Social Security Number (ID number, henkilötunnus)
Vero Card
Kela Card
ID Card
Bank Card
- The number consists of your birthdate digits and four additional characters.
- Issued by DVV (Digital and Population Data Services Agency), International House Helsinki (IHH), or in Tampere.
- Issued for free, processing can take from 30 minutes to 2 weeks.
- A residential address is required to obtain it. A temporary apartment with a postal address (but not a hotel) is sufficient. It’s possible to use the company office address, and your company can assist with this.
- If your Social Security Number is already on the back of your Residence Permit card, you still need to visit DVV to get a printed extract from the registry.
Vero Card
- An A4 paper containing your tax percentage.
- Issued at Vero (Tax Administration) at IHH or a Vero office; if you already have your Social Security Number, you can order it by phone.
- Issued for free on the day of application.
Kela Card
- A plastic social security card.
- Issued for free at Kela (Social Insurance Institution) at IHH or at the nearest Kela office.
- The card will arrive by mail within ~3 months, but you can use public healthcare immediately after submitting the application.
- You can also apply for a European Health Insurance Card right away.
ID Card
- A plastic card, similar to an internal passport.
- You will need recent passport photos for the application.
- The card is issued by the police at your place of residence. Some agencies recommend applying through police offices in Helsinki for faster processing.
- Processing time is 2-4 weeks, and the cost is €60.
Bank Card
- S-pankki, OP, Danske, Nordea, and others.
- Opened by appointment at the bank, with account opening taking from 1 day to 1 month plus time for card delivery.
- If you already have an ID card, you will receive bank authorization codes. Otherwise, you can obtain them after the account is opened.
While waiting for bank authorization, you can use the following methods for limited access to various services:
- With an ID card and card reader (request this option when visiting the police).
- With an ID card and an application.
- With a mobile certificate if the SIM card is registered in your name.
For Family Members:
- Social Security Number: for everyone.
- Kela Card: for everyone.
- Vero Card: only if there is some income, including allowances.
- Bank Account: for those who need it.
- ID Card: for those who need a bank account, then it may not be necessary to renew it.
