henkilötunnusta

Henkilötunnus, often abbreviated as HETU, is the Finnish personal identity code. It is a unique identifier assigned to every person registered in Finland who has a right to reside in the country. The henkilötunnus is crucial for various official purposes, including healthcare, taxation, social security, and banking.

The structure of the henkilötunnus consists of a date of birth, a hyphen, and a four-digit serial number, followed by a check digit. The date of birth part is represented as DDMMYY, where DD is the day, MM is the month, and YY is the last two digits of the year. The serial number helps distinguish individuals born on the same day. The final check digit is calculated using a specific algorithm to ensure the validity of the entire code and prevent errors.

The Finnish Social Insurance Institution (Kela) is responsible for assigning henkilötunnus numbers. When a person becomes a resident of Finland, they are automatically assigned a personal identity code. This code is used in almost all interactions with public authorities and many private sector organizations. It is a fundamental element of the Finnish administrative system, facilitating efficient and accurate record-keeping and service provision. The confidentiality of the henkilötunnus is protected by law, and its misuse can lead to legal consequences.