Moving to Finland as a Foreigner
If you are a foreign citizen and move to Finland, we will register your personal data into the Finnish Population Information System if the conditions for this are met. At the same time, you will be given a Finnish personal identity code.
If you have already been issued a personal identity code, we can record or update information such as your address and family relationships. We can also register you a municipality of residence if the conditions for this are met.
Do you have a personal identity code?
Updating your information when you have a personal identity code
Once you have received a Finnish personal identity code and your personal data have been registered into the Population Information System, you can focus on living in Finland. Notify us if your personal data changes or if you want to complete the registered information.
Report us in the following situations:
- You didn ́t get a municipality of residence when you received a personal identity code or received a personal identity code from the Finnish Immigration Service or the Tax Administration. You can apply municipality of residence if the conditions for receiving this are met.
- Your family relationships and marital status have not yet been registered or have changed.
- Your address has changed.
Other change in personal information
Why do you need a personal identity code?
You need Finnish personal identity code, for example, when you contact authorities, apply for benefits or open a bank account. You can get a personal identity code if certain conditions are met.
The Finnish personal identity code (in Finnish henkilötunnus) is 11 characters in length. The first six digits are made up of your date of birth, (in the form DDMMYY), for example 131052-308T.
You will be given a Finnish personal identity code when your personal data and address are registered in the Population Information System for the first time. You can get a Finnish identity code if you meet the required conditions.
You can get a personal identity code if you are residing in Finland legally and there are grounds for registration, such as:
- working in Finland and you have the right to work
- studying in Finland
- a family member who already has a registered address in Finland
- a residence permit or residence card issued to Finland by the Finnish Immigration Service or a registration decision on the right of residence of an EU citizen.
When you get Finnish personal identity code, your personal data, such as, names, date of birth, citizenshsip and native language will be registered. If you also want us to register your marital status or family relations, such as marriage and parenthood, you must apply for it on a separate form.
Your address will be recorded together with your personal data. We will also register you a municipality of residence if the conditions are met.
Registration of personal data for the first time into the Finnish Population Information System
Registration of marriage, parenthood and other family relationships
More information
What is personal identity code?
Personal identity code (in Finnish henkilötunnus) is 11 characters long. The first six digits represent your date of birth (in the format DDMMYY), for example, 131052-308T. You can read more about the personal identity code on our website.
You have likely already received a personal identity code in the following situations:
- You have a residence permit or residence card issued by the Finnish Immigration Service.
- The Finnish Immigration Service has registered your right of residence.
- You have a tax number issued by the Tax Administration.
- The personal identity code is listed on the residence permit card and the registration notification
Watch the video on how to apply for a personal identity code
If you can't see the video embed, you can watch the video here.
Watch the video on applying for a municipality of residence
If you can't see the video embed, you can watch the video here.
Links to Acts related to the matter
Acceptance of documents issued by authorities in EU Member States
Act on the Population Information System and the certificate services of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (661/2009) (in Finnish)
Municipality of Residence Act (in Finnish)