How can a guardian act on behalf of a child?

If you are a guardian of a minor, you do not normally need a separate Suomi.fi e-Authorization to use e-services when acting on behalf of the child. In other words, if you are a child’s guardian, you can act on behalf of the child in most e-services. A guardian is a person entered as a guardian in the Population Information System. 

There are situations in which a guardian too needs a mandate 

The e-service may have specified that a guardian can only act on behalf of the child electronically with Suomi.fi e-Authorization. Always check the e-service’s own instructions to see whether there are any restrictions on the guardian’s right to act on the child’s behalf or whether the guardian needs a mandate.  

For example, a wellbeing services county may have specified in its e-service that guardians too need a mandate when acting on behalf of children aged 12 or over. In practice, this means the following: 

• If there is more than one guardian, you must authorise each other to act on behalf of the child. 
• If you are a single parent, you must grant yourself the right to act on behalf of the child. 
• A child cannot grant a mandate to their guardians, as a minor cannot grant mandates.

Read the instructions at How guardians grant mandates independently to manage the affairs of a child. 

Guardians can authorise each other

In some cases, it is reasonable for the guardians to authorise each other.

• All guardians can authorise one of the guardians to manage a minor’s affairs for which the consent of all guardians is required.
• All guardians can authorise one of the guardians to manage the minor’s affairs despite the restrictions specified in the joint custody agreement or the guardians’ non-disclosure order.

Read the instructions at How guardians grant mandates to manage the affairs of a child.

A guardian may be prevented from acting on behalf of a child 

In some cases, a guardian cannot act on behalf of a minor electronically. Read more about the situations in which you cannot act on behalf of a child.