Writing instructions for Suomi.fi e-Authorizations in your service

Customer instructions for acting on behalf of another party

In this article, we provide templates that you can use when writing instructions for your customers on the use of Suomi.fi e-Authorizations in your service. You write the instructions in the way you want, as long as you provide your customers with all the necessary information for acting on behalf of another party. Your service is also responsible for providing your customers with support for the use of Suomi.fi e-Authorizations. 

Clear and easy-to-find online instructions are good customer service, which also reduces failure demand.

Selecting rules for your service

The possibilities and limitations of acting on behalf of another party depend on the rules chosen by each service. You can check the rules of your service (i.e. the "rules engine") on the Management page for mandates for transactions of your serviceOpens in a new window.. The operating principles and rules of the rules engine are described in separate articles:

• Rules engine when acting on behalf of a person
• Rules engine when acting on behalf of an organisation.

Edit the instructions for your service according to the rules you have selected. Only include the sections that apply to your service in your customer instructions. For example, if your service only enables acting on behalf of an organisation, you do not need instructions for acting on behalf of a person. 

Templates for good customer instructions:

For example, you can check out the instructions from the following services for inspiration:

• Kela – My Kanta Opens in a new window.
• Migri’s Enter Finland for employersOpens in a new window.
• Tax Administration – MyTaxOpens in a new window.
• Tax Administration – Incomes RegisterOpens in a new window.

Template instructions: Acting on behalf of another person

This template is divided into four parts:

• Acting on behalf of an underaged child
• Acting on behalf of an adult
• Acting on behalf of a granter in financial matters, for attorneys
• Acting on behalf of a person under guardianship.

Include the sections that apply to your service in your customer instructions. 

Acting on behalf of an underaged child

1. Mandate themes under which you can act on behalf of an underaged child

You can act on behalf of an underaged child in the following matters:

• [Name of mandate theme 1], [Description of mandate theme 1]
• [Name of mandate theme 2], [Description of mandate theme 2]

2. When is acting on behalf of an underaged child possible

You can act on behalf of an underaged child in [name of the service here] if

• you are the child's guardian or
• you have received one of the following mandates for transactions from the child's guardians: [Name of mandate theme 1], [Name of mandate theme 2].

In most cases, a guardian of an underaged child can act on behalf of the child without a separate mandate. 

When you, as their guardian, want to act on behalf of your child who is a minor, Suomi.fi e-Authorizations checks your information in the Population Information System. You can check your personal data on the Suomi.fi Web Service's website under RegistersOpens in a new window.. 

3. When is acting on behalf of a minor not possible

Acting on behalf of an underaged child is not possible, when:

[It is prohibited by the rules selected in the service on acting on behalf of another party, such as

• the child’s age (above or below a set age limit)
• the child has been taken into custody
• non-disclosure for personal safety reasons for children and/or parents
• joint custody agreement or order].

In some cases, acting on behalf of a child as a guardian is prevented, but granting a mandate may be possible. In such a case, every one of the child’s guardians must separately authorise the mandate of the person acting on behalf of the child.

For more information, see the Suomi.fi e-Authorizations instructions on Acting on behalf of an underaged childOpens in a new window.. 

Acting on behalf of an adult

1. Mandate themes under which you can act on behalf of another person

[Service name here] can be used on behalf of an adult if you have received one of the following mandates for transactions from them:

• [Name of mandate theme 1], [Description of mandate theme 1].
• [Name of mandate theme 2], [Description of mandate theme 2].

2. How to grant a mandate to act on behalf of a another person 

You can grant or request a mandate for transactions on the Suomi.fi e-Authorizations website under Grant and request authorisationsOpens in a new window.. For additional information on granting a mandate, see the instructions for Suomi.fi e-Authorizations under Person's mandatesOpens in a new window.. 

If a person cannot independently authorise someone in Suomi.fi e-Authorizations due to, for example, lack of digital skills or an identification token, they may grant a mandate through assisted authorisationOpens in a new window.. 

Acting on behalf of a granter in their financial matters, for attorneys

Acting on behalf of another person as an attorney

[Service name here] can be used by attorneys to act on behalf of their client in financial matters without a separately granted mandate in Suomi.fi e-Authorizations if

• the continuing power of attorney document grants the attorney the right to manage the granter’s financial affairs
• the right to act has not been restricted to, for example, a specific asset, such as a real estate or business operations
• the continuing power of attorney document does not specifically require that the granter’s affairs must be managed jointly by more than one attorney 
• the attorney has their own strong identification token for digital services.

For more information, see the Suomi.fi e-Authorizations instructions on Acting on behalf of a granter of a continuing power of attorney.Opens in a new window.

Template instructions: Acting on behalf of an organisation

These are template instructions for acting on behalf of a company, association or other organisation. 

1. Mandate themes under which you can act on behalf of an organisation

In [service name], you can act on behalf of an organisation in the following matters:

• [Name of mandate theme 1]
• [Name of mandate theme 2]

2. When is acting on behalf of an organisation possible

In [service name], you can act on behalf of an organisation if:

• you are [one of the roles selected by the e-service for acting on behalf of the organisation, such as the Managing Director or the authorised signatory]
• you have received one of the following mandates for transactions from an organisation representative: [mandate themes]. 

You can grant or request a mandate for transactions on the Suomi.fi e-Authorizations website Opens in a new window.under Grant and request authorisations. 

If an organisation cannot independently grant a mandate in Suomi.fi e-Authorizations, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency accepts applications for mandate registrationOpens in a new window.. 

3. When is acting on behalf of an organisation not possible

It is impossible to act on behalf of an organisation, if [it is prohibited by the rules selected in the service on acting on behalf of another party, such as:

• the person acting on behalf of the organisation has another status than NORMAL in the Trade Register
• the organisation’s status in the Trade Register is something other than NORMAL 
• the company is bankrupt, in restructuring or in liquidation.]

For more information, see the Suomi.fi e-Authorizations instructions on Acting on behalf of an organisation. Opens in a new window.

Customer service contact details 

If you encounter problems with acting on behalf of another party, contact [Name of service] customer service:

• [Contact details of the service].

If you need advice on acting on behalf of another party, you can contact the support and advisory services of Suomi.fi e-Authorizations:

• Advisory service on Suomi.fi servicesOpens in a new window. (private customers)
• Customer service for organisationsOpens in a new window. (organisational customers)
• the Enterprise Finland advisory serviceOpens in a new window. (corporate customers).