Remember your change of address notification – make sure you can vote in the parliamentary elections in the spring 2011

Finnish citizens need to keep their address updated in the Population Register System to ensure that they are informed about their right to vote in the parliamentary elections of spring 2011. Finnish citizens who reside abroad are obligated to make a notification of change of address to a local register office in Finland. It is advisable to inform the address to the nearest Finnish diplomatic or consular mission too.

1. Notification of change of address to the Population Register System when moving abroad or relocating from one country to another abroad

When you move abroad or from one address to another outside Finland, please inform the change of address to the Finnish Population Register System maintained by the local register offices (population information act, Väestötietolaki 507/1993, as amended 661/2009). The notification can be made by filling in the relevant form online.

• Moving abroad or returning to Finland(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)
• Relocating abroad(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)

Updated data in the Population Register System ensures, for example, that you are informed about your right to vote in Finnish elections.  A list of the polling stations and their addresses abroad will be appended to the notice of right to vote to be sent to Finnish citizens residing abroad.

• Further information about the right to vote and the voting register(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)

The population information act obligates Finnish citizens living abroad to inform any changes to their personal data while abroad without delay, such as birth of a child, marriage, divorce and change of name.

A Finnish personal identity code and up-to-date data in the Population Register System are also required when applying for a passport.

 The local register offices do not inform the addresses of Finnish citizens abroad to the Finnish missions or embassies, consulates or their offices. This is the citizens’ own responsibility.

2. Register with the Finnish mission when abroad to help assistance in case of a crisis

Assistance in a crisis situation can be provided sooner if the local Finnish mission has the contact details of the Finnish citizens living or travelling in its sphere of authority. The missions keep a personal data register of the persons who live in the country and who have informed their data to the mission. Personal data is always handled confidentially in accordance with the data protection provisions and the Consular Services Act (Konsulipalvelulaki, 498/1999).

See also:

• Register with the mission(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) (in Finnish)

Finnish missions abroad do not inform the addresses of Finnish citizens living aboard to the local register offices in Finland, but it the citizen’s right and obligation to do so.