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Additional Information
Address change
Please
remember to keep your personal information up to date at the
Population Registry (Local Register Office) http://www.maistraatti.fi in
Finland. This will facilitate in voting, birth, marriage, passport,
military service, crisis situations etc issues.
When a Finnish citizen changes address while living abroad, he/she should
inform the Local Register Office either with the address change form or by
letter. The notification can also be submitted to the nearest Finnish
Embassy or Consulate.
Download the
change of address form
from the suomi.fi website, fill it out and send it to the local registry office in Finland.
Apostille authentication
In order for the Registry Office in Finland to submit any personal information (such as birth, marriage,
death, Finnish
social security number etc.) to the population registry system, they require
all paperwork to have an Apostille authentication.
The US Department of State is responsible for providing authentication
service to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals on all US documents that will be
used overseas.
Information on where to obtain an Apostille authentication in the US:
-
contact the appropriate State Authentication Authority for State-issued documents (for example: certified death, birth or marriage certificates) http://travel.state.gov/about/info/customer/customer_312.html
-
contact the US Department of State Authentication Office in Washington DC for documents that have been signed by a federal official with the official Seal of that agency, American Consular Officer, Military Notary or Foreign Consul (for example: the US naturalization document that has been certified by the Department of Homeland Security)
http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/c16921.htm
More information on the Hague Convention and Apostille authentications can be obtained at http://www.hcch.net
Animals
The
Finnish Food Safety Authority is responsible for the import of food elements of animal origin and products derived from these as well as live animals to Finland. These imports are subject to specific requirements set out in the legislation.
There are separate provisions for the imports from the EU area and for those from the non-EU countries. Imports from the so-called third countries must come through the veterinary border inspection posts.
Imports to Finland are controlled by the Finnish authorities, while the authorities of the country of destination lay down the conditions for
exports.
Further information on importation of dogs and cats etc. can be obtained on
the website of the
Finnish Food Safety Authority
http://www.evira.fi.
Birth
In order to register a child born in the United States (to Finnish parents/ Finnish parent) to the population registry in Finland, you need to send the Embassy in Washington DC, the Consulate General in New York or Los Angeles consular section the following:
- the "birth registration" form filled out
- certified birth certificate with an Apostille authentication
- if the child has been baptized a copy of the certificate
- notarized photocopies of the passports of the mother and the father (the pages with personal information)
- a notarized copy of the Alien Registration Card (green card), the US visa in the passport of the Finnish parent/parents or a notarized photocopy of the Finnish citizenship decision (in case of multiple nationality)
The Finnish Embassy in Washington DC, the Consulate General in New York or Los Angeles will forward the documents to the Population Register's
Office in Finland.
The registration process takes approx. 2-3 weeks.
Please remember that prior to this your marriage should also be registered in Finland.
If only the father is a Finnish citizen and the parents are not married, the child cannot be registered as a Finnish citizen before an acknowledgment of paternity and a citizenship declaration
has been made. Please contact the Embassy in Washington DC or the Consulate General in New York or Los Angeles regarding
this.
Car
If you are a permanent resident abroad, you may bring a vehicle registered in another country into Finland for an uninterrupted period of six months, or for repeated brief stays totaling no more than six months within a twelve-month period. Custom districts may grant you an extension, though no longer than twelve months.
For further information on vehicles and regulations or any possible extensions, please contact the Information Service of the National Board of Customs
http://www.tulli.fi In English > Finnish Customs > Finnish Customs >
Customs Information Service
National Board of Customs
http://www.tulli.fi
Erottajankatu 2, P.O. Box 512
00530 Helsinki
Tel. +358-9-6141
Fax +358-20-4922852
E-mail: kirmo@tulli.fi
Customs
Also see "animals",
"car", "moving to
Finland" .
The web site of the Finnish Customs is a good source of information. The
National Customs Information Service is gives response to client queries
on the Internet, by phone and by mail. You may also
use their
enquiry form to consult custom issues.
National Board of Customs
http://www.tulli.fi
Erottajankatu 2, P.O. Box 512
00530 Helsinki, Finland
Tel. +358-9-6141
Fax +358-20-4922852
E-mail: kirmo@tulli.fi
Death
To register a death of a Finnish or former Finnish citizen to the population registry in Finland, please send the Embassy in Washington DC, the Consulate General in New York or Los Angeles the following:
-
"death registration" form filled out
-
certified death certificate with an Apostille authentication.
The Finnish Embassy in Washington DC, Consulate General in New York or Los Angeles will forward the documents to the Population Register Center's Office in Finland. The registration process takes approx. 2-3 weeks.
Driving license
Before a Finnish driving license can be obtained, it is necessary to apply for a driving license permit from the local police station. Driving license permit applications are submitted in person and in writing to the police authorities of the applicant's place of residence.
There are 90 district police departments in Finland with some 280 service points.
To find your nearest police
department, go to main website
http://www.poliisi.fi contact information and click on the pull-down menu. Simply choose the relevant
municipality.
