Digital First – implementation project for the prioritisation of digital official communication, 2024–2027

In spring 2024, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency launched a project transitioning to primarily digital communications regarding decisions and other notifications sent by Finnish authorities.

Prioritising digital services is a significant change in Finland that affects the daily life of almost every citizen and resident.
The transition from paper mail to electronic official communications will introduce annual savings in tens of millions of euros from 2026 onwards.

 

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What does the transition to digital communication with authorities mean?

In 2026, when legislation on the digital priority of official mail comes into force, official mail will chiefly be delivered digitally to everyone who uses electronic services. Suomi.fi Messages will be activated without separate consent for adults who identify in the authorities’ electronic services through Suomi.fi e-Identification if they have not yet activated the service.

Those who cannot use digital services will continue to receive official mail on paper, unless they choose otherwise. It is also possible to easily opt out of electronic messages, after which official communications will be sent by paper mail once more. If a person who has selected paper mail continues to use the e-services, an electronic mailbox will be created again for them after the deadline.

Later in 2026 the aim is that citizens would also be able to use private digital mail services to electronically access and read official mail they receive in addition to Suomi.fi Messages.

In 2026, when legislation on the digital priority of official mail comes into force, citizens cannot yet choose which electronic service they will use to receive mail from authorities. Instead, Suomi.fi Messages is the place where electronic mail from authorities is received. The possibility to receive messages from authorities through private digital mail services will become available later when the legislation has been prepared and the technical prerequisites have been met.

Read more about the use of private digital mail services in official communications >> 

Who does the change apply to?	Who does the change not apply to?
Adults who use the public authorities’ digital services	Persons who do use the authorities’ digital services Minors Companies People under guardianship or those who have a confirmed continuing power of attorney, and the information is registered in the Register of Guardianship Affairs Anyone that has identified in the public e-services before the change

 

What will change?

• Everyone that uses a public authority’s digital services will receive official decisions and other notifications electronically in Suomi.fi Messages.
• Suomi.fi Messages is an electronic, secure mailbox for all public authorities.
• If someone does not use the authorities’ electronic services, they will continue to receive paper mail from the authorities.

How and when will the change take effect?

The change will happen in stages:

From May 2025	In 2026, when legislation on the digital priority of official mail comes into force	Towards the end of 2026 (preliminary estimate)
Prompt to activate Suomi.fi Messages You will be prompted to activate Suomi.fi Messages when they identify in the public administration’s electronic services. Only applies to adult users of the services. It is your choice to activate the service: Suomi.fi Messages will not activate automatically without consent. You must provide an email address and verify it to use Suomi.fi Messages. It is possible to skip activation continue to identify normally. You can always opt out and receive messages by paper mail.	Suomi.fi Messages activates without express consent Implementation in the beginning of the year when legislation enters into force. Suomi.fi Messages will be activated for you without express consent when you identify to a service. Only applies to adult users of the services. You can easily opt out of electronic messages, after which official messages will be sent by paper mail once more. If you continue to use the electronic service, official communications will be sent to you electronically.	The citizens are also able to use private digital mail services to electronically access and read official mail they receive in addition to Suomi.fi Messages. ​​​​​​​Read more about the use of private digital mail services in official communications >>

 

• This change only applies to official communications, not to other public services. You can still contact the authorities by phone or in-person. While statistics show that digital services are the most popular official service channel, telephone and in-person services will remain an option alongside digital channels.
• The change takes place when you to identify in any public administration organisation’s electronic service (e.g. MyTax, MyKela, Traficom's My e-Services)
• Upon identification​​​​​​​
  • Between 12 May and 31 December 2025: users are prompted to activate Suomi.fi Messages (see the changes in the identification process >>)
  • In 2026, when legislation on the digital priority of official mail comes into force​​​​​​​: an electronic Suomi.fi Messages mailbox is automatically created for official communications..
• The change does not take effect in electronic services of other institutions than the authorities (e.g. banks, insurance companies)

• Later in 2026, the aim is that citizens would also be able to use private digital mail services to electronically access and read official mail they receive in addition to Suomi.fi Messages.

  • At the beginning of 2026, citizens cannot yet choose which electronic service they will use to receive mail from authorities. Instead, Suomi.fi Messages is the place where electronic mail from authorities is received. The possibility to receive messages from authorities through private digital mail services will become available later when the legislation has been prepared and the technical prerequisites have been met.

What are the benefits of electronic official messages?

• Transitioning to digital messages makes it possible to receive official decisions and other notifications anytime, anywhere. You can easily read your messages with the Suomi.fi mobile app or through the Suomi.fi Web Service.
• You do not have to stay at home to wait for an important message, as important matters are always available to you electronically.
• It is also faster to send important official messages electronically, which also speeds up your official business.

Why are we making this change?

• Digital channels are already the most popular way of use public services.
• However, official decisions are still sent by paper mail, unless the citizen has expressly consented to receive electronic communications.
• The plan is that citizens who use digital services will receive official communications primarily electronically instead of paper mail.
• The transition from paper mail to electronic official communications will introduce annual savings in tens of millions of euros from 2026 onwards.

How do you opt out of electronic official communications?

• If you do not contact the authorities electronically, decisions and other notifications will continue to be sent by paper mail.
• Anyone can opt out of electronic messages and return to receiving official communications by paper mail with a setting in Suomi.fi Messages.
• The setting to return to paper mail will remain active for six months.
• However, if you identify in the electronic services of the authorities after the six-month period, electronic communications will be re-activated.

 

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Further information

Frequently asked questions about the priority for digital official communications (in Finnish)

• Project Manager Annette Hotari, [email protected], tel. +358 295 535 028  
• Deputy Director General Timo Salovaara, [email protected], tel. +358 295 535 303