Finland - Business Travel Finland - Business Travel
Business Customs
Finland is a modern, commercially mature country that enjoys close relations with its Nordic neighbors. Social and business protocol is similar to that in the United States. It is worth noting that relationships are important within the social and business world, as Finns prefer to deal with people they know and trust. It is important first to develop this relationship, before doing business.Finns place great value on words, which is reflected in the tendency to say little and avoid ‘unnecessary’ small talk. However, the conception that Finns are reserved and taciturn is outdated. Finns consider verbal agreements and promises to be binding.
Business people and public officials are expected to distribute business cards with no special rituals as a means of ensuring their name and title are remembered. There is a high degree of gender equality in Finland, as can be seen in the relatively high number of women holding advanced positions in politics and other areas of society.
Travel Advisory
Please see U.S. Department of State Consular Information Sheet – Finland: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Finland.htmlVisa Requirement
Finland is a party to the Schengen agreement. U.S. citizens may enter Finland for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. The passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. Visa applications should be submitted to a Finnish diplomatic mission before entry into Finland.
A foreigner needs a residence permit in order to stay in Finland for a longer period of time. However, residence permits are also needed for short stays of less than three months if the purpose of the stay is to work in Finland. Residence permits require either a valid passport or a travel document. Foreigners must have work permits if they intend to work in Finland. Exceptions are citizens of the Nordic countries or citizens of EU/EEA countries. EU-citizens outside the Nordic countries need to apply for an EEA-card from the local police for stays exceeding 90 days. An EEA-card is a combined work and residence permit.U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following links.
Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C., Visa Section
State Department Travel Website
U.S. Embassy Helsinki, Finland Consular Section website
Currency
Since 2002, Finland has used the Euro as its official currency. Note that 1 and 2 cent coins are no longer in use. When paying in cash the sum is rounded to the closest 5 cent value. The most common credit cards used in Finland are Visa, MasterCard, Diners, and American Express. Payment cards in Finland have embedded chips and PIN codes to improve security. Finns generally don’t use checks. A good network of ATMs exists in all inhabited areas throughout Finland.Telecommunications/Electronics
Finland’s telecommunications environment is one of the most advanced in Europe. In 2018, 92 percent of Finnish households used broadband and 89 percent had a mobile broadband connection. Reasonably priced and faultlessly functional broadband access is guaranteed by law to every person in the country, no matter how secluded. High-speed Internet connections are available at all business hotels and wireless broadband is offered for free in many places like shopping malls, airports, hotels and libraries. The normal voltage in Finland is 220-240 volts. An adapter is needed because electric plugs differ from the ones used in the United States as there are two different types of plug sockets used in Finland, types F and C. Finland’s telephone country code is +358.Voice communication services have largely moved to mobile networks in Finland. Today, broadband connections for data services have widely replaced fixed telephone network based dial up connections. At the same time, the number of fixed telephone network subscriptions is diminishing.
Transportation
Seasonal direct flights are available to Helsinki-Vantaa airport from Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco and year-round from New York City. Within the country public transportation is generally efficient, reliable, safe, and on time. All major cities have a network of buses. Helsinki has a comprehensive network of trains, buses, trams, and underground rail. Taxis are regulated by the government in terms of metered fares. Long distance public transport, operated by bus and train, is modern, safe, comfortable and punctual, with routes all over the country. Road transport in Finland is the most popular method of transportation particularly in the rural parts of the country.Language
The two official languages in Finland are Finnish and Swedish. About 89.3 percent of the population speaks Finnish and 5.4 percent Swedish as their native language. Both languages are compulsory at school. English is widely spoken in Finland, especially among younger people and in major cities.Health
In Finland, medical facilities and their staff are as a rule excellent and are widely available for emergency services. English is commonly spoken by Finnish medical personnel. Helsinki is a frequent medical evacuation point for emergency cases from the countries of the former Soviet Union. The public hospital system and many private hospitals honor foreign credit cards.If you are as a tourist or temporarily visiting Finland and you require immediate emergency medical assistance (trauma, life or death cases), you may visit a local medical center or clinic, called “ensiapuasema” (first-aid station). Usually the first-aid station is located at the district hospital, where it is possible to provide a full range of services as needed. Patients should be prepared to present their passports. In case of a medical emergency, use the emergency telephone number 112 (equivalent to “911” in the United States) to contact the appropriate emergency service.
If your injury or your medical need is a minor one, then most private clinics can provide you with the assistance you require.
If you are living permanently in Finland and you require primary health care service, you should first contact your local health center. Residents of the municipalities can book appointments in a health center by themselves. Access to specialized medical care requires a referral from a health center physician or private practitioner for non-emergency cases.
You also always have the option of using a private clinic or doctor if desired.
Travelers with special medical needs should consult with their personal physician and take appropriate precautions, including bringing adequate supplies of necessary medication. Medicines may be brought into the country as long as they are intended for the traveler’s personal use. Medications categorized as narcotics may only be brought into the country to cover the traveler’s personal use for a maximum of 14 days and must be accompanied by a medical certificate stating why the traveler needs them. There are special requirements referring to dosage quantities that can be brought into the country. For more detailed information, please contact the Finnish Embassy in Washington D.C. sanomat.was@formin.fi
In addition, stringent Finnish customs regulations prohibit travelers from receiving drugs from abroad after having arrived in the country. Travelers may also find local physicians reluctant to prescribe equivalent quantities or dosages.
Prescriptions are dispensed at pharmacies (“apteekki” in Finnish.) Most pharmacies are open during normal shopping hours, but major cities have a 24-hour pharmacy.
Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays
The standard time zone in Finland is EET (Eastern European Time), which is UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) + 2 hours. During summer months Finland uses daylight saving time also known as EEST (Eastern European Summer Time) UTC +3, which means advancing the clock by one hour.Business hours in Finland are generally 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The average Finnish workweek is 40 hours per week with 8 hour work days. Terms and conditions such as overtime, working hours, vacation, sick-leave, and minimum wage are in accordance with the applicable collective agreement.
The national holidays in 2019 are:
January 1 New Year’s Day
January 6 Epiphany
April 19 Good Friday
April 22 Second Easter Day
May 01 May Day
May 30 Ascension Day
June 21-22 Mid-Summer
November 2 All Saint’s Day
December 6 Independence Day
December 24 Christmas Eve
December 25-26 Christmas
Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings
Please see the chapter for Customs, Regulations and Standards – Temporary entryTravel Related Web Resources
Business Customs
This is Finland, a Guide to Finnish Customs and Manners
Finnish Police
Travel Advisory
State Department Travel Website
Visa Requirements
Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C., Visa Section
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Telecommunication/electronics
Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority
Statistics Finland
Transportation
Finnish Transport Agency
Language
Statistics Finland
Health
The Social Insurance Institution
Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays
Holidays in Finland 2018