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Answers to questions about biometric data regulation What is biometric data? Biometric data means personal data that result from technical processing, such as facial images and fingerprints, and allow the unique identification of a person. Who mak...

Strengthening crime prevention The Ministry of the Interior is carrying out several legislative projects which, in line with the Government Programme, aim to strengthen crime prevention. The key means include drafting regulation on threat-informed...

Interoperability

16.4.2026 | The Government has submitted to Parliament a proposal for an act on the automated search and exchange of information for European police cooperation. The proposal would introduce amendments to national legislation required by the EU regulation known as Prüm II.

Smart Borders Package improves EU border management The EU has adopted a Smart Borders Package, which is to be introduced in 2025-2026. The Smart Borders Package aims to: facilitate border checks improve internal security by, for example, stronger...

Government Programme measures in the police sector The Government Programme aims to strengthen security and society's resilience. Police presence will be secured throughout the country. The Government will step up the combating of crime to improve...

25.9.2025 | The Government proposes amendments to acts governing the use of biometric data stored in the registers of the police and the Finnish Immigration Service. Improving the use of biometric data would particularly support the investigation of the most serious crimes. The Government submitted the proposal to Parliament on 25 September.

3.2.2025 | Finland’s Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a proposal for amending the regulation on biometric data stored in the registers of the police and the Finnish Immigration Service. An objective of the Government Programme is to strengthen crime prevention and improve the conditions for using biometrics in law enforcement and crime prevention. The Ministry proposes that biometric data co...

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.

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.

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. 

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.

23.9.2021 | The development of interoperability between EU information systems will improve the identity management of third-country nationals staying in the Schengen area. The package includes a number of extensive EU information systems related to internal security, migration management and travel. The EU regulations concerning the framework for interoperability were adopted in 2019. The legislative propo...

16.6.2021 | The Ministry of the Interior is circulating for comments a draft government proposal for the Act on the Interoperability of the European Union’s Information Systems. The Act would enable the police, Finnish Customs and the Finnish Border Guard to make queries in the common identity repository of the European Union’s information systems for the purpose of identifying a person.

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.

18.3.2021 | On 18 March 2021, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal on national legislation supplementing the EU regulations on the use of the Schengen Information System (SIS). The role of the SIS is to support checks at the external Schengen borders and improve cooperation and exchanges of information between law enforcement and judicial authorities across Europe.

5.10.2020 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent the draft government proposal on legislation supplementing the EU regulations on the use of the Schengen Information System (SIS) out for comments. The aim is to amend the personal data legislation of the police, the Border Guard and Customs as required by the EU regulations on the SIS.

10.2.2022 | The European Commission wants to enhance and modernise the exchange of information between police officers in the Member States. In December 2021, the Commission issued three proposals that would constitute an EU Police Cooperation Code: a proposal for a Directive on information exchange between law enforcement authorities of Member States, a proposal for a Council Recommendation on operational pol...

18.1.2018 | A new type of residence permit will be introduced for growth or startup entrepreneurs. The application process for an extended permit will also be simplified, and the validity period of a first residence permit for specialists will be extended. The Government submitted the new bill amending the Aliens Act for approval on Thursday 18 January. The President of the Republic is to approve the bill on Friday 30 January.

28.9.2017 | A new type of residence permit is proposed for growth or startup entrepreneurs. At the same time, the application process for an extended permit would be simplified and the validity period of a first residence permit for specialists would be extended. The Government submitted a proposal for amending the Aliens Act to Parliament on 28 September.