Moving to Dubai from Finland

Finland has a tax treaty with the UAE. Finnish citizens should know one rule above all before they move: the three-year rule.

At a glance

• Tax treaty: Finland and the UAE have a double tax agreement.
• Three-year rule: Finnish citizens normally remain Finnish tax residents for the year they move and the following three years.
• Ending residence early: you can ask to be treated as non-resident sooner if you show you no longer have essential ties to Finland.
• Essential ties include: a permanent home in Finland, a spouse living in Finland, Finnish property other than a summer cottage, Finnish social security cover, or a business or work in Finland.

Planning the move

Decide what happens to your Finnish home, your social security position and any Finnish business before you go. If you cut your essential ties, you can apply for non-resident status with the evidence. If you keep them, plan on remaining Finnish resident for up to three years, and use the treaty where both countries treat you as resident.

How Imperial Group helps

• A review of your residence position before you move, so you know when your home-country tax exposure actually ends
• The right UAE structure for your business: free zone, mainland or a holding company, with real substance
• Company setup, visas, Emirates ID and bank account opening support
• UAE tax residency certificate, corporate tax and VAT registrations from day one
• Ongoing accounting, tax filings and a single point of contact for everything in the UAE

Sources

• Finnish Tax Administration: Finnish citizens and the 3-year rule

This page gives general information as at the date shown and is not advice for your specific situation. Rules in other countries are summarised for orientation; your home-country position should be confirmed before you act.