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Welcome Office - Information and Guidance

Are you new in Finland?
Welcome Office provides information in several languages on matters such as immigration, public services, Finnish society, language courses, working life and leisure activities.

If you need any information or guidance, you can contact the Welcome Office. We help all newcomers and immigrants. We provide general guidance and give advise on how you can settle in the city on a step by step basis.

Our low-threshold service is free of charge and our drop-in service does not require an appointment. We can also advise by phone, email or chat.

Whatever your question or matter: Welcome, free of charge!

You can get advice and help with:

  • official paper work & applications
  • making appointments
  • immigration matters
  • working life
  • public and government services and the Finnish society 
  • language courses
  • education and training possibilities
  • day care
  • social and health care services
  • housing
  • leisure activities

Service languages

Arabic | العربية

Tel: 040 1397290

Drop in:

Wednesday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Every odd week)
Thursday     10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  
Friday           
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

English

Tel: 040 569 6046

Drop in:

Monday        10 a.m.  – 4 p.m.
Tuesday        10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday     10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Friday           
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Book an appointment to an English speaking advisor (to the service point or online on MS Teams).

Finnish | suomi

Tel: 040 569 6046

Drop in:

Monday        10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday        10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday     10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Friday           
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Book an appointment to a Finnish speaking advisor (to the service point or online on MS Teams).

Russian | РУССКИЙ

Tel: 040 563 9646

Drop in:

Monday        10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Tuesday        10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday     10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Friday           
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Book an appointment to a Russian speaking advisor (to the service point or online on MS Teams).

Swedish | svenska

Tel: 040 569 6046

Drop in:

Monday        10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday        10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday Available only with booked appointment
Thursday     Only with booked appointment 10  – 11. 30 a.m. , drop in open 12 – 4 p.m.
Friday           
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Book an appointment to a Swedish speaking advisor (to the service point or online on MS Teams).

Ukrainian | УКРАЇНСЬКА

Tel: 040 193 8595

Drop in:

Tuesday        10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday     10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Friday           
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Book an appointment to a Ukrainian speaking advisor (to the service point or online on MS Teams).

Booking an interpreter to the guidance

If we do not offer service in your language, and you cannot manage in easy English, Finnish or Swedish, we will try to book an interpreter for you. Book a 45 minute guidance session, atleast 2 weeks prior, and we will try to have the interpreter either on telephone or in person.

Book a 45 min appointment to an advisor and write in what language you wish to have interpreting.

Welcome Office schedule and broschure

In the timetable you can view opening times for different languages from April 2024. In the summer the service point is open only until 4 P.M. on Tuesdays. Welcome Office schedule. The schedule is printable and possible to fasten on information boards etc.

Welcome Office broschure is printable for e.g. customers at different services. welcome_office_broschure_2024

  • Information about Finland and Vaasa in various languages. Find information on e.g. moving to Finland, residence permits, working life, housing, education, health care services and free time.

  • Did you know that on the streets of Vaasa, every fifth passerby is a student? Get to know more about Vaasa as a student city and find information about studies, jobs, living and student life in Vaasa.

  • The project develops better multilingual services at Welcome Office and makes it digitally more accessible.

Contact details

Visit us

Opening hours:

  • MONDAY - FRIDAY

For detailed information of opening hours for different languages, see further above.