Registration of a foreigner in the Population Information System

A foreign citizen living in Finland receives a personal identity code when he or she is registered in the Population Information System.

If you are a citizen of a foreign country and move to live in Finland permanently, you will be registered in the Finnish Population Information System. If you move to Finland for only a short period of time, your information can be entered into the register if necessary.

Once you have been registered in the Population Information System, you will get a personal identity code.

Personal data to be registered

Your key personal data is registered in the Population Information System so that it is available to the Finnish public authorities. Such data includes your names, date of birth, sex, mother tongue, citizenship and address in Finland. In addition, information about your place of birth, children, parents, spouses and the custody of the children may be registered. The information is used for purposes such as taxation, healthcare, organisation of elections, judicial administration and statistics.

Finnish personal identity code

In connection with registration, you will receive a personal identity code, which the authorities can use to check your personal data in the Population Information System. You need the personal identity code when you use the services of the authorities and sometimes also with private companies.

Applying for a municipality of residence

A municipality of residence and a permanent address in Finland can be entered into the system for you on certain conditions. When you have a municipality of residence, you can use the services that municipalities provide only to their residents. Sometimes you also need a municipality of residence to be able to use the services provided by the state authorities or to be granted financial benefits or support.

The municipality of residence is always entered into the system at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.