Everything in Finland asks for the eleven characters of your henkilötunnus. Here is how you get it, what else you get at the same appointment, and what to bring.
Who does what
| Your situation | Step 1 | Step 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Non-EU citizen with a residence permit | The permit decision usually includes a henkilötunnus | DVV: register your address and municipality of residence |
| EU or EEA citizen staying over 3 months | Migri: register your right of residence (online, then an identification visit) | DVV: henkilötunnus and address |
| Nordic citizen | DVV directly | – |
| Short stays and some students | DVV may issue a henkilötunnus without a municipality of residence | – |
At DVV
Book an appointment at dvv.fi or use a walk-in service point. Bring:
- passport
- residence permit card, or the Migri registration certificate for EU citizens
- rental agreement or landlord's written confirmation of your address
- for family: marriage certificate and children's birth certificates, legalised (apostille) and translated into Finnish, Swedish or English
At the appointment you state your address, your native language, your religion if you want it registered (optional), and your spouse and children. You leave registered; the extract comes by post.
The notification of move (muuttoilmoitus)
Every time you move within Finland, file a notification within a week, online at dvv.fi or posti.fi with bank credentials, or on paper at a Posti. It updates DVV, Posti, Kela, Vero and most companies at once. Forgetting it means letters go to the old address, including the Migri decision.
What the municipality of residence gives you
Public healthcare at the local health centre, daycare and school for children, the right to vote in municipal elections after residence, and the municipal services from libraries to language courses. It also triggers Kela's assessment of your social security.
After registration
You can open a full bank account, order the tax card, apply to Kela and sign contracts. The order is on the first 30 days checklist.