International students staying longer than three months in Finland must obtain a Finnish personal Identity Code. It is needed for e.g. opening a bank account, activating your electronic student card and for university database and statistical purposes. The code consists of your date of birth and five other characters, so it looks something like this: 010195-1234.
- If you need a residence permit you can apply for the code when you apply also for the permit. Even so you need to visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) in order to register as a foreigner in Finland.
- If you don't have the code when you arrive to Turku you need to visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) to get it.
- DVV usually hosts dedicated pop-in service days for students in the beginning of each semester (September and January) where you can register as a foreigner and apply for the code without reserving an appointment.
When you have the code, remember to scan the residence permit card or decision paper you received from DVV to disco(at)utu.fi. Otherwise your Identity Number won't be in the university database and e.g. electronic student card app will not work.
More detailed instructions are sent to students upon their arrival to Turku.