Why you should consider moving to Finland: Irina Skoromokh's personal story

Moving to Finland: Inspiration from a Personal Story

Finland is home to people characterized by a high level of happiness and life satisfaction. This statement is confirmed not only by numerous studies and annual ratings, but also by personal stories of those who decided to move to this wonderful country. In this article, we will tell one of these fascinating stories that may inspire you to change your life.

The practical side of moving

Moving to Finland involves solving a large number of practical tasks and preparing mentally for this important step. Our material aims to assist with this responsibility, as personal experience can be much more valuable than various template advice. In our narrative, Irina Skomorokh shares her experience of deciding to move to Finland with her family.

She will talk about all the nuances of her movement.

• How did they end up in this wonderful country?
• What you need for a successful move;
• What exactly attracts people to Finland?
• What are the living conditions?
• How is the daily rhythm of Finns organized?

Irina's Story: From Belarus to Finland

“The country chose us itself,” Irina begins her story. She was born in Baranovichi, which is located in Belarus. In her home country, Irina worked as a lawyer while also managing a wedding business, owning her own salon and organizing festive events.

Irina proudly states that she has been happily married for many years, and her husband, Andrey Lopuha, also has a legal education. Their love story began back in university, where they first met. After Andrey worked for several years in his field, he started his own business in the freight transportation sector in Belarus.

They have an eight-year-old son named Zakhar, which is pronounced a bit differently in Finland, with the stress on the first syllable, since the Finnish language does not have the voiced letter "z".

How did the family end up in Finland?

Now let's take a closer look at how the family made it to Suomi, which is what Finland is called in Finnish. Andrey moved to this country for work on September 5, 2021. He found a job at a bus depot, where he was responsible for preparing the vehicles for their routes. Irina and their son moved to Finland a little later, on October 13, as part of the family reunification process.

At the moment Irina is attending language courses and their son is in second grade at a Finnish school.

Reasons for moving and impressions of Finland

When Irina hears questions about why they decided to change their place of residence and choose Finland, she sometimes feels lost. In fact, the thought of moving had never crossed their minds, as their life in Belarus was quite comfortable and peaceful.

After long contemplation, she realized that the decision to move had come unexpectedly. It may seem strange, but they didn't have a clear goal to leave the country — most likely, Finland chose them, even though they weren't actively looking for a new country to live in.

First acquaintance with Finland

Familiarity with this amazing country began back in 2019, when the family spent a magical two weeks here on vacation. It was then that they were imbued with the spirit and culture of Finland, which later became an important part of their story. Thus, moving to Finland became for Irina and her family not only a change of residence, but also the start of a new life full of exciting discoveries and amazing opportunities.

Without a doubt, my vacation in Finland left me with many pleasant memories. A year after that trip, thoughts began to grow within me about changing my place of residence. I remembered how back then I started keeping notes about my impressions of the holiday in this amazing country, paying special attention to the culture of the Finnish people and their traditional customs.

During my reflections, a wave of nostalgia hit me, and I became interested in Finland again—its social guarantees, education system, and unique cultural traditions. At that moment, I soon realized that my love for this country is so strong that I have a desire to become a part of it and stay here to live.

Moving to Finland: from dream to reality

Thus, the dream of moving to Finland has ceased to be just a distant fantasy and has turned into a real goal. Now I needed to develop a detailed plan for its realization. In this light, I identified several possible ways to change my place of residence:

• marry
• to enroll in an educational institution
• find a job

Since the option of marriage was not relevant, we decided to focus on our studies and job search.

Studying in Finland

Studying in Finland can be free, but this is only possible if the program is studied in Finnish. So I started learning the language right away. At the same time, we actively researched the labor market, sending our resumes to all suitable vacancies that might interest us.

Obtaining a labor contract

After eight months of intensive searching, we finally managed to obtain a work contract. Then we began gathering the necessary documentation from both our side and the employer's side to increase the chances of a positive review of our application. It was important to provide all the documents from the very beginning, as the absence of any of them could significantly slow down the process. We carefully scanned each required item, which took about two weeks.

Application for a residence permit

On May 4, 2021, we submitted our application for a residence permit, and the process required verification of our identity. Since there is no Finnish consulate in Belarus, we had to make an appointment at the Finnish embassy in Moscow.

