Start-up notification to the Trade Register for a general partnership or limited partnership

General partnerships and limited partnerships must always file a start-up notification with the Trade Register in Finnish or Swedish. The notification must be filed before the start of operations.

The Trade Register is a public register. Anyone is entitled to obtain information from the register. This principle of open access also applies to all notifications and enclosures filed with the Trade Register.

Take special care of personal identity codes and home addresses

When you send notifications, do not include any documents that contain personal identity codes, home addresses, or other sensitive details, such as health details. Such documents may include minutes and partnership agreements.

If you file your notification using our paper forms, file the person’s identification details on a separate personal data form. Do not fill in personal identity codes or home addresses on any other notification forms.

Read more about the processing of personal data at the PRH.

General partnerships

A general partnership has at least two partners who jointly carry on a trade on the basis of a contract (the partnership agreement). The partners of a general partnership are personally liable for the debts and other obligations of the partnership. The partners can be either persons or organisations, such as other companies.

Limited partnerships

A limited partnership is the same as a general partnership except that limited partnerships have two types of partners: general partners (also called active partners) are personally liable for the obligations of the partnership in the same way as in general partnerships, while the liability of silent partners is limited to the amount of the partner's contribution agreed upon in the partnership agreement. A limited partnership must have at least one general partner and at least one silent partner.

How to file the notification

Fill in form Y2 and the personal data form.

Open: Form Y2 (pdf, 0.3 MB) and the personal data form (pdf, 708.5 kt).

Use a specific personal data form for submitting identification data of persons. Do not fill in personal identity codes or home addresses on any other notification forms. Read more about personal identity codes and home addresses.

The start-up notification of a general partnership is signed by a partner or a person authorised by a partner.

The start-up notification of a limited partnership is signed by a general partner (also called active partner) or a person authorised by such partner.

If an authorised person signs the notification, the original power of attorney, if it is a general power of attorney, or a certified copy of the power of attorney must be enclosed.

Send the forms and enclosures to the address given on the form.

What documents need to be enclosed?

Enclose the following documents with the notification:

• The receipt for the handling fee,
• The original partnership agreement – in Finnish or in Swedish
  

Usually, no other documents are necessary. A copy of a business licence may however be necessary in some cases. Read more about permits to persons living abroad.

Please note: Do not enclose any documents with your notification (such as partnership agreements) containing personal identity codes or home addresses.

What does it cost to file?

A start-up notification costs 280 euros.

When you file your notification on paper forms, pay the handling fee in advance and enclose the receipt with your notification. See our payment instructions.

Partnership agreement

Please note that the partnership agreement to be enclosed with the notification must be in Finnish or in Swedish .

The Trade Register requires that at least the following details should be specified in the agreement:

• the name of the partnership;
• the place of registered office (municipality in Finland);
• the line of business (type of business);
• partners;
• for limited partnerships, please also specify who are general partners (also called active partners) and who silent partners; and
• the amount in euro of the contribution made by a silent partner of the limited partnership.

In the partnership agreement, you may however also agree upon other matters than those mentioned above, such as the representation of the partnership, the distribution of profits, the assignment of a partnership share, the resignation from the partnership, the notice to terminate a partnership agreement, the dissolution of the partnership, the death of a partner etc. Most of these matters are included in the secondary provisions of the Finnish Partnerships Act, which are applied unless otherwise agreed by the partners.

The partnership agreement must be dated and signed by all the partners (also by the silent partners).

More information on starting up general partnerships and limited partnerships

The Suomi.fi website provides more information on the formation of limited or general partnerships. Go to the Suomi.fi website.Open link in a new tab

Monitor the progress of your notification online

Monitor the progress of your notification using the notification search in the Virre Information Service. Search by using the Business ID or the record number. Go to the notification search in the Virre Information Service.Open link in a new tab

Are you under 18 years of age?

If you are under 18 years of age, you can be a partner if your guardians represent you in joining a company, and your guardians have permission from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), which is the Finnish guardianship authority. You also need your guardians’ backing and permission to become a silent partner. Go to our instructions: Minors in general partnerships and limited partnerships.