Contact details for practicing the veterinary profession

The appendices required for applications concerning the practice of the veterinary profession and the authorization as a veterinarian must, in general, be original or certified copies. These should be delivered to the Finnish Food Authority by letter.

An application by a citizen of an EU/EEA member state who has graduated from an EU/EEA university to become a veterinarian in Finland is an exception and the application matter can usually also be handled by e-mail. This also applies to Finnish citizens who have graduated from the University of Helsinki.

The applications and notifications concerning the practise of the veterinary profession can be sent to the Finnish Food Authority:

Ruokavirasto
PL 100
00027 RUOKAVIRASTO

Send confidential or otherwise sensitive documents to the Finnish Food Authority in the security message service (Turvaviesti)

If you send an application or complaint by e-mail, please use the address kirjaamo@ruokavirasto.fi

If you would like to ask for more information about being authorized as a veterinarian, practicing the veterinary profession, or supervision of veterinarians, please contact us at: elainlaakarit@ruokavirasto.fi

If you have an issue or a question about the Veterinary Register, please use the following address: elainlaakarirekisteri@ruokavirasto.fi

Fees

Authorization of a veterinarian

  • authorization decision for those who are qualified in Finland 112,00 euro
  • authorization decision for those who are qualified in an EU/EEA member state (automatic recognition) 246,00 euro

Recognition of veterinary professional qualifications

  • a decision on compensatory measures or an aptitude test 258,00 euro
  • final authorization decision 112,00 euro
  • a decision on partial right to practice the profession 246,00 euro
  • those qualified outside of the EU/EEA territory:
    • order on additional studies/conditional decision 332,00 euro
    • final decision 332,00 euro

Temporary rights to practice the veterinary profession

  • temporary rights for those who are studying veterinary medicine in Finland
    • first notification 62,00 euro
    • a right granted based on an extension application 112,00 euro
  • temporary rights for those who are studying veterinary medicine in a country other than Finland 258,00 euro
  • temporary rights in teaching and research 332,00 euro

The granting of specialist veterinarian rights based on a specialist veterinarian degree completed abroad 332,00 euro.

Notification of temporary and occasional provision of veterinary services

  • the first notification 209,00 euro
  • notification of renewal 112,00 euro

If the application or notification for the practice of veterinary medicine is rejected, the application is withdrawn or the matter otherwise lapses before the it has been dealt with, a processing fee will be charged, which is half of the fee that would otherwise have been charged.

Legislation

Page last updated 7/8/2026