Changing your personal identity code

Each Finnish personal identity code is unique and is intended to be permanent. You can only apply for a change of personal identity code when it is absolutely necessary. The issuing of a new personal identity code may be justified, if an imminent and permanent danger to your health or safety exists, or if someone other than you has repeatedly misused the original code. A new personal identity code can also be issued when a person's new gender is confirmed.

You can apply for a change of personal identity code, if someone has repeatedly misused your original identity code and this has resulted in significant economic or other hardship to you, and if a change of personal identity code could prevent continued misuse.
 
In cases of misuse all three of the following conditions must be met:
  • repeated misuse
  • significant economic or other disadvantage or hardship 
  • the misuse will be prevented with a change of personal identity code. 
You can also apply for a change of personal identity code, if an imminent and permanent danger to your health or safety exists and if a new personal identity code is absolutely necessary for your protection. The change of your personal identity code on these grounds will require that the police perform a risk assessment.
 
In cases of threat and misuse, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency will decide on whether to issue a new personal identity code on the basis of the factors listed in the application.
 
A new personal identity code can also be issued when a person's new gender is confirmed if the person has been legally confirmed to have changed gender. You can apply for the confirmation of change of gender from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. At the same time as the agency confirms a gender, it will also enter information on the change of personal identity code to the Population Information System.

Check list

  • You can write a freeform application for the change of your personal identity code.
  • Remember to attach the reports and information necessary for a change of personal identity code to your application.
  • You must be able to provide reports detailing the misuse of your personal identity code, such as a report of an offence, a notification of investigation, a judgement by a court on misuse, a description of the duration of misuses and whether they are still occurring, as well as on the damage and/or hardship caused by the misuse, as well as the applicants reasons for why a change of personal identity code would present the continuation of misuse.
  • In cases where a threat exists, a threat assessment by the police where the police find that the issuing you a new personal identity code is necessary is usually sufficient. In the threat assessment the police determine the threat posed, how serious it is and whether it is permanent and likely.

Do the following

Write a free-form application for the change of your personal identity code. Send or bring the application and its attachments to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

Contact details of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency 

Contact details of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency

 

Links to Acts related to the matter

Section 12, subsection 2 and section 64, subsection 1 of the Act on the Population Information System and Certificate Services Provided by the Population Register Centre (in Finnish)

See also

Population of Finland 5 627 889