Address of a person living in Finland can be inquired from the local
parish registers or local city register offices. Contact information for
the local register offices can be found in Population Register Centre.
If the county/city of the person is not known, inquiries should be
addressed to the Helsinki local register office (Helsingin maistraatti),
tel. +358 (0)9 695 441,
E-mail: info.helsinki@maistraatti.fi
Population register centre service number
Tel:+358 (0) 600 010 00
For animals imported from non-EU countries, a veterinary border control must always be performed (with certain exceptions). Information on importing pets to Finland can be found on the webpage of Evira, Finnish Food Safety Authority.
Notarizing Documents Using the Hague Legalization Convention
An apostille is the legalization of a public document, such as birth, marriage, divorce or death certificate. Consular section is not authorized to provide apostilles or assist in obtaining such. Australia is party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. Finland is also a signatory to this Convention.
The Hague Legalization Convention abolishes the need for diplomatic and consular legalization or authentication of public documents originating in one Hague country, like Australia, for use in another Convention country, like Australia. Instead, public documents bearing a certificate of apostille are recognized in any Convention country with no further authentication or legalization. If you have a document which you want legalized, you should contact the competent local authority who will affix a certification (apostille) on your document.
Information how to obtain apostilles in Australia and New Zealand.
Information on the Hague Convention as well as an English language list of its member states can be found at:
http://hcch.e-vision.nl/index_en.php?act=conventions.authorities&cid=41.
To register a child born in Australia (to Finnish parents/ Finnish parent) to the population registry in Finland, please ask the Embassy in Canberra or the Consulate in Sydney to send you the "birth registration" form.
In order to register the birth to the population registry in Finland, you need to send the Finnish consular section the following:
Consular services are available to Finnish citizens and foreign citizens residing permanently in Finland. Services include general advice, notarial services, and help for persons in distress or in crisis. For a detailed listing, see the Consular Services Act.
The Embassy in Canberra or Consulate in Sydney can
Also see "animals" and "moving to Finland" .
Further details are also provided e.g. on the import of narcotic drugs, radioactive substances, medicinal products, live animals, endangered animals and plant species and products derived therefrom, plants, firearms and ammunition and cultural goods by the customs' leaflet headed "Import and Export Restrictions for Travellers".
The web site of the National Board of Customs is a good source of information.
National Board of Customs
Erottajankatu 2, P.O. Box 512
00530 Helsinki, Finland
tel. +358 (0)9 6141
telefax +358 (0)20 492 2852
E-mail: kirmo@tulli.fi
Customs Information Service
tel. +358 (0)20 391 100
telefax +358 (0)20 492 1812
tel. +358 (0)9 614 3800
Inquiries about lost or stolen driver's licences should be addressed directly to The Finnish Vehicle Administration AKE
Ajoneuvohallintokeskus
Puh. +358-100-7800
Fax. +358-9-6185 3600
Sähköposti: ake@ake.fi
Australian Driver's licence can be used up to one year in Finland.
The police will submit lost goods to the Embassy of Finland in Canberra or the Consulate of Finland in Sydney, 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.
To register your marriage to the population registry in Finland, please send your complete mailing address to the Embassy in Canberra or the Consulate in Sydney and ask that a marriage registration form to be sent to you.
To register your marriage in Finland you need to send us the following:
If both spouses are Finnish citizens, both have to fill out their own marriage registration form.
The Finnish Embassy in Canberra or the Consulate in Sydney will forward the documents to the Population Register Center of Finland.
The Embassy can not give direct financial assistance. In emergencies Finnish citizens can be assisted in transferring money from Finland to Australia. The fee for assistance is 50 euros.
This type of transaction can also be done via e.g. Western Union or Forex.
A helpful guide about migrating to Finland can be downloaded from the Ministry of Labour "Are you planning to move to Finland?" (PDF, 874 Kb)
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
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 (0)10 7511.
Fax +358 (0)9 148 1172.
Email: palaute@etk.fi
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA)
KELA headquarters PL 450, 00101 Helsinki, Finland
Nordenskiöldinkatu 12, 00250 Helsinki
Tel .+358-20-434 11
KELA's international department
Visiting address: Valimotie 1 B, 00380 HELSINKI
Mailing address: PL 72, 00381 HELSINKI
Tel. +358-20 434 2550 Pension
Fax. +358-20 434 2502
Email: inter.helsinki@kela.fi
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.
Population Register Centre
Postal address: P.O.Box 70, FI-00581 Helsinki, Finland
Office: Tynnyrintekijänkatu 1 C, Helsinki, Finland
Tel +358 9 229 161 (exchange), direct number +358 9 2291
Fax +358 9 2291 6795 (registry office)
General e-mail address: kirjaamo@vrk.intermin.fi (registry office)
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 -pages.
The information line to the "Uudenmaan" tax office international department is +358 (0)20 466 016.