Preparing for the trip

On June 18, my husband Andrey went to Moscow with all the necessary documentation. Just 10 minutes after checking all the documents, we were informed that everything was in order, and we just had to wait. However, the very word "wait" filled me with a sense of uncertainty. Every day, I would check the website, hoping to see any updates on our request. This process dragged on, especially in the context of the pandemic.

Waiting for a response

Weeks went by, and then months... I kept checking my email. Finally, on August 4th, three months after submitting my application, the long-awaited update appeared on the website:"decision made, card ordered."At that moment, I felt a mix of joy and sadness. I was happy that our dream was starting to come true, but the realization of the impending separation from my loved ones brought a sense of bitterness.

Final steps

Two weeks after receiving the decision, the residence permit card for Andrey was ready, which once again required a trip to Moscow to complete all the formalities.

The beginning of our journey

This time we decided to go on a trip together. There were only nine days left before the start of the school year, and we had to tackle many important tasks in Finland, such as finding housing, buying a car, gathering necessary documents, and setting up a mobile contract. In the end, we managed to handle the most significant tasks, and our son, just like us, started first grade.

Separation and reunion

However, our adventure didn't stop there. On September 5th, the day came when Andrey left for Finland. We stayed in Belarus and at that moment had no idea how long we would be apart. I remember the moment when we saw him off to the minibus. Returning to the empty house, I couldn't hold back my tears. Fortunately, our separation didn't last long, and we met again in October.

Adaptation plan

At the labor exchange, we were told that a three-year adaptation plan would be created for us. This meant that we had to reconnect with our husband as soon as possible. We did not want to apply for reunification in Belarus, as it could take 7-8 months, as people around us told us. Therefore, right after our separation started, we started working on solving all the problems that could prevent us from moving to Finland.

The first task: visas

• Figure out the possibility of legal residence in the country.
• Find out about the visa for Zakhar.

The second important step: school

The second important issue was the situation with the school: we needed to clarify whether Zahar would be admitted to the school while we were waiting for our residence permit application to be processed.

Departure to Finland

In the end, we successfully solved all the tasks, and on October 13, we set off for Finland. I vividly remember the feelings when we reunited with my husband. We had two flights with one layover, and tired from the journey, we could only dream of complete relaxation. We quickly loaded our things and headed to our new home.

Settling into a new life

While in Finland, we were simultaneously engaged in two important tasks: setting up our new home and filling out residency applications for ourselves and Zakhar.

Introduction

A residence permit is not required for citizens of Scandinavian countries, the European Union, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland who plan to move to Finland. The main task for these individuals is to register their right to reside with the Finnish Immigration Service, known as Maahanmuuttovirasto, within the first three months of their stay.

Housing rental

Another important point worth mentioning is renting housing in Finland. In this country, there are several options for renting accommodation. Among them, we can highlight:

• government apartments, which are the most economical option
• corporate housing
• rental from private owners

To rent an apartment through government or corporate firms, a Finnish personal code is required, which is calledpersonal identification numberWhen my husband and I decided to start looking for our own place, he didn't have that code at the time. So the only option available to us was renting an apartment from a private owner.

After we changed the search parameters (we were interested in two-room apartments with a sauna), the number of suitable offers was not the greatest. Nevertheless, we managed to find a suitable option: when my husband visited the apartment, he immediately realized that it was exactly the place we were looking for. We signed the lease, paid the deposit and received the keys to the new apartment.

Pledge

The deposit is an amount equal to two months' rent and serves as a guarantee in case of possible damage to the property. If no issues arise, this amount will be refunded. We had extensive repair work done in the bathroom, so the landlord offered us a discount, and in the end, we paid650 eurosper month. As a result, at the moment the landlord is withholding1300 eurosfrom our budget. СJanuary 1the rental price has increased to760 euros.

In addition, we pay for utilities: we pay for water25 eurosfrom a person, which totals75 eurosfor our entire family. Electricity expenses fluctuate depending on sauna usage and amount to about50 eurosAs a result, our monthly expenses amount to885 euros.

Real estate prices

As for housing prices in Finland, they are quite high and vary by region. Apartments near the capital are significantly more expensive. For example, in our area, located in25 kilometersfrom Helsinki, the cost of decent housing can reach250 thousand eurosThere are also more affordable options — for150 thousand eurosYou can purchase small wooden houses near the airport.

