Who is this guide for?
This guide is for you if you are handling family matters in Finland and do not yet know where to start. A family matter may relate to a spouse or child moving to Finland, family records, pregnancy, childbirth, benefits, daycare, school or support for the family.
The guide is written especially for Deaf and sign-language immigrants. The goal is to give the big picture: which authority handles what and which Guide article to read next.
How family services work in Finland
There is no single office for all family matters. One family life situation can involve several systems: residence rights, population records, healthcare, social services, benefits, daycare and school.
For that reason, the Family Guide does not follow the names of authorities. It follows the family's situation: first check whether a family member has the right residence basis, then look at DVV records, then move to childbirth, benefits, daycare and school.
Who handles what?
• Migri handles residence permits, EU registration and immigration matters based on family ties. • DVV registers population data, such as personal identity code, address, municipality of residence, family relationships and marital status. • Kela handles benefits and services, such as family benefits, parental benefits, child benefit and interpreting service for persons with disabilities. • The municipality handles, for example, early childhood education, pre-primary education and the local school path. • The wellbeing services county handles health and social services, which may include maternity and child health clinics, child and family services and disability services. • Employment Services may become relevant if a parent starts job search, becomes unemployed or needs support with employment.
Population records
DVV maintains records that help other services understand the family's situation.
Benefits
Kela assesses family benefits and interpreting service under its own conditions.
Daily services
The municipality and wellbeing services county handle daycare, school, health and family support in their own roles.
The main family path
Think of the family path like this:
Main family path
Step 1
Check the residence basis if needed
Check your situation before the next action.
Step 2
Register personal and family records at DVV
This is the next point in the route.
Step 3
Handle pregnancy, birth and the child's records
This is the next point in the route.
Step 4
Check Kela family benefits
Check your situation before the next action.
Step 5
Arrange daycare or school through the municipality
This is the next point in the route.
Step 6
Ask the wellbeing services county for support if the family needs help
Ask for help if you are unsure how to continue.
Not every family follows every step in the same order. If your child is already school-aged, school may be more urgent than benefits. If a family member is moving from abroad, Migri and DVV may be the first steps.
If a family member moves to Finland
If a spouse, child or other family member moves to Finland, start with the right to reside. Migri explains when a residence permit, EU registration or another family-tie application is needed.
When the residence basis is clear or the matter is at the correct stage, DVV can register personal data. If the whole family moves, check each person's records and the necessary family relationships separately.
If you are expecting a child
During pregnancy, the first practical contact is usually the maternity and child health clinic. The clinic can provide a certificate of pregnancy, which is needed for some Kela benefits related to pregnancy.
The Family Guide does not choose a benefit for you. It shows the order: clinic and certificate first, then Kela guidance, OmaKela and applications. If you do not understand an appointment or instruction, arrange interpreting early.
After the child is born
After a child is born, the family may have matters with both DVV and Kela. On the DVV side, the question may concern the child's records, name, family relationships or registration of a child born abroad. On the Kela side, it may concern child benefit, parental benefits or support for child care.
The key point is to separate two things: DVV maintains population records, while Kela assesses benefits. One usually does not replace the other.
Family benefits
Kela's family pages include benefits related to pregnancy, parental leave, child benefit and child care. The benefit name, application time and attachments depend on the situation.
In this Guide, family benefits will be covered later as an overview path. Details, amounts and conditions must always be checked from Kela's current guidance.
Daycare and school
When a child needs daycare or school, the usual contact is the municipality. The municipality organises early childhood education, pre-primary education and basic education according to local instructions.
If the child has special needs, the family may need cooperation between the school, the municipality and the wellbeing services county. At this stage, ask for instructions in writing and tell the service early if the family needs sign language interpreting or another accessible way to communicate.
If you need a sign language interpreter
In family matters, an interpreter may be needed at a maternity and child health clinic, a DVV visit, Kela, a school meeting or a wellbeing services county service. Kela's interpreting service requires a separate application and decision.
If you already have the right to interpreting service, book the interpreter early and tell the authority what kind of communication you need. If you do not have the right yet, read Kela's interpreting guidance before an important appointment.
Related guides
Next step
Next, check which family records may need to be registered or completed at DVV.