Municipality of residence for a Nordic citizen

Read the instructions for citizens of EU countries, Switzerland or Liechtenstein and citizens of other countries on our website.

What is a municipality of residence?

Finland is divided into several administrative regions called municipalities. A municipality of residence is usually the municipality where you live. 

When you have a municipality of residence, 

  • you usually have the right to use the services provided by your municipality of residence, such as public health care or children’s day care
  • you can get a Finnish identity card and a driving licence 
  • services provided by authorities or receive financial benefits or subsidies. 

When can a Nordic citizen receive a municipality of residence?

You can get a municipality of residence if the following conditions are met:

  • You have arrived in Finland.
  • You are planning to live in Finland for at least one year. 

To get a municipality of residence, you must visit a service location in person.

Do as follows

I do not yet have a Finnish personal identity code

If you do not yet have a Finnish personal identity code, read the instructions on our Registration of foreigners page. 

I already have a Finnish personal identity code

1. Fill in and print out the form “Changing a temporary address into a permanent address” in advance.

Changing a temporary address into a permanent address

2. Book an appointment for the “Registration of a foreigner´s municipality of residence and permanent address” service in our booking service. 

Book an appointment

3. Bring your valid passport or identity card with a photograph. When visiting, tell us your personal identity code or personal identity number used in another Nordic country so that we can notify the registration authority of your country of origin that you have moved to Finland. 

Frequently asked questions

Didn’t find what you were looking for on our website?

Customer service

You can find the average processing times on our website

Email

Please use secure email if your message contains personal or otherwise confidential information. Please choose this address as the recipient: [email protected]

Send secure email

Telephone

Telephone service number is +358 295 536 320

Service hours:

  • Mon 9-15
  • Tue-Fri 9-12

Service locations

Service locations

Acts related to the matter

Municipality of Residence Act (in Finnish)