Finland's Trade Register goes online-only for company filings
From 1 January 2026, companies must file all notifications and applications with the Finnish Trade Register online, through ytj.fi or the PRH's online forms with strong electronic authentication. This includes start-up and change notifications, terminations, financial statements and corrections. Paper filings received from 1 January 2026 are not processed. Private traders, associations and foundations are excluded.
Under the new Finnish Trade Register Act and an amendment to the Business Information Act, the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) accepts company filings only online from 1 January 2026.
What changed
- Companies must file online. This covers start-up notifications, notifications of changes, notifications of termination, applications, financial statements, and corrections or additional submissions.
- Filing is through the ytj.fi service or the PRH's online forms. Both need strong electronic authentication, and ytj.fi and most forms are in Finnish and Swedish only.
- Paper notifications sent by post had to arrive by 31 December 2025. Paper filings received from 1 January 2026 are not processed.
- Private traders, associations and foundations are not covered by the requirement.
Who is affected
Finnish limited companies and other companies, and foreign groups whose Finnish subsidiaries' officers do not have Finnish strong authentication. The PRH's special-case instructions explain the options for them.
What to do
Make sure someone with strong authentication, or an authorised representative, can file for each Finnish company, and plan for forms being in Finnish or Swedish.