Welcome to Mikkeli! (Tervetuloa Mikkeliin!)
Mikkeli is located on the banks of Lake Saimaa, in the South Savo region, Eastern Finland. The population of Mikkeli is around 49,000. Mikkeli also has around 1,000 inhabitants whose mother tongue is other than Finnish or Swedish.
More information about Mikkeli and the services the city offers may be found on the City of Mikkeli website in Finnish, Swedish, English and Russian.
Information in Finnish on companies active in Mikkeli may be found in the Mikkeli guide (Mikkeliopas).
Information on matters connected with tourism in the Mikkeli region may be found on the Mikkeli region website in Finnish, Swedish, English, Russian, German and Spanish.
Welcome to Mikkeli!
Information in several languages (Tietoa usealla eri kielellä)
The Welcome to Mikkeli! guide for immigrants is published in Finnish,English, and Russian.
The guide contains a lot of important information for immigrants related to housing, work, education, various services, and recreational activities.
Personal counselling and guidance (Henkilökohtaista neuvontaa ja ohjausta )
Pointti – immigrants on the way to employment in South Savo (Pointti - Maahanmuuttajat työvoimaksi Etelä-Savossa -hanke)
The Pointti – immigrants on the way to employment in South Savo project offers guidance and counselling services for immigrants.Pointti has a service point in the Mikkeli Employment and Economic Development Office.
Pointti provides personal counselling and guidance in
everyday matters (such as filling in forms)
investigating available Finnish language courses
leisure activities
examining training and career opportunities
jobseeking (e.g. preparing a CV and job application)
other work-related questions-
Services are provided in Finnish, English and Russian, and are free of charge.
The website of the Pointti project is available in Finnish, English and Russian.
The site contains a range of links for immigrants, as well as links to authorities and to job searches.
Pointti – Ohjaus- ja neuvontapiste maahanmuuttajille
(Pointti – guidance and counselling services for immigrants)
Porrassalmenkatu 29
50100 Mikkeli
Tel. 044 7115 888
mikkeli@pointti.eu
Open Mon-Fri 12.30 noon–3.30 p.m. or by appointment
Multicultural Centre Mimosa (Monikulttuurikeskus Mimosa)
Multicultural Centre Mimosa is an international meeting place, where you can obtain guidance and counselling for various everyday situations. At Mimosa you can meet new friends and take part in a range of recreational activities. Unofficial interpretation help is also available when needed.
Mimosa website in Finnish.
Monikulttuurikeskus Mimosa (Multicultural Centre Mimosa)
Saattotie 1
50130 Mikkeli
Tel. 015 337 0005
www.mimosa.fi
mimosa@mimosa.fi
Open Mon-Fri 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
City of Mikkeli Immigrant Services: reception of refugees, asylum seekers and returnees in Mikkeli (Mikkelin kaupungin maahanmuuttotoimisto: pakolaisten, turvapaikan hakijoiden ja paluumuuttajien vastaanottaminen Mikkelissä)
Customers of City of Mikkeli Immigrant Services comprise quota refugees, returnees and asylum seekers.
Immigrant Services provides initial care for its customers on arrival in Finland and manages social and health care services, and family work. Immigrant Services also provides interpretation for its customers, as well as guidance and counselling.
More information from the City of Mikkeli website in Finnish.
Mikkelin kaupungin maahanmuuttotoimisto
(City of Mikkeli Immigrant Services)
Saattotie 1
50130 Mikkeli
Tel. 044 794 5059 or 044 794 5181
Hours: Mon 1–4 p.m., Wed 1–4 p.m. and Thu 8–10 a.m.
At other times by appointment.
Additional information about the reception of refugees and asylum seekers in Finland is available on the Info Bank Refugees and asylum seekers webpage.
City of Mikkeli One Stop Service Point (Mikkelin kaupungin yhteispalvelupiste)
The City of Mikkeli One Stop Service Point (yhteispalvelupiste) provides information on city services as well as advising and guiding customers on making use of the city’s expert services.
