Finnish authorities are simplifying how citizens receive official communications. Starting in early 2025, government letters and messages will be directed to a unified digital mailbox through the Suomi.fi service. This change aims to resolve the current confusion caused by multiple communication channels.
Currently, Finns navigate various platforms like OmaKela, OmaKanta, Maisa, Omavero, and Omaposti for different services. This fragmentation creates real problems for citizens. Pirjo Toivonen from Espoo nearly missed an important housing association letter containing her maintenance fee receipt because she doesn't use Posti's digital Omaposti service.
"There are so many scams circulating online using Posti and Tax Administration names," Toivonen explained. "When I suddenly get an unexpected message from Posti, I tend to leave it unread." Fortunately, because she was expecting the letter, she followed up with her property manager and resolved the payment on time.
The new system addresses this exact issue. Approximately 2.3 million Finns already use Suomi.fi messages. In January, digital mailboxes will be created for the remaining two million citizens who haven't yet adopted the service.
Annette Hotari, project manager at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), confirms the simplification effort. "Government mail reception will shift primarily to digital format in Suomi.fi messages at the beginning of next year," she stated.
This means letters from multiple public organizations including Kela, welfare regions, the Tax Administration, and municipalities will arrive in one virtual mailbox. The transition isn't mandatory though. Citizens can return to paper mail if they prefer digital alternatives.
Maria Juka-Lahdenperä, DVV's leading expert, emphasizes the voluntary nature. "Paper mail won't necessarily stop completely. But more organizations are joining the service all the time."
The activation process requires strong authentication when logging into any government online service. Without authentication, messages won't become available, and government letters will continue through previous channels.
Security remains a priority. Both officials acknowledge that scam messages using the Suomi.fi name circulate online. They remind users to manually type the Suomi.fi web address rather than clicking links in suspicious emails.
"We never send emails or text messages encouraging people to click links," Juka-Lahdenperä clarified.
The system currently focuses on public organizations, but future expansion plans include private digital mail services. Hotari notes this requires legislative work and meeting specific criteria, with target implementation by late 2026.
This digital consolidation reflects Finland's ongoing commitment to technological solutions in public administration. The country consistently ranks among digital frontrunners in European Union comparisons. The move could significantly reduce administrative costs and environmental impact from paper communications while improving citizen access to important documents.
For international observers, Finland's approach offers a case study in digital government transition. The voluntary opt-out model balances technological advancement with citizen choice, addressing concerns about digital exclusion that often accompany such transitions.