Obtaining a Henkilötunnus/Identity Number

[kristeng]

I moved here a couple of months ago to be with my Finnish fiancee. After speaking with the consulate in New York, I determined that the easiest route into the country would be to enter as a student. So, I am here with a student residence permit and am completing my last year of law school at the U of Helsinki. UNFORTUNATELY, my residence permit is for less than a year, and so even though I intend to remain here permanently, I cannot get the henkilötunnus. Had I known this, I would have done some things differently at the beginning. It's not a life and death issue, but I can't get bonus cards, can't get a student-priced HKL card, can't get a bank card, etc.

I know I can get the number if I get a job. But that doesn't really help because I can't get a job - even if I could speak Finnish, I don't have free time after classes and study. And telling the registry I do intend to remain here permanently didn't do anything. I am claiming British citizenship (long irrelevant story) at the moment, which may help, but that could take more than 6 months to process.

So does anyone know any other way in which I can obtain this number? I could try to find someone to 'hire' me and then 'fire' me right after I get the number, but I'd rather do this legitimately, and without getting married right away. Could I get one by registering with a temporary agency or with the unemployment office? Would the registry even check that I am employed, or would they just accept a letter stating that I am employed? (I know several people that own companies who might be willing to write such a letter without completing the hiring process.)

Are there other ways besides employment to prove that it is necessary to have an identity number? I will be spending the rest of my life paying taxes to this government - and already contribute through paying the outrageous VAT. I'd at least like to take the bus for the student price, rather than just the resident price, and get 'jopa 5%' back on my purchases while I am a starving student!

[karo]

Hmm, I'm not sure if getting a job would be a way to obtain the identity number, because you would need a work permit first. A student can work within certain limits on a residence permit granted for study purposes if the work is practical training included in the degree or if the amount of part-time work does not exceed 20 hours a week, but if you get a part-time job like that, that doesn't change your status and you still don't qualify to obtain the ID number. This is from the KELA website:
Whether residence is considered to be on a permanent basis or not is determined by reference to the purpose of your entry to Finland. If you move to Finland as a

1) return migrant,
2) refugee or
3) asylum seeker,

and have been granted a residence permit valid for at least a year, you are usually considered to be moving to Finland permanently.

The move is considered to be permanent also if you come to Finland for family reasons or you have either a permanent work contract or one for at least two years. If you move to Finland for a short period of time you are not considered to be moving permanently, nor if you are a students who is in Finland for the sole purpose of studying. This means that you would not be entitled to social security benefits from Kela.

Under special circumstances, even those with residence permits valid for less than a year can be considered to be living in Finland provided that there are no reasons that would preclude renewal of the permit. Such special circumstances include family reunification and limited passport validity (due, for example, to conditions in the person's home country).

More info here:
http://www.kela.fi/in/internet/english. ... enDocument

[kristeng]

Thanks for the reply. I have read that stuff - I've been looking at everything I can find for the past month. I do know that getting a job DOES qualify me for the number, though - I found the info somewhere, and I was told so by both the university and the registry office. It is one of those special circumstances, because of some tax issue. But I am not sure if it is the only way. I know I don't qualify for KELA benefits, but I'm not concerned about that at the moment. I think KELA is somewhat separate from the ID number, as the number ties into many other things, such as luottokunta, and one can have an identity number without receiving KELA benefits. I could be wrong, but I do know that I can get the identity number with a job.

[Hank W.]

You need the number to be taxed; so getting a job, any job, student or otherwise will get you a number. However, having a number does not make everything work, as they won't register you as a permanent resident necessarily, due to your permit being just for the year.

[karo]

I think KELA is somewhat separate from the ID number, as the number ties into many other things, such as luottokunta, and one can have an identity number without receiving KELA benefits. I could be wrong, but I do know that I can get the identity number with a job.

Yes, you're right - like Hank says, you need the number to be able to be taxed, and so if you get a job you can get the number. So I guess the best way to go is just to get a job then, if that's possible.

KELA is The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, and it's somewhat separate from the ID number. Even though you don't qualify for the student allowance ('opintoraha' or 'opintotuki') from KELA, you could qualify for other KELA benefits if you had the number and a KELA card.

Good luck sorting the stuff out, I hope the situation can be solved somehow easily!

[Hank W.]

And KELA causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a number.And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the KELA, for it is the number of a man.

[lucho81]

a good thing for sure is to marry your Finnish Fiancé

[ferkel]

OK so i had a job and I'm an EU citizen, so its different - if this is completely irrelevent just ignore it, but i didnt go anywhere near kela to get my number.

I went to the police to register, then to the magistraati with the police form and was given a number this was just temporary residence etc.

later i upgradaded myself to a permanent resident and then after that decided to go to kela and ask for a card - which is for the social service side.

Maybe you should ask the student union/foreign studdent assoc/FS mailing list for how students do this.

[kristeng]

OK so i had a job and I'm an EU citizen, so its different - if this is completely irrelevent just ignore it, but i didnt go anywhere near kela to get my number.

No, that is helpful. I am pretty sure that things will be easier once I have my British passport. It's just a shame I didn't know that I was British a few years ago. I know that sounds improbable, but the rules for citizenship there changed, and, in researching the Finnish situation, I went off in another direction and discovered I can now get a declaration of British citizenship. And an EU passport seems to make all the difference here.

[acwan]

Getting a henkilotunnus is important if you decide to stay here even temporarily (and not as a tourist) as they ask for it just about everywhere you go (e.g., medical services, registration for classes, etc.) and not just for tax purposes (as you have noticed).

You should be able to get one through the above process that ferkel described even without a job, Kela or being an EU citizen (although it probably does makes things easier).

You should also be able to check with your foreign student assoc/office for assistance on this. As long as everything is on the up and up you should be able to get it without any problems. Good luck.

[Hank W.]

And an EU passport seems to make all the difference here.

Indeed. Night & day.