If you have lost your Finnish driving licence and cannot renew it in
Finland at the local police station, please contact the
Embassy in Washington DC or the Consulate General in New York or Los
Angeles
for instructions.
Lost Goods
The police will submit lost goods to the Embassy of Finland in Washington
D.C., the Consulate General of Finland in New York or the Consulate General of Finland in Los
Angeles, if the owner is identified as a Finnish citizen. The Finnish authorities do their best to contact the owner, and deliver the goods to him or her. Passports and driving licenses are sent back to authorities that have granted the
documents.
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Marriage
To register your marriage to the population registry in Finland, please send the Embassy in Washington DC, the Consulate General in New York or Los Angeles the following:
-
"marriage registration" form filled out
-
certified marriage certificate with an Apostille authentication
-
notarized photocopies of the passports of both spouses (the pages with personal information).
-
notarized photocopy of the US status (USA visa/green card) of the Finnish citizen(s). In case of multiple nationality, a notarized photocopy of the citizenship decision is needed.
If both spouses are Finnish citizens, both have to fill out their own marriage registration form.
The Finnish Embassy in Washington DC, Consulate General in New York or Los Angeles will forward the documents to the Population Register Center's
Office in Finland.
The registration process takes approx. 2-3 weeks.
Medicine
Medicine imports to Finland are subject to a number of restrictions. Travelers entering Finland are allowed to bring in the medicines they need for their own use. Those who are entering from outside the EEA can bring in an amount of three month's need. As those entering Finland can only bring in medicinal products for own use, prescribed products in their possession must be accompanied by a doctor's prescription. The regulation limits the amount of medicines anyone entering Finland can bring in, depending on whether such products come under the Finnish classification of self-care medicine, prescription drugs or narcotic drugs.
For more information, please contact:
National Agency for Medicines
http://www.nam.fi
P.O. Box 55
Mannerheimintie 166
00300 Helsinki
Tel. +358-9-473341
Fax. +358-9-714469
E-mail: kirjaamo@nam.fi
Military service
According to law, all Finnish men aged 18-60 are
liable for military service, which means that only Finnish citizens
will be called up. Finnish citizens abroad may register by proxy.
Multinationals can be exempted from military service. Therefore, if
you receive the nationality of another country, particularly at
call-up or conscription age, you must inform the military
authorities or the nearest Finnish diplomatic mission if you are
abroad. Military service is carried out at the age of 18–29. Women
may also apply for service.
Due to a bilateral agreement (Agreement 25/1939) between Finland and
the USA, a dual citizen of Finland and the USA is not liable for
military service in Finland as long as he resides permanently in the
United States of America and he does not have any real ties to
Finland. One should, however, verify
from the Registry Office (maistraatti) that the dual citizenship and
address information is properly registered in Finland. Persons
who fit this description do not need to apply for exemption
separately. An exempted multinational conscript can be ordered into
service if he moves to Finland before the end of the year in which
he turns 30, in that case he should contact
his own supervisory regional office.
The Embassy in Washington DC, the Consulate General in New York or Los Angeles assist
in forwarding the paperwork to regional office in Finland.
Further information can be found at the
Conscript-booklet, which is in English at
www.mil.fi.
Finnish Defence Forces
http://www.mil.fi
Defence staff
PL 919, 00131 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: +358-9-1810111
Email:
puolustusvoimat@mil.fi
Information on military telephone numbers: +358-9-18123300
Eastern Command Headquarters
P.O. Box 145, 50101 Mikkeli, Finland
Tel: +358-15-181 0111
The Social Insurance
Institution of Finland
Office for International Affairs
PL 72, 00381 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: +358-20-434 2650 Coverage and benefit issues
Email:
inter.helsinki@kela.fi
Moving to Finland
Helpful information about migrating to Finland can be found on the website of the Ministry of Labour http://www.mol.fi
Web site
Suomi.fi
http://www.suomi.fi gives information on public services necessary in everyday
life.
The Directorate of Immigration (Finnish Citizenship and Immigration
Officials) also has a
"Migrating to Finland?" web site to check whether you fulfil the
requirements for migrating to Finland and what permits you need.
Pensions
A pension accrues from work performed by a foreigner in Finland under Finnish legislation, in the same way as for a Finn.
In Finland, pension provision consists of the employment-based earnings-related pension and the residence-based national pension.
If a foreigner is on short posting in Finland, he or she may be covered by the social security in the country of origin. One requirement for this is a certificate on legislation applicable from the home country.
The earning-related pension safeguards the stabilized level of consumption, achieved during the time of active participation in working life. The earnings-related pension provides security in the event of old age, incapacity for work, unemployment or death of family breadwinner for employees and self-employed persons.
Further information on the national pension can be obtained from the Social Insurance Institution (KELA).
More information:
The Central Pension Security Institute
http://www.etk.fi
Visiting address: Kirjurinkatu 3, Helsinki
Customer service: Opastinsilta 7, Helsinki, Finland - open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The post address: FIN-00065 Eläketurvakeskus (without any street address or P.O.
