In your first week in Finland, start your registration with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) to get a personal identity code, buy a prepaid SIM, and make sure your home has an electricity contract. As soon as you have your identity code, apply for a tax card before your first payday, open a bank account and apply to Kela.
Why the order matters
Most things in Finland depend on one number: your Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus). DVV says it is needed for things like salary payments, pensions and benefits. Your tax card, your bank's online codes and Kela all need it. So the identity code comes first, and the rest follows.
Some things you can do without it. A prepaid phone and an electricity contract are the main ones.
Day one or two: start your DVV registration
If you are a foreign citizen moving to Finland, you register in the Population Information System through DVV. Some people get their identity code from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) along with a residence permit. If you already have one, skip to the next step.
DVV's registration process works like this:
- Fill in the online form. You don't need Finnish online banking codes for it. There is a paper form if you can't use the online one.
- Book an appointment. There are slots for one person or for a family group of two to five.
- Visit in person within one month of sending the form. Everyone who needs an identity code must come, including children.
Bring a valid passport or official photo ID card, proof that you live in Finland legally, and documents that show your reason for registering, such as an employment contract or a certificate from your place of study. DVV says processing takes two to four weeks after your visit.
Day one: get a phone number
You don't need to wait for your identity code. InfoFinland says a prepaid subscription needs no Finnish identity code or address in Finland. DNA, for example, says its prepaid SIM needs no registration or ID. You can buy one at an R-kioski, a supermarket or online.
A monthly plan needs an identity code and a Finnish address, so that comes later. You can compare mobile plans when you get there.
Before you move in: electricity
If you rent, you usually sign the electricity contract yourself. The Energy Authority says to make it at least two weeks before you want it to start. If your move is sooner, contact a seller as early as you can. You can compare electricity contracts to find one.
As soon as you have your identity code
Tax card
If you work in Finland, you need a tax card. The Finnish Tax Administration (Vero) is clear about what happens without one: "If you do not have a tax card for wages, a 60% withholding tax is deducted from salary and fees."
To apply, you need your identity code. Vero says to do it before your first payday, either in the MyTax e-service or at a tax office. Processing normally takes one to three working days once all documents are in.
Bank account
Banks must offer basic banking services to everyone who lives legally in an EEA country, according to the Financial Supervisory Authority . Basic services include an account, a card, online banking and a means of electronic identification.
InfoFinland says the bank will ask for your name, identity code and address. You can prove your identity with a passport or a foreign citizen's identity card, but not with a driving licence.
Online banking codes as strong identification
Finnish online banking codes are more than a way into your bank. They are a form of strong electronic identification, along with mobile certificates and the certificate on a Finnish ID card, according to Traficom's National Cyber Security Centre . You use them to log in to public e-services, including the online moving notice.
Be aware that getting online banking codes can be harder than getting the account. InfoFinland notes that in some cases you can't get them even if you have a bank account. A bank can refuse electronic identification if you don't have an identity code or aren't in the population register.
Kela
Kela runs Finnish social security. To find out if you are covered, Kela asks you to fill in the form "Moving to Finland or employment in Finland" (Y 77e). Before you apply, you need:
- a Finnish personal identity code
- a bank account, because Kela pays benefits into one
- a valid residence permit, if you need one
You can apply in the OmaKela e-service, which is in Finnish and Swedish, or by post. The Kela card proves that Kela will cover part of the cost of private doctor and dentist visits.
Your first week at a glance
| When | Task | Needs identity code? |
|---|---|---|
| Day one | Buy a prepaid SIM | No |
| Day one or two | Start DVV registration and book your visit | No |
| Before moving in | Make an electricity contract | No |
| After your code arrives | Apply for a tax card before payday | Yes |
| After your code arrives | Open a bank account and ask for online codes | Yes |
| After your bank account | Apply to Kela | Yes |
Your identity code may take a few weeks, so not everything will happen in week one. The point is to start the slow steps early.
Landed's free checklist puts these steps in order for your move.
Quick checklist
- Fill in DVV's registration form and book your visit.
- Buy a prepaid SIM or eSIM.
- Make an electricity contract for your home.
- Apply for a tax card as soon as you have your identity code.
- Open a bank account and ask about online banking codes.
- Send Kela the Y 77e form once you have a code and an account.
