Data exchange between Estonian and Finnish population registers
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Frequently asked questions about Estonian–Finnish data exchange |
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What is the updated data exchange between the population registers of Estonia and Finland? |
The exchange of data between the population registers of Estonia and Finland means the automatic exchange of residence data of people who have moved from one country to another, regardless of the citizenship of the movers. Data on family events of citizens of both countries will also be automatically exchanged. |
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What is the basis for the data exchange that provides my population register data to Finland? |
Data is exchanged on the basis of the Population Registration Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Republic of Finland, which was signed on 21 September 2022 and entered into force on 1 May 2024. The agreement has been ratified by the Act on the Ratification of the Population Registration Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Republic of Finland. |
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Since when has this kind of data exchange between the Estonian and Finnish population registers been taking place? |
The data exchange, by which Finland has transmitted to Estonia the residence data of Estonian citizens entered in the Finnish population register, has been in operation since the end of 2006. In the case of the residence data exchange starting in December 2025, residence data will be transmitted for all residents regardless of citizenship. Also, from that date on, residence data can only be submitted in one country: if you live in Estonia, you submit a notice of residence in Estonia, and if you live in Finland, you submit a notice of residence in Finland. |
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Why does the Estonian state need to know where I live? |
The state and local governments take into account the registered place of residence when providing services and paying allowances. If the provision of a service is based on the registered place of residence, then the basis for its provision is the place of residence data entered in the population register. Place of residence data is also necessary to contact a person if other data is not available. |
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Submitting and terminating Estonian residence information |
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Where and how can I register my Estonian or foreign (except Finnish) residence in the Estonian population register? |
A notice of residence can be submitted to the rural municipality or city government/the district government in Tallinn according to the address of residence to be submitted (see service provider contacts):
Further information about registering your residence can be found here. |
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How long does it take to register a place of residence in the Estonian population register? |
Registering a place of residence is a quick and easy process, especially if you submit a notice of residence on the portal www.rahvastikuregister.ee. The local government has ten working days to process the notice of residence. Once all data has been verified through the databases, an automatic decision will be made on the residence data submitted in the e-service on the portal www.rahvastikuregister.ee immediately after the notice of residence is submitted. |
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When the validity of the Estonian residence data expires, the validity of the temporary residence right of a European Union citizen and the ID card proving it also expires. The validity of a European Union citizen’s permanent residence right and the ID card proving it is not affected by the expiration of Estonian residence data. |
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I am a Finnish citizen and forgot to change my address in the Estonian population register when I moved. The property owner initiated the change of my address himself, which resulted in the expiration of my Estonian address. What does this mean for me? |
If the request of the owner of the premises is granted, the fact of the person's residence in Estonia – but not the specific address – will be stored in the current data of the population register for six months from the date of expiry of the person’s current residence data. If the person does not submit his or her new Estonian residence data to the population register within this period, this indication of residence in Estonia will be considered out of date, and the validity of the temporary residence right of the European Union citizen and the ID card certifying it will also expire. The validity of a European Union citizen’s permanent residence right and the ID card proving it is not affected by the expiration of Estonian residence data. |
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I have a residence permit issued by the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, but I moved from Estonia to Finland and registered my residence there. Based on the data transferred from Finland, I now have Finnish residence data in the Estonian population register. How does my Finnish residence data affect the residence permit issued to me in the Estonian population register and its validity? |
Having Finnish residence data in the Estonian population register does not affect the validity of a temporary or long-term residence permit. However, Estonian residence data must be included in the Estonian population register when extending a temporary residence permit. |
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Residence data in population registers |
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What should I do if I live in two countries? I work in one, but my family is in another, and I spend half the week in one country and half in the other. |
In this case, a choice must be made as to which of these addresses is the address of residence in the population registers of both countries. It must be taken into account that residence-based services are provided according to the address in the population register. |
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Do I need to change my residence data if I am temporarily in Finland to perform work duties? My permanent residence is in Estonia, where my residence is also registered. |