City services include, for example, matters related to child day care and schooling, housing, social and health services, as well as youth and leisure services.
Payment of various municipal charges and fees can be made at the One Stop Service Point, where there is also access to internet and the use of a printer.
More information is available on the City of Mikkeli website in Finnish.
Mikkelin kaupungin yhteispalvelupiste (City of Mikkeli One Stop Service Point)
Maaherrankatu 9–11
50100 Mikkeli
Tel. 015 194 2100
Open Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Transport (Liikenne)
Local transport (Paikallisliikenne)
Buses (linja-auto, bussi) are used for local public transport. Bus routes, stops, and timetables are available from Matkainfo in Finnish or on the Matkahuolto website in Finnish and English.
It is also possible to enquire about timetables from the One Stop Service Point or the Matkahuolto agency.
A single ticket can be bought directly from the bus driver. If you use local buses regularly it is worth buying a city or regional ticket from Matkahuolto.
Matkahuolto
Matkakeskus, Linja-autoasema (Travel Centre, Bus Station)
Mannerheimintie 3
50100 Mikkeli
Tel. 0200 4000
Open Mon–Sat 7 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Taxis (Taksi)
Use of taxis is rather expensive.Payment is according to the number of kilometres travelled.
A taxi can be ordered by calling 060030055.
When you order a taxi, state your name and the address where you want the taxi to pick you up.
In Finland, taxis are not hailed on the street but are boarded at a taxi stand or ordered by telephone.
Long-distance travel (Kaukoliikenne)
Buses and trains are used for long-distance travel. Timetables are available from websites or from the bus and railway stations.
More information and bus timetables from the Matkahuolto website in Finnish, Swedish, and English.
More information and train timetables from the website of the Finnish state railway company Valtionrautatiet (VR) in Finnish, Swedish,English and Russian.
Buses
Matkahuolto
Matkakeskus, Linja-autoasema (Travel Centre, Bus Station)
Mannerheimintie 3
50100 Mikkeli
Tel. 0200 4000
Open Mon-Sat 7 a.m.–9 p.m.
Sun 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Trains
VR
Matkakeskus, Rautatieasema (Travel Centre, Railway Station)
Mannerheimintie
50100 Mikkeli
Tel. 0600 41900
Telephone service Mon–Sun 7 a.m.10 p.m.
Car (Henkilöauto)
A person permanently resident in Finland may not use a foreign registered vehicle in the country. More information is available from the police or the Customs authorities.
If you drive a car in Finland, you need to have a valid driving licence.More information on exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Finnish one is available from the police station and the police website in Finnish and English.
Cars must be inspected (katsastettu) and registered (rekisteröity).Every car has compulsory motor liability insurance (pakollinen liikennevakuutus); more from the website of the Automobile and Touring Club of Finland (Autoliitto) in Finnish and English.
People not accustomed to winter weather should take time to practise winter driving. In the winter, cars must be equipped with winter tyres.
Parking places in Mikkeli are clearly marked and often involve a parking charge.Exceeding the maximum parking time or parking illegally is subject to parking fine (about EUR 30).
The local police can assist in matters relating to driving and driving licences.
Remember that all motor vehicles (including mopeds) require a driving licence.
Important authorities in Mikkeli (Tärkeitä viranomaisia Mikkelissä)
Police (Poliisi)
More information on the police is available on the Info Bank Police webpage.
Information on licensing issues is also available on the Info Bank Permits webpage.
Read more from the police’s own website, available in several languages.
ocal police webpage in Finnish.
Etelä-Savon poliisilaitos (South Savo Police Department)
pääpoliisiasema Mikkeli (Mikkeli main police station)
Hallituskatu 4
50100 Mikkeli
Licence services Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4.15 p.m.
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) (Kansaneläkelaitos (Kela))
Read about Kela services from the Info Bank Social Insurance Institution of Finland webpage.
Information about Kela can be found on the In To Finland webpage maintained by Kela and the Tax Administration. The information is available in Finnish, Swedish, English, Estonian and Russian.
