In Finland, your personal data, information about your family relations as well as your address will be recorded in the Population Information System of Finland by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The agency will also grant you a personal identity code.

1. Personal identity code
   • A personal identity code is a means of identification used in Finland. Public authorities will often need to know your personal identity code when you contact them.
   • If you have proved your identity to a Finnish authority, your new personal identity code will automatically be printed on your residence permit card. If your card does not contain a personal identity code, you need to apply for the code at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
2. Permanent or temporary address in Finland and municipality of residence
   • The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will register either a permanent or a temporary address for you in Finland.
   • A temporary address means that you are registered as resident at your address for a certain period of time.
   • A permanent address means that you get a municipality of residence in Finland. Municipalities offer various services to their residents, including public healthcare and day care for children. If you have a municipality of residence, you usually have the right to use the services provided by this municipality.
   • In some cases, you may need a municipality of residence to be able to use the services provided by the state authorities. A municipality of residence is also needed for obtaining a Finnish identity card and a driving licence. In some municipalities, you may need a municipality of residence to get a student discount from tickets for public transport.
   • Read more about the municipality of residence (dvv.fi).
   • The residence permit granted for higher education studies is a continuous residence permit (an A permit). If you intend to live in Finland for over a year, you will get a municipality of residence in Finland through your A permit and you will, in most cases, have the right to use the services of this municipality.
   • The residence permit granted for exchange studies in Finland or for completing a degree that is not a higher education degree is a temporary residence permit (a B permit). It is possible to get a municipality of residence with a B permit but certain conditions apply.
   • Read more about continuous (A) and temporary (B) residence permits (migri.fi).
3. Information about your family relations
   • You need to show official certificates to have your marital status and family relations recorded. Without the certificates, information about your family members or marital status will not be recorded in the Population Information System. Before you apply for the registration, check if you need to have the documents concerning your family relations legalised and translated.
4. Registering the personal details of a foreign student (choose an option that suits your situation)

A) You have a Finnish personal identity code, and you want a municipality of residence. 

You can only have a permanent address and municipality of residence if you meet certain conditions.

Use the online form to apply for a municipality of residence. After submitting the form, you need to visit our service location in person. Read the detailed instructions from the confirmation email that you will receive after submitting the form.

See the detailed conditions for receiving a municipality of residence and apply for a municipality of residence:

• Municipality of Residence

B) You have a Finnish personal identity code, and you want a temporary address

• • Notify your temporary address with a notification of change of address at a Posti service point. Remember to select “temporary move” as the type of move and set the end date.

C) You do not have a Finnish personal identity code

Request registration here with this form: Request a Finnish identity code and registration of personal data (dvv.fi).

NOTE. After submitting the form, you need to visit our service location in person. You only need to book an appointment if your education institution does not arrange a joint visit. Check with your education institution or tutor whether your education institution has booked a joint visit. Read the detailed instructions from the confirmation email that you will receive after submitting the form.

• You can work in paid employment for a maximum of 30 hours per week. The number of working hours can be exceeded some weeks, as long as the average working hours are 30 hours per week at the end of the year.
• These limitations do not apply to an internship that is part of your degree or to doing your diploma work in paid employment.

A residence permit for studies is usually granted for the duration of the studies. However, a residence permit can only be granted for the period that your passport is valid.

If your residence permit will expire before you graduate or if your studies are delayed, apply for an extended permit before your first permit expires.

• When you apply for an extended permit (migri.fi), a visit to a service point is not always required if you log in to Enter Finland using Finnish online banking credentials, for example. Take strong identification in use in Enter Finland before you fill in the application for an extended permit. After you have sent your application, Enter Finland will tell you whether you need to visit a service point or not (migri.fi).