Information for new Finnish citizens
See this page for information you may need after obtaining Finnish citizenship.
Finnish passport
If you are in Finland, you can submit a passport application to the police (poliisi.fi). To apply for a passport abroad, contact a Finnish mission (finlandabroad.fi). Passports are issued based on the information in the Finnish Population Information System. Please note that you cannot get a passport before your information is visible in the Population Information System.
- If you already have a Finnish personal identity code, your new Finnish citizenship will be visible in the Population Information System on the same day.
- If you do not have a Finnish personal identity code, it will take 1–2 weeks before your status as a Finnish citizen is entered into the Population Information System.
Important points of contact for Finnish citizens
The Finnish Immigration Service decides on the acquisition and loss of Finnish citizenship. If you have other questions about Finnish citizenship or life in Finland, please contact the relevant authority responsible for the topic.
Military service
For information about military service or voluntary military service for women, see the website of the Finnish Defence Forces (puolustusvoimat.fi).
For information about non-military service, see the website of the Centre for Non-Military Service (siviilipalveluskeskus.fi).
Pensions
For information about statutory pensions and how to apply, see the website of Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (kela.fi). The website contains information about national pensions and about earnings-related pensions paid by Kela to employees, civil servants and self-employed persons. For information about earnings-related pensions, see also the website of the Finnish Centre for Pensions (etk.fi).
EU citizenship
Finland is a member of the European Union (EU), meaning that Finnish citizens are also EU citizens. EU citizens have the right to freely move and work within the European Union. For more information about EU citizens’ rights, see the website of the European Union (europa.eu) and the Europe Information website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (eurooppatiedotus.fi).
Addresses and personal data in official registers
If you are a Finnish citizen and live abroad, your personal data and addresses are not automatically updated in the official registers in Finland. If some of your data changes, you need to notify the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi) or your nearest Finnish mission (finlandabroad.fi) in your current country of residence to have the changes registered.
Your data needs to be up to date when you apply for a Finnish passport or wish to vote in your current place of residence, for example.
Identity card
For information about how to apply for a Finnish identity card, see the website of the Finnish police (poliisi.fi).
Travelling
For information about border checks at border crossings, see the website of the Finnish Border Guard (raja.fi).
For information about import and export of goods, see the website of the Finnish Customs (tulli.fi).
For information about travel safety in other countries and about the services of Finnish missions abroad, see the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (um.fi). Information about the rules of travelling within the Schengen area can also be found on the website.
If you have questions about passports or visas, you can contact your nearest Finnish mission abroad or email the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at visa.passports@formin.fi.
Moving
Submit a notification of move every time you move house so that your address in the Finnish Population Information System gets updated. Submit a notification of move if you move within Finland, move between Finland and another country or move while living abroad. Submit a notification of move to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV). If you are a Finnish citizen and live abroad, you can submit a notification of move through the local Finnish mission.
For contact information of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, see the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi). For contact information of Finnish missions abroad, see the Finland Abroad website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (finlandabroad.fi).
For information about the rules and restrictions on bringing goods, vehicles or pets to Finland when you move, see the website of the Finnish Customs (tulli.fi). As for vehicles, see also the website of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom (traficom.fi).
Studies
For information about education, study programmes, admissions and the recognition of foreign qualifications, see the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education (oph.fi).
For information about the financial aid available for studying in Finland or abroad, see the website of Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (kela.fi).
Births, deaths and other changes in the family
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency maintains the Finnish Population Information System. If a birth, death, marriage, divorce, adoption or other family event takes place in Finland, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency will automatically be informed of it.
However, if you live abroad, you need to notify your local Finnish mission of births, deaths and other changes in your family so that the relevant information can be updated in the Finnish Population Information System. For contact information of Finnish missions abroad, see the Finland Abroad website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (finlandabroad.fi).
Social security
For information about social security in Finland, see the website of Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (kela.fi).
Work
For information about employment services for employed or unemployed persons or persons about to start working as well as for employers, see the website of the TE services (te-palvelut.fi).
Taxation
For information about taxes, see the website of the Finnish Tax Administration (vero.fi).
Voting
For information about elections and voting, see the elections website of the Ministry of Justice (vaalit.fi).