Multilingual guidance and counselling

Our services are aimed at people who have moved to Joensuu from abroad. We offer personal consulting and guidance in various questions related to smooth everyday life. You can also get assistance with understanding the decisions and procedures of different public authorities, as well as information on Finnish society and municipal services. We also offer Finnish language courses. In addition, we help with questions related to residence permits, family reunification, travel documents and citizenship. Our services are free of charge. Services are available in Finnish and English. For other languages, we use interpreting services.

We mostly offer customer service by appointment. When needed, we also offer remote appointments. Book a personal consultation appointment via e-mail to internationalhouse@joensuu.fi or by visiting our service desk. Our service desk staff will help you further; service is provided with a queue number.

Please note that our office does not process or accept residence permit applications. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) accepts, processes and decides on residence permit applications. Their nearest service points are located in Kuopio and Lappeenranta.  

We offer consultation without an appointment to various language groups. These consultations are intended for short guidance sessions, lasting no longer than 20 minutes, and are mostly for urgent matters. Please take a number in the lobby and wait for your turn. We serve customers in the order of arrival.

Finnish and English language services are available during all consultation hours. We announce any changes to our service hours on our Facebook and Instagram.

NOTE!  If you are visiting us for the first time, please book an appointment by e-mail internationalhouse@joensuu.fi. If you have not visited us earlier and you come to consultation without appointment, you have to register first at the service point.

Consultations without appointment in Finnish, English and Russian on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Consultation without appointment in Finnish, English and other languages on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.