You need to register your data in the Population Information System in order to handle a wide range of practical matters in Finland. You will receive a personal identity code upon registration, and your data – including name, date of birth, gender, nationality, mother tongue and address – will be stored in the Population Information System. In addition, information on your spouse, children and parents may be entered under certain conditions.
Please note that all higher education students need a Finnish personal identity code, which may also be needed in other educational institutions. It is likely that you have already received your personal identity code once receiving your residence permit from the Finnish Immigration Service. If not, you will receive it once you register at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
Address in Finland
Your address will be recorded together with your personal data. The address can be temporary, permanent or only used as a postal address. We recommend you to register a permanent address. It means that you are registered as living at that address until further notice.
In order to have a municipality of residence in Finland, you need to have a permanent address. However, you can only receive a municipality of residence and associated permanent address if you meet the conditions for receiving a municipality of residence.
Municipality of residence
Municipalities offer various services to the people living in them, such as public healthcare and child day-care. If you have a municipality of residence, you usually have the right to use the services provided by this municipality. Sometimes a municipality of residence is also needed to receive financial benefits or subsidies. In some municipalities, it may be necessary to receive a student discount on public transport.
We can register a municipality of residence and permanent address for you even if you still live in a hotel or Airbnb as long as you meet the conditions for obtaining a municipality of residence.
Can I obtain a municipality of residence and permanent address?
You can receive a municipality of residence if you have entered the country and plan to live in Finland for more than a year.
In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met:
- You are a citizen of a Nordic country.
- You are a citizen of an EU member state and you have received a positive decision from the Finnish Immigration Service to register your right of residence.
- You are a citizen of some other country and your residence permit is a continuous A-type or permanent P-type permit.
- You are a citizen of some other country and your residence permit is a temporary B-type permit, which is valid for at least one year. In addition, you must have a study certificate stating that your studies will last at least two years. Please note: The studies must be vocational or higher education studies that lead to a degree. For example, studies at an upper secondary school or comprehensive school are not sufficient grounds for the municipality of residence. If you work alongside your studies, a two-year employment contract is also valid.
If your family member has a municipality of residence in Finland, you can also obtain a municipality of residence and permanent address for yourself provided that the family relationships are registered in the Population Information System.
How to register?
Please see the step-by-step instructions on how to register on DVV website: https://dvv.fi/en/international-student. Karelia UAS does not arrange joint visits, so you need to book a personal appointment.
The registration is free of charge. The handling time of the registration is about six (6) weeks. You will receive a notice, when the registration is done.