Strong Electronic Identification in Finland

1. Strong electronic identification is a key to Finnish digital administration

Suomi.fi e-Identification is Finland's shared strong-identification service for public e-services that need to verify the user's identity. MyTax, Kela, municipal services and many other public transactions rely on strong identification, while similar credentials are also used in private banking and business services.

Having a Finnish personal identity code does not itself mean that you have a strong-identification token. The identity code is a population identifier; bank credentials, mobile certificates and certificate cards are separately issued authentication tools.

2. Suomi.fi is the shared login layer using several identification tokens

Suomi.fi's 2026 guidance lists personal Finnish online banking credentials, mobile certificates from DNA/Elisa/Telia, police-issued certificate cards, Hightrust.id and supported foreign identification methods among the available tokens. The e-service uses Suomi.fi to verify the selected method.

Not every e-service must support every foreign identification method. In particular, before relying on foreign identification or Finnish Authenticator, check whether the specific e-service permits that form of login.

3. A bank account and strong bank identification are not the same service

A Finnish bank can provide a payment account while strong personal banking credentials suitable for e-identification remain subject to separate conditions. Suomi.fi states that banking credentials used for electronic identification must be issued personally to you and enabled for identification in services beyond ordinary banking transactions.

Access to a joint account or company online banking does not automatically create personal strong identification. Ask the bank specifically whether the credentials are enabled for strong electronic identification in external services.

4. A mobile certificate can be an alternative strong-identification method

A mobile certificate is a SIM/eSIM-linked electronic-identification method provided by Finnish mobile operators. Suomi.fi's April 2026 guidance states that activation requires a DNA, Elisa or Telia subscription and Finnish online banking credentials for initial identity verification; activation is not available on a prepaid subscription.

For someone who already has bank identification, a mobile certificate can provide a convenient alternative for daily logins. Pricing and eSIM support can vary by operator, so check provider-specific conditions.

5. Finnish Authenticator helps foreign users but does not replace a Finnish identity-linked token

Finnish Authenticator is a mobile identification method intended for foreign users who cannot use ordinary Finnish identification tokens or supported European cross-border identification. Activation uses a foreigner's identifier (UID), identity document and selfie-based identity proofing.

An important limitation is that, according to Suomi.fi's 2026 guidance, Finnish Authenticator and certain foreign identification methods may not link the login to your Finnish personal identity code and identity record. Some e-services may therefore not offer the same functionality as when Finnish identity-linked credentials are used.

6. Acting for a company requires authorisation after identification

Being able to identify yourself strongly does not automatically allow you to act for every company. Suomi.fi e-Authorizations checks Trade Register representation rights or separately granted mandates when a person acts on behalf of another person or organisation.

7. Never share strong-identification credentials

Bank user IDs, passwords, code lists, mobile-certificate PINs and authentication approvals are personal. If a consultant, accountant, employer or family member needs to act on your behalf, use a lawful authorisation mechanism rather than sharing authentication credentials.