This is the Starter Kit
for Kouvola novices
It contains necessities & advice to you guys,
our new companies and especially
the people of our new companies.
In addition to advising with
Finnish corporate principles, it
helps you start from scratch both
in family and private life here in
Kouvola, Finland.
LET'S GET
STARTED THEN!
THE SUREST WAY TO GET INTO FINLAND IS
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERMITS AND DOCUMENTS FOR ENTERING THE COUNTRY ARE ALL IN ORDER.
A foreigner entering Finland requires a passport or other travel document approved by Finland and the citizens of certain countries require a visa for Finland.
Check what you have to get sorted out to enter Finland.
WHAT PERMITS DO YOU NEED TO WORK IN FINLAND?
Well, citizens of the EU, the ETA countries and
Switzerland can work in Finland without a residence
permit for an employed person. The rest of
the nationalities usually need a residence permit
based on employment or a residence permit for
a self-employed person, granted by the state of
Finland.
GET COVERED
BY THE FINNISH SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM.
When moving to Finland you should apply to be covered by the social security system, so that in case of misfortune you will get social security benefits such as free healthcare.
Read more: KELA
IN CASE OF ACUTE EMERGENCY, DIAL 112.
And you will get help as soon as possible.
IN ORDER TO DRIVE,
YOU NEED A LOCAL LICENCE.
You can apply for a driving license via Trafi, the Finnish Transport Safety Agency.
If you don’t already have a foreign driving license, you have to complete certain driving courses at Finnish driving schools.
If you have a driving licence, there is a pretty good chance you can drive vehicles in the categories marked on your licence in Finland.
- Read more from the pages of Trafi.fi
- P.S. We drive in the right-hand lane!
WHERE TO LIVE
IN KOUVOLA?
Well that is the million dollar question! There are so many beautiful and peaceful neighbourhoods to choose from that it might get hard to make a decision. We hope these links on housing in Kouvola help you pick your future homestead:
Get in touch with the real estate brokers in Kouvola. Some of the websites are not in English, but don’t hesitate contacting the relevant personnel in English; most Finns are very efficient in English.
YOU & YOUR CHILDREN
HAVE A RIGHT TO GET EDUCATED
The basic right to education and culture is recorded in the Constitution of Finland. Public authorities must secure equal opportunities for every resident in Finland to get education. Legislation provides for compulsory education and the right to free pre-primary and basic education.
WHEN YOU TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS,
LET THE DAY CARE TAKE CARE OF YOUR KIDS
Children’s day care in Finland is provided by municipal or private day care centres.
REPOVESI
NATIONAL PARK
In Kouvola the wilderness is at hand wherever you go, but you should still visit the amazing Repovesi National Park with its breathtaking views and rural charm.
TYKKIMÄKI
AMUSEMENT PARK & AQUAPARK
Prepare yourself for truckloads of wild fun! Tykkimäki is Kouvola’s own amusement park with perks – it is naturally super close and even has an aquapark with litres of watery fun.
UNESCO’S
WORLD HERITAGE SITE VERLA
The Verla mill community is a unique part of Finnish history. It tells the story of a time when the Kouvola region began developing into the leading centre of the Finnish forest industry.
ARBORETUM MUSTILA
– 120 HECTARES OF HORTICULTURAL PLANTS
There’s nearly 100 conifer species, more than 200 broad-leaved tree species and numerous shrubs, vines, bulbs and perennials in the arboretum. Make sure to visit when the flowers are blooming and in the autumn when the trees turn their leaves various shades of red.
THE OFFICIAL
TRAVEL TIPS FROM THE OFFICIAL TRAVEL SITE OF KOUVOLA
IN FINLAND YOU HAVE A LICENSE TO
ROAM IN THE NATURE!
But with that license comes great responsibility: you have to respect the nature with your actions.
Read about Everyman’s right in Finland here.
FINNISH
CUSTOMS
& MANNERS
The most common joke about us Finns is our talkative side or to be precise the lack of it. Yes, it’s true most of us value privacy, but it’s totally understandable; we don’t get to meet a lot of people, cause there’s only five million of us.
MONEY
& COSTS
We are in the Eurozone, so bear in mind you can’t pay with squirrel tails here. Some may say that Finland is expensive, but according to some studies, Helsinki for example is the least expensive of the Scandinavian capitals. We do have a heavyish taxation system here, because we have a high level of social security, so some items might feel a bit more expensive compared to other countries. Also some products like various fruits might be expensive because of the long distance logistics costs.
IMPORTANT OFFICE HOURS & CONTACT INFO!
EMERGENCY CARE 25/7
Emergency care 24/7 North Kymi Hospital Sairaalankuja 3 C, Kouvola
tel. 020 615 1601
KOUVOLA CENTRAL POLICE STATION
Kouvola central police station
Vuorikatu 1, 45100 Kouvola
tel. 0295 414 400
open mon - fri at 8 - 16.15
FINNS PREFER
YOU PAY WITH PLASTIC.
Cash is kind of old-fashioned here, but the good news is most places accept card payment.
THE TAP WATER
HERE IS DRINKABLE.
THE SHOPS GIVE YOU MONEY FOR EMPTY BEVERAGE BOTTLES & CANS.
You read right. Finland uses a deposit-based return system for beverage packages, which enables the efficient collection of packages for recycling. You will find return systems in all places that sell beverages.
IF YOU NEED A TAXI RIDE,
DIAL 0100 87227
And Kymenlaakson Taksi will get you wherever you want comfortably as long as you remember to pay for the ride.
THERE’S AROUND
450 LAKES IN KOUVOLA.
So feel free to take a dip in the summer heat or in the middle of the most freezing winter via an ice hole, afterwards you can enjoy sauna on both seasons.
NUMBER OF
ENTERPRISES:
5016
BUSINESS LISTING
SHARE OF JOBS BY %
- SERVICES
73,6%
- PROCESSING
21,9%
- PRIMARY PRODUCTION
3,6%
- OTHER INDUSTRIES
0,9%
AVAILABILITY OF WORKFORCE
Population of
Kouvola
85 855
4 300
Number of students
in Kouvola each year
Population in the
Kymenlaakso
178 688
85,7%
Of those employed
who work in their own
municipality