Moving to Finland from Syria

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Syria to Finland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Syria to Finland, and you’d need to navigate life in Finnish and Swedish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Helsinki averages 48°F vs 78°F in Damascus, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Syria to Finland, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
503 ↓ 44% vs 2022

people moved from Syria to Finland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Finland?

Top countries of origin for Finland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Syria to Finland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SY
2.1
FI
1.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SY
29.9
FI
4.2

Finland performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SY
$122
FI
$6,433
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SY
11.9
FI
43.8

Finland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SY
83.0
FI
7.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SY
1.3t
FI
5.5t

Syria generally does better on environment, though Finland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SY
7.3
FI
34.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SY
124.4%
FI
7.1%

Finland performs significantly better than Syria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SY
13.5%
FI
7.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SY
$2,900
FI
$57,500

Finland generally does better on employment & economy, though Syria leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SY
74.3 yrs
FI
81.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SY
15.9
FI
2.1

Finland performs significantly better than Syria across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Syria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Damascus Rain: 5.3 in/yr (134 mm)
78° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Helsinki Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Damascus Helsinki
Jan–Mar 60°/35°F (15°/2°C) 29°/18°F (-1°/-8°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/51°F (29°/11°C) 58°/40°F (14°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 96°/60°F (35°/15°C) 65°/49°F (19°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 70°/40°F (21°/5°C) 38°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
View all months
Month Damascus Helsinki
Jan 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C) 27°/17°F (-2.6°/-8.5°C)
Feb 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C) 27°/15°F (-2.9°/-9.3°C)
Mar 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C) 34°/22°F (1.1°/-5.6°C)
Apr 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C) 46°/31°F (7.5°/-0.7°C)
May 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C) 60°/40°F (15.5°/4.4°C)
Jun 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C) 68°/49°F (19.8°/9.3°C)
Jul 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C) 71°/53°F (21.8°/11.8°C)
Aug 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C) 68°/51°F (19.9°/10.7°C)
Sep 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C) 57°/43°F (14.0°/6.1°C)
Oct 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C) 47°/36°F (8.1°/2.2°C)
Nov 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C) 36°/28°F (2.5°/-2.4°C)
Dec 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C) 31°/20°F (-0.8°/-6.6°C)

Data: Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department, Finnish Meteorological Institute Finnish Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Syria and Finland. To live, work, or study long-term in Finland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Finland's immigration authority.

Syria passport

Syria passport holder visiting Finland

Visa Required
Syria passport holders need a visa to enter Finland.
Finland passport

Finland passport holder visiting Syria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Finland passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Syria.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Finland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Finland has 34.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Finland safe for expats?

Finland performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Finland is 1.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Syria.

How is healthcare in Finland compared to Syria?

Finland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 43.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Finland, compared to 11.9 in Syria. Finland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Syria: 64).

What's the weather like in Finland compared to Syria?

The average high temperature in Helsinki is 48°F, compared to 78°F in Damascus. Helsinki receives around 25.6 in of rainfall per year, while Damascus gets 5.3 in.

What language do they speak in Finland?

The official languages in Finland are Finnish and Swedish. In Syria, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

SY FI
Population 21,563,800 5,601,547
Currency Syrian Pound (SYP) Euro (€)
Languages Arabic Finnish, Swedish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +963 +358
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112