Finland Civil Registration

Records of births, marriages, and deaths are commonly referred to as vital records because they refer to critical events in a person’s life. Civil registration is the vital records made by the government. Vital records of Finland have traditionally been kept by the church. See Finland Church Records for more information.

In 1923 a freedom of religion law was passed. As a result, people who did not have a religious preference were recorded in a civil registry [Siviilirekisteri/Civil registret]. Later, people who belonged to churches other than the state churches were also included in the civil registry.

In 1970 the government’s census records [henkikirjat/mantalslängder] became the basis of a general population register [Väestörekisteri/ Befolkningsregistret] for all people in Finland. This population register also incorporated the information from the earlier civil registry [Siviilirekisteri/Civil registret]. For more information about Finnish censuses, see Finland Census.

The Väestörekisteri/Befolkningsregistret has local offices on a commune (parish) level. The central office has a computerized register that includes information on individuals nationwide. The central office can help you find living relatives in Finland.

You can contact the office at:

Väestörekisterikeskus

PL 7 (Kellosilta 4)

00521 Helsinki

Finland

Telephone: 011-358-9-229 161

Fax: 011-358-9-2291 6795


 * http://www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi/
 * http://www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi/vrk/home.nsf/pages/index_eng