Changing forename
You can change your forename by submitting an application for name change.
With this application, you can also change the order of your forenames or remove or add forenames.
You may not have more than four forenames. Names combined with a hyphen are considered as one name. The acceptability of rare forenames is always determined on a case-by-case basis.
You can apply for a new forename if you live in Finland. You can also submit an application for name change if you live outside Finland (in a country other than Denmark, Norway or Sweden) and you are a Finnish citizen.
You do not need to submit an application for name change if your forename has been changed outside Finland by a decision made by the authorities of another country. In that case, you can request that your name details should be entered into the Population Information System free of charge.
Do the following
You can submit the application for name change electronically in the name change service (Etunimenmuutospalvelu). Logging into the service requires strong identification. The service is in Finnish and Swedish.
If you submit the application in the electronic name change service, you must pay the processing fee at the same time.
You can also submit the application for name change on a form, in which case we will send you the invoice later.
Application form for name change
You can also send the application for name change by post or as encrypted email to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. You can also complete the application at a service location of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
When writing the name on the application, make a clear distinction between the letters that should be in upper case and those that should be in lower case.
Please note that your application for name change will be processed only after you have paid the processing fee. The fee will not be returned even if you cancel the application or your application is rejected.
You may be asked to provide additional information on the forename that you want to have. We may also request an opinion from the Names Board, in which case the processing of the matter will take longer.
We will notify you of the decision in writing. Your new forename will be entered into the Population Information System on the day when the decision is made and you can check the name in the Check your own data service.
You will receive a new Kela card after the name change but you must obtain a new passport, personal identity card and driving licence yourself.
If you are not satisfied with the decision, you have the right to appeal against it to an Administrative Court.
Frequently asked questions
The application processing fee is 55 euros.
The estimated processing time for an application currently is 2–5 months. If a statement needs to be requested from the Names Board the processing may take several months.
If an application is submitted for a name change for a person under the age of 15, the minor’s guardians must give their consent to the name change.
The guardians of an applicant aged 15-18 will be heard in a name change matter.
If an application is submitted for a name change for a child who has turned ten, the minor must provide their consent to the name change.
We will process applications in their order of arrival. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency recommends that you consider obtaining new travel documents under your current name and only apply for a name change after your trip.
It is not possible to monitor the progress of processing. You will be sent a written decision by post when a decision has been issued on the name change. Cases are processed in their order of arrival.
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency must request a statement from the Names Board concerning a name change when the forename in question is rare or there is another special reason for requesting a statement.
Käsittelymaksu peritään aina hakemuksen yhteydessä, sillä se perustuu maksuasetukseen. Käsittelymaksua ei palauteta, vaikka peruisit hakemuksen tai asiassa annettaisiin kielteinen päätös.
Your name will be changed in the Population Information System on the day of the decision. You can check your changed name in the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s Check your data service. Your name data will be automatically transmitted from the Population Information System to numerous authorities within a few days. A list of parties that update data from the Population Information System can be found in the dvv.fi service. You will be sent a new Kela card after the name change but you must obtain a new passport, personal identity card and driving licence yourself.
For more information on the Kela card please see the Kela.fi service and for information on identity documents see the poliisi.fi service. Also, remember to give your new name to parties other than the authorities, such as your building manager, telephone operator, the library, and other companies and organisations whose customer or member you are.
If you wish, you can order a Population Information System extract from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, which lists your name change. A fee will be charged for the extract.
If necessary, notify foreign authorities of your name change. As a rule, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency does not transmit data to other countries.
Etunimi voi olla vakiintunut naisen tai miehen nimeksi tai se voi olla sukupuolineutraali. Jos olet täyttänyt 15 vuotta ja haluat vaihtaa etunimesi vastaamaan sukupuoli-identiteettiäsi, oma vapaamuotoinen perustelusi riittää. Jos olet alle 15-vuotias, hakemukseen täytyy liittää terveydenhuollon ammattilaisen lausunto sukupuoli-identiteetistäsi. Tällöin myös alaikäisen vanhempia kuullaan nimenmuutosasiassa.
Contact us
If your message contains personal or other confidential information, remember to use secure email. Choose the address [email protected] as the recipient.
PLEASE NOTE! When submitting details of your children (such as their names), select [email protected] as the recipient in the secure mail. Read more about notification of a child's name.
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