Kela Mikkeli office
Mikonkatu 3
50100 Mikkeli
Tel. 020 635 7000
Open Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m
Mikkeli Employment and Economic Development Office (Mikkelin työ- ja elinkeinotoimisto)
The Employment and Economic Development Office, known by its Finnish acronym as the TE office, serves both the employed and the unemployed.
The TE office gives advice on how to look for work. There you can learn about job vacancies, training, job training placements, employment subsidies, professions, and entrepreneurship. The office has computers and a copy machine for the use of customers.
Read more about the tasks of the Employment and Economic Development Office from Info Bank.
Mikkeli Employment and Economic Development Office webpage in Finnish.
The Työlinja national helpline service operates as follows:
in Finnish and English tel. 010 19 4904 Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–6 p.m. or email tyolinja@te-toimisto.fi
in Russian tel. 010 19 4924 Mon–Fri 12 noon–5 p.m. or email trud@te-toimisto.fi
Mikkelin työ- ja elinkeinotoimisto
(Mikkeli Employment and Economic Development Office)
Porrassalmenkatu 29
50100 Mikkeli
Tel. 010 60 40158
Open Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–3.45 p.m.
Mikkeli Social Welfare Office (Mikkelin sosiaalitoimisto)
Social services include income support, child day care, child guidance and family counselling, child welfare, services for the elderly, and substance abuse treatment.
Read more about the social services on the Info Bank webpage.
When in need of these services you can contact the City of Mikkeli Social Services Centre.
The City of Mikkeli One Stop Service Point will also advise you regarding social services.
More information can be found on the City of Mikkeli website in Finnish.
Mikkelin kaupunki (City of Mikkeli)
Sosiaalikeskus (Social Services Centre)
Vilhonkatu 7–9
50100 Mikkeli
Tel. 015 194 2307
Open Mon 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Tue–Fri 9 a.m.–12 noon
Tax office (Verotoimisto)
Every person receiving a salary or other benefits in Finland must have a tax card (verokortti). Find more information on taxation in Finland on the Info Bank Tax Office and Tax webpages.
Etelä-Savon verotoimisto (South Savo Tax Office)
Mikkelin toimipiste (Mikkeli office)
Raatihuoneenkatu 5
50100 Mikkeli
Tel. 015 35 621
Open Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4.15 p.m.
Local register office (Maistraatti)
Everyone moving to Finland who is issued a residence permit for at least one year must register at the local register office. The local register office will issue you with a personal identity number (henkilötunnus) necessary for almost all dealings with the authorities. Those issued with a residence permit for less than one year may also register at the local register office if they require a personal identity number (personal ID).
Read about the tasks of local register offices on the Info Bank Local Register Office webpage and from the dedicated local register office website inFinnish,Swedish and English.
Mikkelin maistraatti (City of Mikkeli Local Register Office)
Raatihuoneenkatu 5 B, 1st floor
50100 Mikkeli
Tel. 071 87 50261
Open Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Interpreter and translation services in Mikkeli (Tulkki- ja käännöspalvelut Mikkelissä)
You can ask for unofficial interpreting service and general assistance at the Multicultural Centre Mimosa. Mimosa website in Finnish.
Monikulttuurikeskus Mimosa (Multicultural Centre Mimosa)
Saattotie 1
50130 Mikkeli
Tel. 015 337 0005
mimosa@mimosa.fi
Open Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
In Mikkeli, an official interpreter will always be ordered by the authorities where necessary. If you have lived for less than three years in Finland and you have not yet learnt sufficient Finnish, an official interpreter can be arranged for you when required for various important meetings with the authorities.
Ask in advance about ordering an interpreter from the authorities!
More information on interpreting is available on the Info BankDo you need an interpreter?webpage.
A search for an official translator for certain official documents (e.g. a diploma) can be made on the following websites:
Finnish Association of Translators and Interpreters (in English)
Kääntäjäpörssi(translator marketplace, in Finnish)
Suomalaiset kääntäjät (Finnish translators, in Finnish or Swedish)