ID cards for regulated social welfare and healthcare professionals

The ID card for regulated social welfare and healthcare professionals is intended for social welfare and healthcare professionals, such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses and bachelors of social services.

The professional ID card is used to identify users reliably in healthcare information systems and use electronic signatures in patient documents and prescriptions.

The applicant must have a valid practice right in the Terhikki or Suosikki register and a Finnish personal identity code, which has been registered in the Population Information System. If the applicant does not have a Finnish personal identity code registered in the Population Information System and a valid professional practice right in the Terhikki or Suosikki register, a regulated social welfare and health care professional's ID card cannot be ordered.

A regulated social welfare and health care professional's ID card is personal and it is tied to the card holder’s professional practice rights. A social welfare and healthcare professional can work nationwide in all healthcare sector organisations with the same ID card.

The professional ID card is valid for five years, unless there are valid limiting factors to the person’s professional practice rights.

The following data is displayed on the front of the card: card validity, the card holder’s registration number, their last and first name, and their professional title. The cardholder's photograph is printed on the front of the card if the card is ordered with a picture. The information on the back of the card includes the card’s serial number.

Are you renewing your ID card?

If your current ID card is valid, you can renew the card in the MyCard service. When you order a new card via MyCard, you can order it either with or without a photo, as indicated by your previous ID card. The photo on the card cannot be changed on MyCard.

Instructions for using the MyCard service can be found at the end of the page under the heading "Instructions and Terms of Use".

We resolve applications sent in MyCard automatically. You can find more information about the automatic resolution procedure here (in Finnish).

When do I need to order a card from a registration authority?

Please order a new ID card from a registration authority if

you are ordering your first ID card
your previous ID card is no longer valid
the chip in your current ID card is damaged
your current ID card does not have a photo, but you want a photo for your new card, or vice versa.

You can find instructions for dealing with the registration authority in the Do the following section.

Do the following

How do I order my first ID card?

If you are ordering your first ID card for professionals, if your previous professional ID card is no longer valid or if the card's chip is broken, order a new card at a public health service registration point. If you work in a pharmacy, order your first ID card primarily from the pharmacy's own registration point.

1. Book an appointment at the registration point. Contact the selected registration point either directly or make an appointment through the appointment service. The appointment service is only available at some registration points.

Public registration authorities by wellbeing services counties

Appointment service for registration points

2. Bring a valid identification document to the registration point:

electronic ID card or passport
passport or electronic ID card issued by a Member State of the European Economic Area, Sitzerland or San Marino
a passport issued by an authority of another state.

If you do not have any of the aforementioned documents, the police may, at request, verify your identity and draw up a separate identification document. The police will send the identification document to the registration authority.

3. You will receive your ID card by post approximately two weeks after ordering it. After the card arrives, you will also receive an activation PIN in a separate letter which you will need to activate the card.

How do I start using the ID card?

In order to use your card for e.g. identification purposes or signing prescriptions, you must first activate it. To active your card, you will need an activation code, which is sent to you in a separate letter. During activation, you will create two personal PINs for the card.

Instructions for activating the ID card

I forgot my PIN code. How do I change my card’s PIN code?

If you have forgotten one or both of your personal PIN numbers, you can create new ones yourself. To create a new PIN, you will need an activation code, card reader software, and a card reader.

Changing the PIN code and releasing a forgotten code

How soon will I receive the card?

The delivery time for the card and the activation code letter is approximately two weeks. The activation code is sent approximately 4 working days after the card has been sent.

Key links and guides

User guide for smart cards for social welfare and health care personnel (pdf, in Finnish)

MyCard service user guide (pdf, in Finnish)

Sending an encrypted and digitally signed e-mail using a certificate (pdf, in Finnish)

Price

The professional ID card itself is free of charge, but the public health service registration point may charge a fee for its registration services. You can check the possible service fees by contacting the registration point. Some of the registration points indicate the price of their service in the appointment booking service.

ID card instructions and terms of use

Social Welfare and Health Care Smart Card User Guide (pdf in finnish)

MyCard instructions (pdf in Finnish)

Sending an encrypted and digitally signed e-mail using a certificate (pdf in finnish)

Terms and conditions for professional ID cards for social welfare and healthcare professionals (pdf)