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The aim is to extend the validity of Finnish passports to 10 years.

Data protection and processing of personal data at the Ministry of the Interior Contact information Data Protection Officer Data Protection Officer Mikko Levämäki tietosuojavastaava.sm(at)gov.fi Controller Ministry of the Interior, PO Box 26, FI-0...

Interoperability

Interoperability

28.5.2026 | The Government proposes extending the validity of Finnish passports and identity cards to 10 years. On 28 May, the Government submitted to Parliament a draft proposal for amending the Passport Act and the Identity Card Act. The Ministry of the Interior estimates that the acts could enter into force by early 2028 at the latest.

22.12.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has issued decrees on fees charged by the police and the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service. The decrees will enter into force on 1 January 2026 and be effective until 31 December 2026.

23.12.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has submitted a draft amendment to the Passport Act and the Identity Card Act for comments. These amendments would extend passport and personal identity card validity to 10 years. The consultation process will last until 16 February 2026.

18.6.2025 | The Ministry of the Interior has issued a new decree on fees charged by the police. The amendments apply to the fees for passports and identity cards as well as for firearms licences and private security sector licences. The decree will be in force from 1 July to 31 December 2025.

19.12.2024 | The European Commission proposes a new EU Digital Travel application for travellers to create and store their digital travel credentials, among other things. The Government informed Parliament of the Commission's proposals by submitting a Union communication on 19 December. 

13.7.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior has issued a decree amending the cost of an identity card. The cost will rise by EUR 5 from 2 August 2021. The fees for a minor's identity card and temporary identity card will increase by EUR 1.

29.6.2021 | A provision on fingerprinting that supplements the relevant EU Regulation will be added to the Identity Card Act. In future, fingerprints will be taken from any person applying for an identity card, except for a person under the age of 12 or from a person in respect of whom fingerprinting is physically impossible, for example. The President of the Republic approved the amendment on 29 June. The Act will enter into force on 2 August 2021.

5.11.2020 | On 5 November, the Government submitted to Parliament a draft government proposal to amend the Identity Card Act. The Identity Card Act will be updated as a result of the EU Regulation on identity cards. A provision on fingerprinting supplementing the Regulation would be added to the Identity Card Act.

4.7.2024 | New legislative amendments will prevent the evasion of provisions on entry more effectively than before. In its session on 4 July, the Government proposed that the President of the Republic approve the amendments to the Aliens Act and the Researchers and Students Act. The President of the Republic is scheduled to approve the amendments on 5 July, and they will enter into force on 1 September 2024.

6.7.2023 | The Border Guard will enhance border security at Finland's external and internal borders on 8–15 July. The Government made a decision on the matter on 6 July 2023.

18.4.2024 | The Government proposes legislative amendments to prevent the evasion of provisions on entry more effectively than at present. The amendments would prohibit asylum applicants from switching to a work-based or education-based application procedure in order to apply for a residence permit. The amendments would also tighten the identity verification procedure. The Government submitted the proposal to Parliament on 18 April. The proposed acts would enter into force on 1 July 2024.

30.1.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a legislative proposal on amendments to the Aliens Act. The deadline for submitting comments is 20 February 2024.

6.9.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent a draft proposal for an amendment to the Aliens Act out for comments. The amendment would allow a residence permit and an alien’s passport to be issued to applicants whose lack of a travel document is the sole impediment to issuing a residence permit.

16.12.2021 | Police licence and permit fees are due to change in 2022. The price of a passport will fall, while most prices of other licences and permits will rise. The prices of identity cards will remain unchanged. The changes reflect the cost-correlation of licences and permits. The fees charged for licences and permits must correspond by law to the costs incurred in issuing these documents.

10.2.2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has completed an investigation into a statutory amendment that would allow a residence permit and alien’s passport to be issued to applicants whose lack of a travel document is the sole impediment to granting the permit. The same project also investigated other potential solutions to address the situation of individuals who have remained in Finland for an extended period with no right of residence.

29.9.2020 | As a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, UK citizens living in Finland will have to apply to exchange their previous registration based on the right of residence in the EU for the right of residence under the withdrawal agreement. The Finnish Immigration Service will charge EUR 48 for the processing of the application. The permanent right of residence in the EU may be exchanged for a permanent right of residence under the withdrawal agreement free of charge.