Welcome to Live in Kauhajoki
We are pleased that you have chosen Kauhajoki as your new home. On these pages we have gathered information that will help you in the beginning in settling into the Finnish everyday life.
Immigration Services
Immigration Services in the Kauhajoki region are located within the Vuoksi International Service. Read more about the local immigration services. See also our brochure for seasonal workers.
Moving to a new country is not easy – Vuoksi International Service can help you settle here. Integration services are offered to all foreigners moving here. You can get information for immigrants on the services of the Finnish society and the rights and responsibilities of people moving to Finland.
Please be in touch with the Immigration Coordinator, if you would like any information on the Finnish society, work, training, health care or living here in general.
Vuoksi International Service will also help employers who have foreign workforce and companies planning to recruit from abroad. In addition, the information and guidance services are for everyone who deals with immigrants through their work.
To be able to serve you better, please make an appointment by phone or email.
Contacts for immigration coordination in Kauhajoki:
Agnes Szeman
Immigration Coordinator
VUOKSI International Service, Oppitie 4
Tel. +358 40 641 6374
Email. agnes.szeman@vuoksi.fi
Living in Kauhajoki
Housing
You should reserve enough time for finding a rental place to live. It is good to have a chat to your new local colleagues and/or friends for tips on shops and services, schools, and childcare etc. We are lucky in the South Ostrobothnia region in comparison to the bigger cities that there is still plenty of space and available apartments for rent.
Long term apartments are usually rented unfurnished, but they do include fitted kitchen cupboards, wardrobes, fridge and stove (also often a dishwasher).
You can look for long term rentals for example on the following pages:
Local housing options in Kauhajoki (In Finnish) or
Suupohjan asuntoportti (In Finnish)
Health
If you need care urgently, please, call for an appointment at the Kauhajoki Health Centre (terveyskeskus) on +358 (0) 6 2413 3200. If you do not need urgent care, please call +358 (0 6 2413 3220.
In an emergency always call 112.
There are two pharmacies in Kauhajoki:
Kauhajoen 1. apteekki
Topeeka 65
Kauhajoen Nuotti Apteekki
Puistotie 51
Dental health
Also, if you have a municipality of residence (kotikunta) in Finland, you are entitled to use public dental care services. You can make a booking by calling central number +358 (0)6 2413 3340.
Leisure
The Kauhajoki main library is located at Prännärintie 2 C (Hallintoaukio). Library also arranges events and activities to cater for all ages.
The Adult Education Centre (kansalaisopisto) offers courses from languages to music and photography to cooking and many others. Read more about the current courses on offer on the Kansalaisopisto pages
Sports and exercise
There are plenty of nature trails in the area. Find out more about the local nature trails
More information about nature trails can also be found on the Visit Suupohja pages
The local swimming hall Virkku is located at Urheilutie 3 – there is also a gym in the same premises Find out more about the services on the Virkku pages
The local sports clubs offer a variety of hobbies from soccer to cheerleading and basketball to ice hockey and many others Find the full list of sports clubs on the Kauhajoki pages
In winter there are numerous skiing tracks around and plenty of spaces for skating, often located near schools. Kauhajoki is fortunate to have its own downhill skiing centre, Sotka, as well. Read more about the skiing centre on their own page
Shopping
There’s a couple of big supermarket chains in Finland. The range is from massive hypermarkets (Citymarket, Prisma) to smaller corner stores.
Couple of unique features when food shopping: remember to weigh and price your fruit and vegetables yourself, either buy a plastic bag or bring your own shopping bag and always do your own packing (as quick as possible!).
Both big grocery store chains have their own bonus cards (Plussa and S-Etukortti). You do not need to get one, but you will always be asked at the counter and you can get special offers and discounts with them.
Local grocery shops:
HalpaHalli, Ostajantie 1
K-Citymarket, Puistotie 70
Lidl, Puistotie 60
S-market, Topeeka 65
There are also couple of second-hand stores (kirpputori) in Kauhajoki. These are great for finding for example inexpensive furniture or sports gear.
Transport
There are a few bus connections to nearby cities of Seinäjoki and Kurikka and even further but as the buses are not very frequent, a car is recommended when living here. A motor liability insurance is compulsory in Finland. If you have a driving licence issued in a Nordic country, an EU member state or an EEA country, it is also valid in Finland. You can exchange it for a Finnish driving licence if you are residing in Finland permanently.
Find the bus timetables at Matkahuolto pages
Bicycles: cycling or walking to work is very popular in Finland. Many people cycle all through the year. Wearing a helmet is compulsory and you must have a lamp in the front and back of your bike when you cycle in the dark. In winter studded tires are recommended.