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Applying for a user licence

The use of Statistics Finland's unit-level datasets, such as individual-level or enterprise-level data, requires a user licence. The user licence is subject to a charge. It is granted for a maximum of five years at a time.

What is a user licence?

The user licence specifies the dataset module of the research project and indicates the persons using the datasets. All datasets used in the project must be described in the application, also datasets other than those of Statistics Finland. The dataset may be used, processed and viewed only by those persons that are named in the user licence. The user licence must be updated if changes occur in the matters defined in it.

It is directed in the user licence that the data must be handled as confidential and no attempt must be made to identify the data subjects from the dataset. The material to be published must be protected so that no individual persons or enterprises can be identified.

Who can apply for a user licence?

A user licence is applied for a research project associated with some research organisation. A user licence is usually applied for by the researcher in charge of the research. Another researcher in the project can also apply for a user licence, but the researcher in charge must approve the application.

A user licence can also be applied for by a thesis worker.

How to apply for a user licence?

Apply for a user licence in Statistics Finland's licensing service. Before you start applying, make sure you have all the necessary appendices to the application.

  1. Log in to the service with one of the following identification modes: Haka, Suomi.fi, Edugain, Virtu / Finnish government identification service.
  2. Once you have logged in to the licensing service, select Apply for a licence to use research data in the catalogue.
  3. Select what kind of dataset you want to apply for based on mode of delivery: Data used in the FIONA remote access system or released data.
  4. Select all the datasets you want.
  5. Once you have selected the datasets, press the Apply button. This opens the application form.
  6. Fill in the information about the researcher in charge.
  7. Enter all persons who will take part in the processing of the dataset.
  8. Give grounds for the use purpose of the data.
  9. Select the period applied for. It can be at most five years.
  10. Add the appendices to the application.

Fill in the application carefully in the licensing service and send all the requested appendices so that your application can be processed smoothly. If the application is incomplete, we ask for it to be supplemented before starting to process the application. If your application needs to be supplemented, you will receive a request for supplementation by email.

Go to Statistics Finland's licensing service

Changes to the user licence application process in February

Changes will be introduced to the user licence application process as of 1 February 2026. The changes are explained in more detail in the video below.

Watch the instructional video

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Service breaks in the licensing service

The licensing service has a service break on the third Tuesday of each month from 7 am to 12 pm, when the service is not available.

Also view the following

What happens after the licence application has been submitted? What should be done if there are changes to the researcher group or if the user licence is to be extended?

What happens after the licence application?Changes to user licences