Moving to Finland: taxes, residence and life
How to become tax resident in Finland: personal, dividend and corporate tax, 6 residence programmes, tax-residency requirements and climate. Explore the basics and compare residence routes.
Taxes
In Finland the top income tax rate is 51%, dividends are taxed at up to 28% and companies pay 20% corporate tax.
How to move and become tax resident
You can become tax resident in Finland from arrival once you take up residence (Permanent home and abode in Finland → resident from arrival; or stay >6 months). The typical route is EU/EFTA free movement (Swiss citizens: register as self-sufficient): Sufficient resources + comprehensive health insurance; register within ~3 months; clean record not formally required There are 6 open residence programmes in Finland — see the list below.
Living there
Helsinki has a warm-summer continental climate with winter highs around -2 °C and summer highs around 22 °C.
Key facts
| Top income tax | 51% |
|---|---|
| Dividend tax | 28% |
| Corporate tax | 20% |
| Rezydencja podatkowa | od przyjazdu — Permanent home and abode in Finland → resident from arrival; or stay >6 months |
| Typowa ścieżka pobytu | EU/EFTA free movement (Swiss citizens: register as self-sufficient) — Sufficient resources + comprehensive health insurance; register within ~3 months; clean record not formally required |
| Typ klimatu | warm-summer continental · -2° / 22° (Helsinki) |
Residence programmes in Finland
Active programmes
- Registration of an EU citizen's right of residence (incl. Swiss) — freeMovement · 2026-10
- Residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur (Finnish Startup Permit) — entrepreneur · 2026-10
PR after 6 yrs (4 with ≥€40k income) since 8 Jan 2026
- Residence permit for an entrepreneur — Dochód / rok CHF 13'650 · 2026-10
- Residence permit for an employed person / specialist / EU Blue Card — Dochód / rok CHF 18'050 · 2026-10
PR now 6 yrs + B1 Finnish/Swedish + 2 yrs work (4 yrs if ≥€40k/yr) since 8 Jan 2026
- Residence permit on the basis of family ties — Dochód / rok CHF 29'330 · 2026-10
- Residence permit on the basis of Finnish origin (remigration) — ancestry · 2026-10
Ingrian Finn returnee scheme closed 2016; descent route remains
Plan your residence route
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need to spend in Finland to become tax resident?
od przyjazdu. Permanent home and abode in Finland → resident from arrival; or stay >6 months Capital income up to 34%
How much tax will I pay in Finland?
In Finland the top income tax rate is 51%, dividends are taxed at up to 28% and companies pay 20% corporate tax.
Which residence programmes does Finland offer?
Registration of an EU citizen's right of residence (incl. Swiss); Residence permit for a start-up entrepreneur (Finnish Startup Permit); Residence permit for an entrepreneur; Residence permit for an employed person / specialist / EU Blue Card; Residence permit on the basis of family ties
What is the usual way to move to Finland?
EU/EFTA free movement (Swiss citizens: register as self-sufficient). Sufficient resources + comprehensive health insurance; register within ~3 months; clean record not formally required
Compare with nearby countries
Albania · Andorra · Austria · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herz. · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia
General information only — not tax, legal, immigration, investment or financial advice, and no client relationship. Figures are simplified, indicative and may be out of date. Always verify with the official authority and a licensed professional in the country concerned before acting. Partner links, if any, are marked and may earn us a fee.