It can be difficult to save the necessary amount, but there is always the option to take out a loan, with interest rates averaging around1-2%for a period of25 yearsSometimes, renting a home can even exceed the monthly mortgage payments, making buying an apartment a more affordable option.

Prices for goods

Prices for household appliances in Finland are quite attractive. Many goods cost even less than in Belarus, despite higher salaries. As for foodstuffs, their cost also varies; although they are not the cheapest, even at times when only one of the spouses was working, receiving the national average salary, we did not have to limit ourselves in anything.

In Finland, there is no need to worry about food shortages: there are places in cities where free food packages are distributed. Most often, these are products nearing their expiration date, but they are still perfectly suitable for consumption.

In Finland, there is a wide variety of food products available, ranging from vegetables and fruits to meat products, bread, and ready-to-eat meals. In case of financial difficulties, there is the option to seek help from specialized centers organized by church communities. This allows individuals to obtain necessary food items, despite potential challenges, by waiting in line for a while. Even if both spouses earn average salaries, it is quite feasible to own a home, lead a fulfilling lifestyle, own two cars, and take vacations in decent places. It is important to note that the average net income in Finland is around€2500 per monthafter paying taxes.

The regularity of life in Finland

Life in Finland is characterized by tranquility and a measured pace compared to Belarus. People here seem to be happier, as Finland has held the title of the happiest country in the world for the past five years in a row. Finns are open and friendly, and their philosophy of life is expressed in the phrase"No stress"which translates to "without stress." I was struck by how respectfully different professions are regarded here. Working in the cleaning industry, I felt that Finns see value in any job.

Connection with nature

Although the number of leisure activities here is smaller than in Belarus, we enjoy a more measured lifestyle that fully satisfies our needs. People in Finland feel a deep connection with nature, as there are many green areas and parks in the cities, as well as extensive forests. Often we see hares running into our yard. In addition, there are many excellent sports fields, where by the lakes you can find recreational areas with the possibility to have a barbecue using free firewood. This is a recreational activity our family particularly enjoys.

The active lifestyle of Finns

The Finns also lead an active lifestyle. Nordic walking is their“branded”In winter, skiing is a popular activity here, and one day, while walking through the snowy landscape, I saw an elderly woman who was nearly eighty years old. She came to the ski trail, took her skis, and set off to ski. At that moment, I thought that perhaps I should reconsider my habits. I was also amazed in winter at how the locals dive into cold water. But a year later, I found myself among those who rush into the icy lake after the sauna.

Summer activities

The summer months for us, like for many Finnish families, are marked by bike trips. My experience of living here may not be extensive yet, but I can't point out anything that has disappointed me so far. As for the attitude towards foreigners, it's hard to define it clearly. In the case of our family, it's evident that we have established good relationships with our Finnish neighbors, who are always friendly and readily smile at even strangers. This friendliness creates an atmosphere of comfort and safety in the country.

Conclusion

As I conclude my story about our amazing journey into the world of Finnish life, I want to share my thoughts and feelings that arose during this incredible experience. As I mentioned before, moving to Finland was not just a change of residence, but a true turning point in life that opened up new horizons and opportunities for us.

Throughout the entire process, from the moment I made the decision to receiving the visa, I had to face numerous challenges. Each stage, from learning the language to preparing the documents, felt like a real school of life, where I learned not only to achieve my goals but also to find solutions in the most difficult situations.

Our new life in Finland

Finland has become not just a country for us, but a home where we have found our place, where we can grow and develop as a family. Every day here is a new opportunity for us to discover the culture, traditions, and of course,Finnish way of lifeWe feel like a part of this wonderful world that generously delights us with beautiful landscapes and the kindness of its people.

The relevance of personal experience

Furthermore, it is important to note that this experience cannot be described in simple terms – it requires deep awareness and understanding. We moved here with hope and ambition, and our choice turned out to be the right one. Here, we didn't just start a new life; we found our calling and felt how important it is to be happy right here and right now.

Gratitude for the opportunities

I am grateful to fate for giving our family the opportunity to live in this amazing place. Dear readers, if you have ever considered moving or finding a better place to live, remember:

• Sometimes the country chooses you.
• Don't be afraid to follow your dream!

I hope my story inspires someone to take a similar step and helps them find the courage in a difficult moment.