Life certificate

You can use a certificate of life to give proof of your basic information and your existence at the certificate's time of issue. You need the certificate for purposes such as estate inventory if you are the heir or the beneficiary of the deceased person. You only need a life certificate of yourself for an estate inventory if information about your existence is not stated on the report on family relationships.

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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: 

• Information that the person is alive or that it cannot be confirmed whether the person is alive
• Name
• Date of birth (or personal identity code)
• Municipality of residence
• Permanent address

In addition, you can add your previous names to the certificate. If the person has a guardian or a power of attorney, this will also be marked on the certificate. 

If you need other information, order the certificate by email, phone or a form.
 

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 can order a life certificate through the self-service if you live in Finland permanently. You need online banking codes or a mobile certificate for the order. You pay the certificate by making an online payment. 

Ordering a certificate for use in Finland through the self-service is cheaper and is immediately available online.

• 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. 
• If you are not using Suomi.fi Messages, you can download the certificate in PDF format right after paying. Please remember to save the document on your device!

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.

If you live abroad permanently, you cannot order a life certificate. To get a life certificate, you must visit personally either at the Finnish Embassy or at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency's service point, at the Notary Public’s department. Alternatively you can find out if you can get a life certificate from authorities in your home country.