If a person’s main residence is in Estonia, but they are temporarily in Finland due to work and they do not have a permanent residence with a Finnish address in the Finnish population register, they do not need to do anything. It is not necessary for them to change their place of residence in the Estonian population register. |
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If I have a Finnish address listed as a temporary address in the Finnish population register, will it also be transmitted to the Estonian population register? Can I have an Estonian residence address in the population register in this case? |
A temporary residence registered in Finland (up to 12 months) is not entered as residence data in the Estonian population register. It is entered as an additional address in the Estonian register, and the Estonian residence data will continue to be the residence address. |
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Can my place of residence be a Finnish address in the population registers if I own real estate in Estonia? |
A person may own several properties in different countries, but their residence does not have to be registered in those properties. The residence entered in the population register does not affect the ownership of real estate. However, the Estonian and Finnish population registers can have the same residence address in the future. |
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My registered residence is in Finland. Can I rent an apartment in Estonia? Or do I need to have Estonian residence data in the population register to do that? |
To rent a residential space, you do not need to have your place of residence registered in Estonia. This is not a prerequisite for renting a residential space. In Estonia, the prerequisite for entering your place of residence in the population register is the existence of a lease agreement or the consent of the owner of the space. This means that you must first have a lease agreement or the owner’s consent to use the space, and then you can register your place of residence. |
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What happens if I have different addresses in both countries’ registers when data exchange starts on 2 December 2025 and I do nothing? |
At the beginning of 2026, people with different addresses in both countries will be contacted and asked to specify their place of residence. If a person does not choose one within the specified period, they will automatically remain a resident of the country where their place of residence was last changed (i.e. the one with the latest start date). |
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If I have permanent residence in Estonia, will I no longer be allowed to have an additional address in Finland from December? |
If a person has multiple places of residence, he or she chooses which address to submit for entry in the Estonian population register as the address of residence and which as additional address(es). Residence has legal significance, and the provision of residence-based services and payment of allowances depend on it. An additional address can also be an address in Finland; it is not used as a basis for the provision of residence-based services. |
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Provision of services |
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Which services will I miss out on if I continue to have a single country address for both Estonia and Finland? |
Residence-based allowances are paid and services are provided by the country whose place of residence remains valid in the population registers. If you have any questions regarding residence-based services and the conditions for receiving them, please contact the relevant authorities. |
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My main residence is in Finland, but I need a personal identification number to do business in Estonia. How do I get one? |
If a person does not live in Estonia, but their data is entered into the Estonian database and they need an Estonian personal identification code for this, they can apply for it from the local government of the Estonian county centre. If the person is not able to submit the application in Estonia, they can do so at an Estonian foreign mission abroad. |
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If my place of residence is in the Finnish population register, can I do things related to my driving license in Estonia? |
Further information can be found on the website https://www.transpordiamet.ee/juhiluba |
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If I am a student and register my residence in Estonia, will I still receive health insurance from Finland? |
Students remain insured under the Finnish health insurance system while studying abroad. The right to healthcare in Finland is based on residence, and in the country of study (Estonia), the right to healthcare is based on the European Health Insurance Card issued by KELA. KELA contacts can be found on the website https://www.kela.fi/centre-for-international-affairs. |
| Which country is responsible for paying family benefits? | A person is free to choose their place of residence and work in all EU countries. The right to receive benefits, including family benefits, in their country of residence or work is guaranteed by Regulations (EC) 883/2004 and (EC) 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council. According to these regulations, the principle applies that the country where the person (or their family member) works or resides is responsible for paying family benefits. A family whose family members live/work in Estonia and/or Finland is not allowed to pay full family benefits from two countries for the same child. In order to determine which country must pay benefits to a family, the EU uses priority rules. The primary payer of family benefits is always the country where the parent works. Pension receipt is considered second only to employment. If neither parent works, does not receive a pension, or is in another situation equivalent to employment in Estonia or Finland, the right to family benefits is in the country of residence, and the determining factor is in which country the children live. Please note that the place of residence is generally determined based on the address of residence indicated in the Population Register. A person is obliged to ensure the existence and correctness of the address of residence of himself and his minor children and wards in the population register. A person is also obliged to notify the Social Insurance Board/KELA if the family moves to another country or if employment in either country is terminated/started. The correctness of the benefits paid to the family depends on this. You can find more information: Family benefits related to the European Union | Sotsiaalkindlustusamet |
