Moving to Tampere

People taking pictures and posing in Pyynikki.

We warmly welcome you to Tampere and hope you will call this your home in the future. We know that moving to a new country can be a hassle and confusing at times. Therefore, we have done our best to help you by providing you with the information and resources that you need to ease your move here.

Firstly, you need to determine which kind of permit you would need. Once you have identified which permit you need to apply for, please check our simplified steps to guide you through the permit process.

Please note, that International House Tampere has gathered the information based on the respective official sites. The process steps and time can vary. We encourage you to follow the official sites given for more details.

Permits and Processes

How to prepare before moving

Whether you are moving to Tampere to study, work or simply to join your family, be prepared for some fresh clean air and a rewarding experience! Of course, moving to a new country is never easy-going and might present some challenges and getting used to, so here you will find brief info about Tampere and we made a list of what to bring and how to prepare for your move to Tampere.

  • Electrical outlet: Finland has 2 associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Finland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.  Therefore, ensure you have the right adaptor for your electrical gadgets. 

  • Mobile phone and internet account: In order to open a local mobile number or internet account in Finland, you need to have a Finnish personal ID and a permanent address in Finland. Upon arrival, you can purchase a pre-paid SIM card at the airport in R-Kioski. There are different kinds of options for both voice and data. 

  • Money exchange: The currency used in Finland is Euro. The ATMs around Tampere allows you to withdraw cash from your international banks. For cash exchange, there is a Forex located on the 3rd floor of Stockmann department store in the city centre. 

  • Supermarket: The major supermarkets in Tampere sell different kinds of international food products, as well as, lactose and gluten-free ingredients. There are also a few Middle-Eastern and Asian mini markets in Tampere for those who are looking for specific ingredients from home.

  • Shopping hours: Most of the major supermarkets and shopping centres are open during weekends with shorter hours but not all the smaller shops are open especially banks, pharmacies, and speciality stores. Please check the working hours of the shops online if you need to get something upon arrival.

  • Flea markets: Tampere has a lot of flea market, both online and brick-shops where you can get all kinds of things at a cheaper price. Some of the online flea market groups are in English. 

  • Laptops: Most laptops sold here have a slightly different keyboard setting than the international keyboard setting due to the additional alphabets: ä, ö and å.

 

Clothing:

  • If you are coming during winter season, ensure that the winter coat you have is suitable for below freezing temperature and preferably either down-filled or alternative down-filled to keep yourself warm during those cold winter season. If possible, the jacket should also be wind-proof or wind-resistant to protect yourself from those chilly winter wind. 

  • During winter, you have to be careful with the icy or snowy roads. Normal shoes will not work as it will be slippery. You will need winter boots or shoes made for walking in snowy or icy condition. 

  • For the spring and autumn season, it is good to get a water- and wind-proof jacket and shoes. 

  • During summer, sunglasses and sun-screen is essential. 

Getting to Tampere

Tampere is within easy reach: you can choose to fly directly to Tampere airport or arrive via Helsinki airport, in which the road journey will take about two hours by train, bus or car. There is also the option of connecting your flight from Helsinki to Tampere airport and the flight journey takes about half an hour. All public transportations from the airports will get you to the city center.

    Getting to the City

    Updated 15.11.2023