Confirming the maternity of a birth mother from 01 January 2025 onwards

Starting from 01 January 2025, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency will be able to confirm the maternity of a birth mother. This will be possible in situations where a child welfare officer has determined maternity in accordance with the Parenthood Act and the Digital and Population Data Services Agency does not have reason to suspect that the person in question is not the birth mother. After the birth mother’s maternity is confirmed, the birth mother’s details are recorded in the population information system.

With the amendment of the Parenthood Act, parenthood can be confirmed even if there is insufficient documentary evidence showing the identities of the parents or familial relationships, provided that:

• additional clarification cannot reasonably be obtained, and
•  a forensic genetic examination proves parenthood.

As a rule, the child’s mother is the person who has given birth to the child, and they do not need to establish their parenthood. However, it may be necessary to follow this procedure particularly in situations where families that have moved to Finland lack sufficient documentary evidence due to, for example, an inadequate population information system or societal issues in the country of origin.

Family’s responsibility in obtaining documents

It is in the best interests of the child that their parents can be confirmed and registered as soon as possible after birth. While the Digital and Population Data Services Agency can, in certain cases, confirm the birth mother’s maternity, as a rule, families must still obtain the required documents themselves and to have those documents legalised and translated.

The registration of parents of children born abroad can be done after the general requirements for registering a foreigner have been met.

Read more:

Confirmation of parenthood (dvv.fi)