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Does the country where I have my residential address affect my entitlement to pension in one country or another? |
If a person moves to Finland at retirement age, we will continue to pay Estonian pensions in the usual way. You can find more information: Applying for Estonian pension while residing in a foreign state | Sotsiaalkindlustusamet. |
| Will my right to Finnish healthcare services be maintained if I change my country of residence from Finland to Estonia or vice versa? | The principle of Regulation (EC) 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council is that a person may not have health insurance in more than one country at the same time. In connection with cross-border employment or a pensioner, the Health Insurance Fund issues an S1 certificate, which gives the right to receive medical care in the country of residence at the expense of another country. S1 is issued if a person lives in one EU country but is insured in another country (for example, based on employment or receiving a pension). If a person's country of residence changes, the right to receive medical care based on the S1 certificate may also change. In such a case, it must be assessed whether the certificate issued so far is still valid. If necessary, the certificate must be terminated, and a new application must be submitted in accordance with the changed circumstances and the new competent authority that bears the costs of medical care. A person insured in Estonia who moves to Finland can apply for an S1 certificate from the Health Insurance Fund. The certificate must be registered with KELA. After registering the certificate with KELA, the person has the right to receive medical care in Finland under the same conditions as local insured persons. The Health Insurance Fund may also issue an S1 certificate to family members of a cross-border worker or pensioner if they do not have independent health insurance in their country of residence. A person is obliged to notify the Health Insurance Fund if: • the country of residence changes. • employment ends or begins. • the basis for receiving pension changes. • the data of family members change which may affect their health insurance. More detailed information about the S1 certificate is available on the Health Insurance Fund website: Medical care in Europe | Estonian Health Insurance Fund |
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I am a posted employee. Which country is my country of insurance? |
When the country of residence changes, the right to decide on the determination of the country of insurance also changes. If an A1 certificate has been issued in Estonia and the country of residence changes, the A1 certificate must also be cancelled, and a new application must be submitted to the competent authority of the country of residence. KELA contacts can be found on their website. |
| My permanent residence is in Estonia but I do business in Finland. Can I continue my business activity in Finland if I register my residence at an Estonian address? |
activity. As a sole proprietor, you must reside in Finland or another European Union country. If it is a private limited company, at least one member of the management board must reside in Finland or another European Union country. More information can be found on the website of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office. |
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I am a foreigner who does not live in Estonia and does not have an Estonian ID card or residence permit card. How can I use Estonian e-services and log in to various portals? |
It is also possible to use Estonian e-services and log in to portals with an e-resident digital ID. More information about the e-resident digital ID and how to apply for it can be found on the website https://www.politsei.ee/et/juhend/e-residendi-digi-id. The terms and conditions for the provision of different services and the use of portals may vary, and information about a specific service or portal can be obtained from its provider or administrator. |
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I no longer have an Estonian ID card or other documents that I can use to identify myself in the Estonian e-population register. I would like to receive an extract of my data from the e-population register. |
The e-population register can also be used by foreigners who have been issued a digital identity card or digital ID by Estonia. They can use the e-resident digital ID card to enter the e-population register. Further information about the e-resident digital ID can be found on the website https://www.politsei.ee/et/juhend/e-residendi-digi-id. |
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How do I access the e-file environment if I have neither a place of residence nor an ID card in Estonia? The e-file is an electronic environment for communicating with the court. |
Currently, it is only possible to log in to the e-file environment with a personal identification device issued by Estonia. The e-file can also be used by foreigners who have been issued a digital identity card or digital ID by Estonia. They can use the e-resident digital ID to enter the e-file. Further information about the e-resident digital ID can be found on the website https://www.politsei.ee/et/juhend/e-residendi-digi-id. |
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How can I identify myself as a Finnish citizen on the health portal www.terviseportaal.ee if I have moved from Estonia to Finland and my ID card is no longer valid? |
If a person no longer has an ID card or residence permit card proving their right to reside in Estonia or a residence permit, it is possible to use an e-resident digital ID to enter the health portal. Further information about the e-resident digital ID can be found on the website https://www.politsei.ee/et/juhend/e-residendi-digi-id. |
