There could be a shake-up coming in the way that Finland handles personal identity numbers, according to Tivi magazine.
A working group set up in August is said to be considering reforming the personal identity system completely.
One weakness they’ve identified in the current system is that the numbers can easily be used for identity theft. Also, the numbers also reveal the information about the birth date and gender of the person. The Ombudsman for Equality has said this needs to be looked at again.
Codes for Foreigners
Personal identity codes for foreigners can be given at the same time as they get a residence permit, when they are registered on the Finnish Population Information System.
The Population Information System is Finland’s national register of people living in Finland. A personal identity code has 11 characters, formed on the basis of your date of birth and gender. Public authorities, banks and employers, for example, often need to know your personal identity code, and each one is unique.
Asylum seekers, EU citizens and their family members who apply for a residence card can also ask to be registered.
