Applying for an ancestor’s surname becomes faster thanks to an automated decision-making procedure

On 23 June 2026, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency introduced a new automated decision-making procedure for changes of surnames applied for through the name change service. The procedure is used in situations where an adult applies for a new surname that has been used by their parent, grandmother or grandfather, and their information is included in the Population Information System.

Automated decision-making means that the official does not take part in the resolution of the matter. Instead, the matter is resolved by using automated data processing. The automated procedure speeds up the resolution of customer cases, and its introduction is part of a suite of measures designed to streamline the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s processes. In the future, the aim is to also introduce the procedure in other services of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. 

Automated decision-making can be used when a case does not involve any case-specific consideration and can be decided on the basis of the information available in, for example, the Population Information System, or the case involves case-specific considerations that have already been assessed by an official before the case is resolved. Previously, the procedure has been used in name changes applied for through the name change service in which an adult wants to go back to a previously used surname, and name changes applied for through the name change service in which an adult adopts a commonly used first name.  

A grandmother's surname can be adopted even on the same day

Automated decision-making allows applicants to submit and pay for their applications online and, usually, to receive a decision electronically on the same day. In the past, each application had to be examined and processed by a specialist of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, which could take several weeks.  

Automated decision-making can be used for applications where an adult applies for a surname previously used by their parent or grandparent, and there is information about the name in the Population Information System. Applications concerning fourth and fifth generation names and applications for which the information is not included in the Population Information System will continue to be processed by a specialist. 

“In the future, our adult customers will be able to apply to change their surname to their grandmother’s maiden name in our electronic name change service and receive a decision on the change of name in Suomi.fi Messages even on the same day,” says Laura Mattila, district registrar and head of the Names unit. 

“The automated decision-making procedure therefore makes the process much faster and easier for many of our customers. Indirectly, automation will streamline the processing of applications that cannot be processed automatically, as our name specialists will focus on applications that require human judgement. In my view, all our name change customers will benefit from these changes,” says Mattila.

Using the name change service is easy

Applicants for a name change can log in to the name change service by authenticating themselves, for example with their personal online banking credentials. The service will guide them through completing the application. The applicant also pays the processing fee in the name change service. The applicant does not need to know whether their application is such that it can be processed by using the automated decision-making procedure. 

“The name change service is designed to automatically forward the application for human processing, unless automated decision-making is possible,” says Mattila.

Additional information:

Laura Mattila, district registrar, Digital and Population Data Services Agency, tel. +358 295 539 127, [email protected]

Learn more about the automated decision-making procedure and the introduction of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency's automated decision-making procedure.