magazines and
newspapers, which are available for reading in the library but not for
borrowing.
All local newspapers are written in Finnish, English information about
Finland can be found in
Go to: News this week
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Go to: Pre-departure >>
Parents
It might be handy to get one of the blue plastic cards with a movable
twelve-hour white dial. Look for the signs as you enter a lot or the beginning
of a block. It will show a card or meter and how long you may park. You set
the card for the time when you parked.
The meter zones are different. You park and then find the meter located
usually in the middle of the block or at the corner. You insert the coins for
the time you want (about 1 € for an hour, but it varies), push the green
button and the machine will print a ticket. Put the ticket on your dash
instead of the blue time card.
Police
Police
Oulu
Main Post Office,
Hallituskatu 36,
Tel. 0800 17100.
www.posti.fi/english/
The VAT (Value Added Tax) is included in
the price.
VAT registration of foreigners in Finland
http://www.bjl-legal.com/rahmen.pl?http://www.bjl-legal.com/
content.pl/article=VATforeign/sprache=e/frame=s
Go to: Adjustments >> Shopping
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Oulu telephone company,
Oulun Puhelin Oyj, Arkistokatu 4,
Tel.313 4111(switchboard).
http://www.opoy.fi/index.asp?id=202&menupath=202&language=1
www.sonera.fi/eng
www.elisa.com/english
Sim cards can be obtained at local Kioski´s and mobile phone shops.
TV, Video, DVD
Finnish Videotape standards http://www.epanorama.net/links/videosignal.html
Finnish mass media:http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/lehdeng.html
television license www.tv-maksu.fi/eng_navi1.html
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Trade union news http://www.artto.kaapeli.fi/unions
Gas is not commonly used in the Oulu area.
Electricity
There is no English web page available for questions. For further
information please contact:
Oulu Electricity
Kasarmintie 6
Postiosoite: PL 116, 90101 Oulu
Puhelin: (08) 5584 3300
Fax: (08) 5584 3350
Water:
There is no English web page available for questions. For further
information please contact:
Oulun waterworks:
Kasarmintie 29
PL 35 90015 Oulu.
Phone 558 43800
Fax: 558 43819
E.mail: oulunvesi@ouka.fi
Waste disposal and recycling:
http://oulu.ouka.fi/jatehuolto/english/
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