Box)
Tel. +358-10-7511.
Fax +358-9-1481172.
Email: palaute@etk.fi
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland
(KELA)
http://www.kela.fi
KELA headquarters PL 450, 00101 Helsinki, Finland
Nordenskiöldinkatu 12, 00250 Helsinki
Tel .+358-20-43411
KELA's international department
Visiting address: Valimotie 1 B, 00380 HELSINKI
Mailing address: PL 72, 00381 HELSINKI
Tel. +358-20-4342550 Pension
Fax. +358-20-4342502
Email: inter.helsinki@kela.fi
Personal data check
Finnish citizens can check their personal information from the
Finnish population registry free of charge
once a year.
To check your personal information please fill out the request form called 'Tarkastusoikeuden
käyttäminen' and send it to your local magistrate office
of the municipality of your most recent residence
in
Finland http://www.maistraatti.fi.
The registry office will send back an extract from the population
registry with the personal information that they have on you.
In case you do not know which your local magistrate office is,
please mail the request form to the registry office in Vaasa
Vaasan maistraatti
Pietarsaaren palveluyksikkö
Kauppiaankatu 8
PL 26
68601 PIETARSAARI
Population registration
The Population Register Centre develops and controls the registration, maintenance and delivery of population information together with the local register offices. It is responsible for the national information services and permit decisions relating thereto. Information services are developed and tailored to meet the needs of the customers.
Please remember to keep your personal information up to date, this will facilitate in voting, birth, marriage, etc
issues.
Local register offices http://www.maistraatti.fi
In order for the Registry Office in Finland to submit personal
information (such as births, marriages, deaths etc.) to the population
registry system, they require the paperwork to have an
Apostille
authentication.
Social security
To be eligible for social security benefits, you must be living in Finland. In order to get certain pensions or the disability allowance, you must have lived in Finland for a certain period of time. The length of your residence in Finland also affects the amount of your pension. To qualify for parenthood allowance, you must have lived in Finland for 180 days before the date on which your child is due to be born.
For more information, please visit:
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland
(KELA)
http://www.kela.fi
KELA headquarters PL 450, 00101 Helsinki, Finland
Nordenskiöldinkatu 12, 00250 Helsinki
Tel. +358-20-43411
KELA's international department
Visiting address: Valimotie 1 B, 00380 HELSINKI
Mailing address: PL 72, 00381 HELSINKI
Tel. +358-20 4342550 Pension
Fax +358-20 4342502
Email: inter.helsinki@kela.fi
Taxes
In Finland, resident individuals are taxed on their world-wide
income. Residents are taxed to progressive tax rates for national tax
purposes, and flat rates for municipal ones.
A non-resident alien, e.g. one who is occasionally working in Finland, is taxed on Finnish-source income
only. However, tax treaties may provide that, under certain
conditions, even such income may not be taxed in Finland. Non-residents are taxed at flat rates in accordance with the
Non-residents' Tax Act.
Information about the Finnish tax system can be found from the Finnish tax administration
http://www.vero.fi
-pages.
The information line to the "Uudenmaan" tax office international department is +358-9-731136
General tax service number: +358-20-697050.
Their English-language enquiry numbers are at your service in
English, weekdays at 9.00 - 15.00 (GMT +2 h).
US citizenship by Naturalization
After June 1st, 2003 dual or multiple nationality
is accepted by the Finnish legislation. A Finn who acquires American
citizenship will not lose his/her Finnish nationality. Notice of receipt of
the US citizenship needs to be sent to Finland.
Ask
the
Embassy in
Washington DC, the Consulate General in New York or Los Angeles
to send you the form "notice of receipt of the foreign
citizenship" (Ilmoitus ulkomaan kansalaisuuden saamisesta)
Please fill in (only) box A of the form and attach a certified copy of your
US Naturalization certificate with an Apostille
authentication.
ATTN. The Department of State in Washington DC will authenticate the
US naturalization certificate with an Apostille once it has been certified
by the Department of Homeland Security -
see instructions from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services "How Do
I Obtain Certified True Copies of a Certificate of Naturalization?"
(Optionally: the Finnish mission (Embassy/Consulate) or Honorary Consulate
needs to see the original US passport and the US naturalization certificate.)
The Finnish Embassy in Washington DC, the Consulate General in New York or Los Angeles will forward the documents to the Population Register Center's
Office in Finland.
The registration process takes approx. 2-3 weeks.
US J-1 Visa holders: no-objection statement
Two-year
foreign residence requirement of Section 212 (e) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act.
-
-
a notarized copy of the person's US visa (J1)
-
a letter explaining why she/he is requesting a waiver of the 2-year requirement to return home (=statement of reason)
-
a fee which is subject to change due to fluctuation in the MFA's exchange rate
-
applicant's address
Embassy of Finland, Consular Section
3301
Massachusetts Avenue N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008 USA
E
| Last update 02/15/2008 |
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