Birth certificate
You can use your birth certificate to give proof of your official date of birth. You may need this certificate, for example, when moving abroad and registering as a resident of another country. Schools and kindergartens in other countries may also require a birth certificate.
The following information is included in the certificate when you order a standard certificate via the self-service. A standard certificate means that the certificate always contains the same information and the selected optional information:
- Name, former names, date of birth (or personal identity code), municipality of birth, country of birth, nationality, and current municipality of residence.
- The certificate also includes the names, dates of birth, municipalities of birth, countries of birth and nationalities of the person’s parents if this information is available on the Population Information System.
If you need other information, order the certificate by email, phone or a formFile opens in a new tabyja-document-link-opens-in-a-new-tab.
How to order certificates
- You can order a certificate of yourself or another person for an acceptable purpose of use. Please note that you can use the self-service only to order a certificate for yourself or your dependants.
- Certificates ordered and delivered through the self-service are cheaper, and you receive certificates quickly. Prices can be found at the bottom of the page.
Self-service
- You need online banking codes or a mobile certificate for the order. You pay the certificate by making an online payment. Please note that you can only order a certificate from the self-service for yourself or your dependants.
- Using an identification token issued by another EU country (eIDAS) you can order your own residence or birth certificate from the self-service.
- Ordering a certificate for use in Finland through the self-service is cheaper and is immediately available online. You can download the certificate in PDF format right after paying or the certificate will be sent to you in Suomi.fi Messages. To have the certificate sent to you, you will need to have enabled Suomi.fi Messages. Due to privacy reasons, the certificate will not be sent directly to your email.
- If the certificate is required by a foreign authority, the certificate will be sent to you by mail. Your order will be processed within 2-5 business days, after which the postal service will deliver the certificate.
Other channels for ordering
You can order a Certificate from the Population Information System with an online formLink to an external websiteyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab. To identify yourself, use your Finnish online banking codes or mobile certificate.
You can order a certificate via email. Fill in the order formFile opens in a new tabyja-document-link-opens-in-a-new-tab and send the form by encrypted email to vtj-todistus@dvv.fiyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab. You can also include the information of your order in the email itself.
Please include the following in the email:
• your name, date of birth and address
• what information you need on the certificate
• for what purpose you need the certificate
Send the email as a secure emailLink to an external websiteyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab
If you are ordering a report on family relationships, see ordering instructions on the page Report on family relationships.
You can order a certificate by calling the national service number +358 295 536 230
Service hours:
- Mon-Fri 9-15
Check your data
You can check your personal data in the Population Information System from the Personal Data service. You can find your current personal data, name history information and property and building ownership information on the service. You can also check your residential history data saved in the Population Information System.
If your personal data contains mistakes, you can correct your own given name, occupation, email address, native language and communication language. In other cases, please contact our customer service by phone at 0295 536 220.
Processing times
- 7-14 days (+ mail delivery time)
- You can get an online certificate for use in Finland immediately through the self-serviceLink to an external websiteyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab.
Price
Self-service
You pay for the certificates when placing your order.
• Electronic certificate from the self-service 14 € / document
• Certificate from the self-service by post 21 € / document
• Certificate and multilingual EU standard form by post 36 € / documents
• Certificate and Apostille by post from the self-service 59 € / documents
Online form, e-mail, phone and visiting at the service location
We will send the invoice separately. If the customer’s home municipality is overseas, we will ask for payment in advance. If you visit one of our service locations, you pay at the service location.
• Certificate 25 € / document
• Manually prepared certificate 80 € / document
• Multilingual EU standard form attached to the certificate (translation assistance form) 15 € / document
• Apostille 38 € / document
Delivery of the certificate
Self-service
When you order a certificate for a Finnish operator from the self-service,
- you will receive it as an electronic PDF document. You can download the certificate from the My Certificates tab of the self-service to your device immediately after payment. The certificate can be downloaded from the self-service within 24 hours.
- The certificate will also be sent to you to Suomi.fi MessagesLink to an external websiteyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab if you have enabled the service before ordering.
- No signature will be added to the certificate, and you cannot add a translation form or an Apostille certificate to it later.
- Electronic certificates ordered from the self-service are not delivered by paper mail or electronically by encrypted mail.
When you order a certificate for a foreign operator from the self-service,
- it will be sent to you by paper mail to your home address. In this case, the certificate is stamped and signed. You can also order an EU translation form or an Apostille. Which one you need depends on the area that you need the certificate for.
- Your order will be processed within 2-5 business days, after which the postal service will deliver the certificate.
- If you live abroad, you will receive certificates as electronic PDF documents or by post to your home address, depending on whether you need a certificate for a Finnish actor or abroad.
Order placed by e-mail or phone:
- The certificate will be sent to you via Suomi.fi MessagesLink to an external websiteyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab, encrypted e-mail to your preferred address, or by paper mail. You can choose the delivery method yourself when placing the order.
Contact us
Telephone service
Telephone number +358 295 536 230
Service hours:
- Mon-Fri 9-15
Use secure email if your message contains personal or otherwise confidential information. Choose the following address as the recipient:
Send secure emailLink to an external website, Opens in a new tabyja-external-link-opens-in-a-new-tab
You can take care of the following matters:
- Certificates from the Population Information System
- Residence certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Life certificate
- Birth certificate
- Civil status certificate
- List of residents
If you are ordering a report on family relationships, see ordering instructions on the page Report on family relationships.