Tervetuloa Helsinkiin!
Welcome to Helsinki!
Helsinki is situated in Southern Finland, on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. The population of Helsinki is 578,000. In 2008 the proportion of the city’s inhabitants with a mother tongue other than Finnish or Swedish totalled 9.6%.
The website of the City of Helsinki contains further information about Helsinki and links to other useful websites in Finnish , Swedish , English , French , German and Russian .
The Virtual Helsinki directory can be used to search for buildings and services in the centre of Helsinki. Virtuali Helsinki in Finnish , Swedish and English .
City of Helsinki services can be located on the City of Helsinki service map. Information may be searched for by service name, home address or search word. Service map in Finnish , Swedish and English .
The Info Bank Welcome to the Helsinki Region page contains information about the Helsinki Region and the region’s available counselling services, decision-making and citizen participation, public transport and most important authorities.
Counselling in different languages
The City of Helsinki website has its own page dedicated to immigrants in Finnish , Swedish and English .
Virka Info
Virka Info provides services and guidance for immigrants living in Helsinki.
Counselling covers a variety of life situations, and guidance may be requested, for example, concerning residence permits, courses, citizenship applications, housing, social security, employment, education or health. Information will also be given on the operations and services of authorities and organisations.
The service is provided by counsellors in the following languages: Finnish, Russian, Somali, Arabic, English, Bulgarian, Turkish and Kurdish. Interpreters are available if required. Where possible counselling is provided in the customer’s own language. It is advisable, though not essential, to book an appointment in order to avoid queueing.
Contact details:
Virka Info
Pohjoisesplanadi 11-13
Appointments (at least in Finnish, Swedish and English) and counselling
Tel. (09) 310 11 111
Open Mon - Fri 9 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Further information about counselling services in Finnish , Swedish , English , Arabic, Somali and Russian .
Young people
The city’s website contains useful links for young people in Finnish , Swedish and English .
Youth Information Centre Kompassi (Nuorisotiedotuskeskus Kompassi)
The Youth Information Centre Kompassi provides information, counselling and guidance on practically all questions that prey on young minds, including working life, study, moving abroad and hobbies. More information can be found on the Kompassi website in Finnish , Swedish and English .
Youth Department (Nuorisoasiainkeskus)
The Youth Department offers young people support and counselling. More information on the Youth Department webpages in Finnish , Swedish and English .
Virka Info
Virka Info is an information service providing answers to questions concerning the City of Helsinki and its services. It is located in the City Hall at Pohjoisesplanadi 11 - 13.
The telephone service is open Mon-Fri 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., tel. (09) 310 11111.
More about Virka Info in Finnish , Swedish and English .
Decision-making and citizen participation in Helsinki
The City of Helsinki website contains information about the city’s administration and decision-making in Finnish , Swedish , English , German and French .
Feedback and initiatives
The City of Helsinki website allows the sending of feedback, questions, suggestions, thanks, complaints or other comments to city authorities and departments in Finnish , Swedish and English . Feedback may also be sent to local branches of political parties within the City Council in Finnish , Swedish and English .
City of Helsinki news
The City of Helsinki authorities publish news on topical issues on their individual websites. Links to the news pages of all authorities and departments can be found on the joint news pages of the Hel.fi web service in Finnish . See also the web version of the city’s Helsinki-info newsletter in Finnish , Swedish and English .
Advisory Board on Immigration and Integration
An Advisory Board on Immigration and Integration operates within Helsinki, tasked with developing immigration and integration services, promoting equality and ensuring that the city’s strategy programme for immigrants is implemented in issues of importance.
The website of the Human Resources Department contains more information in Finnish , English and Russian .
The Info Bank Politics and administration in Finland page contains more information on citizen participation in Finland.
Important authorities in Helsinki
Police (Poliisi)
The population of Helsinki is served by the Helsinki Police Department. The Immigration Police’s Immigration Unit provides services for the following:
- residence permits
- worker’s residence permits
- rights of residency issues
- extension of visas
- return visas
- documentation relating to alien’s passports and travel documents
- citizenship issues
- identity cards for foreigners
Immigration Police/Immigration Unit
Viljatie 2
FI-00700 Helsinki
Service for the general public Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 4.15 p.m.
Tel. 071 877 3220 (Mon - Fri 9 - 11 a.m.)
Fax 071 877 2819
Information about the Immigration Police in Finnish and English .
Matters regarding driving licences for foreign nationals are handled at Kaarti police station Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 4.15 p.m.
Kaarti police station
Punanotkonkatu 2
FI-00131 Helsinki
Tel. 071 877 3180 (enquiries Mon - Fri 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
Applications for identity cards may be submitted to other service points run by the Helsinki Police Department. Contact information for Helsinki Police Department service points in Finnish and Swedish . Info Bank has more information about the role of the police on the Police page and about permits on the Permits page.
Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Contact information for the Kela offices in Helsinki can be found using the search engine provided on the Kela website in Finnish , Swedish and English .
Read about the role of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland on the Info Bank Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) page.
Employment and Economic Development Offices in Helsinki
Employment and Economic Development Offices in Helsinki
Social services in Helsinki
Social services in Helsinki
Tax Office (Verotoimisto)
Contact information for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area joint tax office can be found under Important Authorities in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, located on the Info Bank Welcome to the Helsinki Region page.
Vuorikatu service point (Vuorikadun palvelupiste)
Vuorikatu 14 (Fennia Centre, 1st floor),
FI-00100 Helsinki
Mon - Fri 9 a.m. - 4.15 p.m.
The Info Bank Tax office and Tax pages contain more information on taxation in Finland.
Register Office (Maistraatti)
Read about the role of the Register Office on the Info Bank Register Office page.
Helsinki Register Office (Helsingin maistraatti)
Albertinkatu 25
FI-00181 HELSINKI
Tel. 071 87 30191
Fax 071 87 31191
Open Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 4.15 p.m.
Interpretation services in Helsinki
The Info Bank Do you need an interpreter? page contains information about interpretation.
Electronic invoicing in Helsinki (Sähköinen lasku Helsingissä)
The City of Helsinki provides the opportunity of paying invoices electronically. Examples of payments that can be made by e-invoice include child day care fees, invoices for afternoon club activities organised by the Education Department , customer fees charged by health centres, and invoices from Helsinki Energy and Helsinki Water.
An e-invoice is an electronic invoice sent directly to an online bank. First make an agreement on the use of e-invoicing via your own online bank, selecting the City of Helsinki as the party sending the e-invoices. You will need to enter your personal identity number when making the agreement. Your bank will be able to supply further information.
More information about e-invoices on the Financial Administration Services webpages in Finnish , Swedish and English .