Digi- ja väestötietovirasto

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency streamlines the registration of international students arriving in Finland and their application for a municipality of residence

Share
Thousands of international exchange and degree students will start their higher education studies in Finland again this autumn. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) speeds up students’ transactions by providing a digital method for reporting information and by organising pop-up events for verifying the students’ identity.

International student’s service needs at DVV may include obtaining a personal identity code and applying for a municipality of residence. In immigration matters, DVV contributes to improving the efficiency of the public sector by digitising the application processes and the applicable forms. A new online form for applying for a municipality of residence was published at the beginning of August.

– We encourage international students to use our online forms for reporting information, as it is easier to use them than paper forms, their processing is faster and the accuracy of the information is also improved, says Chief Specialist Maisa Gynther from The Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

Students need a Finnish personal identity code for their studies. If an international student does not yet have one, they request the registration of a foreigner from DVV. A personal identity code may also be needed when dealing with the authorities, opening a bank account and paying wages.  

Students can apply for a municipality of residence online if they have a personal identity code and they meet the statutory requirements for obtaining a municipality of residence. You do not have to apply for a municipality of residence, but it is needed, for example, for a Finnish electronic ID card or a student discount on public transport.

Pop-up events make things easier for students and The Digital and Population Data Services Agency

Once the student has submitted the application for a municipality of residence or a registration request for a foreigner, DVV usually still has to meet them in person. DVV has adopted a customer-oriented role in this.

– As the number of students arriving in Finland is large, we organise pop-up events in co-operation with universities. In these events, an international student can have themselves identified for their application. These events are organised in example at the educational institutions and DVV premises. This way, the student does not need to make an appointment at DVV customer service, and we are able to serve our other customers more flexibly, says Gynther.

Students can ask their Finnish institution for more information about possible events.

***

Fact box: How the case of a student arriving in Finland progresses at The Digital and Population Data Services Agency

  1. The student fills in an online form at dvv.fi.
  2. They must have themselves identified within one month of submitting the online form. Identification events are organised for students in co-operation with higher education institutions.
  3. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency processes the matter.
  4. The student is notified of the registration

Keywords

Contacts

Links

About Digi- ja väestötietovirasto

Digi- ja väestötietovirasto
Digi- ja väestötietovirasto
Lintulahdenkuja 2
00530 HELSINKI

0295 536 000 (vaihde)https://dvv.fi

Digital and Population Data Services Agency (The Finnish Digital Agency)

Digital and Population Data Services Agency (The Finnish Digital Agency) promotes the digitalisation of society, secures the availability of information and provides services related to customers’ life events.

The Digital and Population Data Services Agency (The Finnish Digital Agency) sees to the maintenance of the Population Information System, which is the foundation for our society, and to the digitalisation of society. The agency’s tasks include civil marriages, name and address changes, guardianship and administrative guardianship, maintenance of the Population Information System, development of solutions for electronic identification, as well as the development and maintenance of centralised support services for e-services. E-service support services include the Suomi.fi Web Service, electronic messages from authorities (Suomi.fi Messages) as well as authorisation for acting on behalf of another party (Suomi.fi e-Authorization).

http://dvv.fi/en

Subscribe to releases from Digi- ja väestötietovirasto

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Digi- ja väestötietovirasto by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Digi- ja väestötietovirasto

Samarbetsförhandlingarna vid Myndigheten för digitalisering och befolkningsdata har avslutats12.6.2025 15:13:43 EEST | Pressmeddelande

Samarbetsförhandlingarna vid Myndigheten för digitalisering och befolkningsdata har avslutats i samförstånd mellan arbetstagarorganisationerna och arbetsgivaren. Förhandlingarna gällde konsekvenser för personalen i och med ändringen av nätverket av service- och verksamhetsställen. Tjänsteställena för ämbetsverkets nuvarande personal finns i fortsättningen på 12 orter. Ändringen medför inget behov av nedskärningar i personalen.

Cooperation procedure at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency completed12.6.2025 15:13:43 EEST | Press release

Cooperation procedures at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency have ended with an agreement between the employee organisations and the employer. The procedures concerned the personnel impact of the changes in the network of offices and service locations. The post locations of the Agency’s current personnel will be in 12 municipalities. The changes do not involve a need to reduce the number of personnel.

HelsingforsMissionens och Helsingfors stads digitala stöd i hemmet belönades med utmärkelsen Digitukiteko 2025 – digitala färdigheter och delaktighet för seniorer genom samarbete22.5.2025 15:05:00 EEST | Pressmeddelande

Det digitala stöd som HelsingforsMissionen och Helsingfors stad ordnar har vunnit utmärkelsen Digitukiteko 2025. Det avgiftsfria digitala stödet erbjuder i synnerhet seniorer som riskerar att marginaliseras en möjlighet att stärka sina digitala färdigheter i sitt eget hem. Verksamheten har lyckats kombinera samarbetet mellan den offentliga och den tredje sektorn på ett sätt som kan skalas upp till andra delar av Finland.

HelsinkiMission ja Helsingin kaupungin kotiin tuotava digituki palkittiin Digitukiteko-tunnustuksella 2025 – yhteistyöllä digitaitoja ja osallisuutta senioreille22.5.2025 15:05:00 EEST | Tiedote

HelsinkiMission ja Helsingin kaupungin järjestämä kotiin tuotava digituki on voittanut vuoden 2025 Digitukiteko-tunnustuksen. Maksuton digituki tarjoaa erityisesti syrjäytymisvaarassa oleville senioreille mahdollisuuden vahvistaa digitaitojaan omassa kodissaan. Toiminta on onnistunut yhdistämään kolmannen ja julkisen sektorin yhteistyön tavalla, joka on skaalattavissa myös muualle Suomeen.

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye