Salaries and grants are paid directly on the recipient’s bank account.

If you have a bank account in one of the European countries part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), you do not necessarily need to open a bank account in Finland. But if not, you will need to open a bank account.

Please take care of the Civil Registration before going to the bank.

For opening a bank account, it is recommended to take an appointment. When taking the appointment, make sure that you get instructions concerning the documentation to bring with you. The following documents will work in most banks (but please ask the bank directly to be sure):

• Passport;
• Other government-issued photo ID;
• Visa/residence permit or document on a completed EU registration;
• Some form of proof of the origins of the money coming into this account (employment contract/certificate of scholarship);
• Proof of address in Finland (for instance tenancy agreement or an invoice/bill);
• Finnish Personal Identity Code.

When opening your account, make sure that you also sign up for the bank’s online banking package. In Finland the majority of banking matters are dealt with using online banking, and the online banking codes also serve for identification purposes in many other situations.

You can usually have your bank statements either in Finnish, Swedish or English, so remember to choose the language that suits you the best.  Also, make sure your debit card can be used for payments, not just cash withdrawals.