Obligation to use and right to use

The use of Suomi.fi Messages is based on legislation. An organisation may have either an obligation to use the service or a right to use it. The organisation’s status depends on its duties and the applicable legislation.

What does an obligation to use mean?

An obligation to use means that an organisation must use Suomi.fi Messages in situations prescribed by law. Organisations that are subject to the obligation to use the service must primarily serve documents electronically via Suomi.fi Messages.

An organisation must apply for an exemption from the obligation to use the service if it primarily uses another service for activities for which Suomi.fi Messages is intended.

Is your organisation subject to the obligation to use the service?

The following organisations are required to use Suomi.fi Messages:

• state administrative authorities, agencies, institutions and state enterprises
• wellbeing services counties
• municipal authorities and joint municipal authorities when carrying out statutory duties
• courts of law and other judicial bodies.

If your organisation belongs to one of these groups, it is generally required to use Suomi.fi Messages for the electronic service of documents.

What does the right to use mean?

The right to use means that an organisation may adopt Suomi.fi Messages for carrying out its statutory duties, but the law does not require it to do so.

Does your organisation have the right to use the service?

If your organisation is not subject to the obligation to use the service, it may still have the right to use Suomi.fi Messages. Other public sector organisations have the right to use Suomi.fi Messages when carrying out statutory duties.

Private sector organisations generally do not have the right to use Suomi.fi Messages. An exception applies to organisations carrying out a public administrative task.

What is the obligation to use or the right to use based on?

The obligation to use and the right to use Suomi.fi Messages are laid down in the Act on Joint Support Services for Electronic Government (571/2016).

If you are unsure of your organisation’s status, determine it before applying for a permit to use the service.