Passport

Finland introduced biometric passports on August 21, 2006. Passports issued before that date will remain valid until their expiration date. Citizens do not need to exchange their valid passports for new biometric ones.

As of August 21, 2006, when applying for a passport in the United States, each applicant including children must apply in person at the Embassy of Finland in Washington, D.C. or at the Consulates General of Finland in New York or Los Angeles. Processing of passport applications has ceased at Honorary Consulates. You can also apply for the new passport at a local police office while visiting Finland.

In consequence of the passport reform, among other things, the longest validity period for biometric passports is five years. Children can no longer be included on the passport of a parent.

Before applying for a passport at the embassy or consulate, check your personal information at the Finnish Population Information System. Verify your personal data at the local register office of the municipality of your most recent residence.

It is of utmost importance that the applicant's personal data (name, place of birth, citizenship) in the Population Information System are up-to-date since the application form for the new biometric passport is printed directly from the register. In addition, name changes in marriage(s) and divorce(s) have to be correctly registered at the Population Information System before applying for a passport. 

The following documents are required as originals or notarized copies: 

* Official photo identification, such as a valid passport or identity card, must be presented.

* One passport photograph. The photos should not be older than 6 months, the minimum photo size 47 x 36 mm (1 7/8" - 1 1/2"). Face size from chin to the top of the head should be 32 x 36 mm (1 1/4" - 1 1/2").  For a child under 11 years the picture size 25-36 mm (1" - 1 1/2") is accepted. Facial expression must be neutral (mouth closed).  Please consult the passport photo guidelines since they differ from the US standards.

* Only for Finnish citizens residing in the U.S.: if your current passport is not stamped with a U.S. visa, present a notarized copy of your Alien Registration Receipt Card (Green Card). 

* Applicants with dual/multi citizenship will have to present their most recently obtained citizenship certificate or other proof of their Finnish citizenship. 

* Male applicants of military service age (under 30 years) should present proof of military service or an exemption document from the Defence Office Staff. (Even though dual citizens living permanently in the United States are not required to perform the mandatory military service in Finland, all male applicants between ages of 17 and 30 need to verify that their dual citizenship is properly registered in Finland.) 

* Children cannot be entered into a parent's passport and have to apply for their own passports. In addition to the passport document requirements as above the child's custodians have to be present, present their photo identifications and give their written consent to the passport application. If both custodians cannot be present, a written notarized consent from the other custodian together with a notarized copy of a photo identification has to be presented.

Sole custodians have to present an original or notarized official certificate of their custodial authority. 

If the other guardian is not a Finnish citizen, the applicant must present this custodian's photo identification as well as the U.S. visa or green card. The green card or the U.S. visa of a child and the Finnish parent has to be presented if the child is born outside the U.S. 

Lost or stolen passports

The theft of the loss of a valid passport must be reported to the police. The police report must be presented when applying for a new passport. Identification with a photograph is also required.

Passport processing and mailing fees

Payments must be in the form of cash, a money order or a certified check. The payment must be made out to the Consulate General of Finland, New York, Consulate General of Finland, Los Angeles or Embassy of Finland, Washington DC, depending on the location where the application has been delivered. The fee cannot be paid with credit cards or personal checks.  

The fees are subject to change according to the internal exchange rate. Please, check the current fees.

Passport processing takes 2-3 weeks. Expedited passports can be obtained faster. The new passport can be collected in the place where you have left the application. For an additional fee it can also be posted as registered mail OR mailed to applicants by express mail (FedEx/overnight mail). Check the current mailing fees. A person authorized by the applicant may also collect the passport. If the passport will not be granted the fee will not be paid back.

More information:

* Local register Office

* Guidelines on passport pictures on the Finnish Police website

* Ministry for Foreign Affairs Legal Department Passport and Visa Unit Postal address: P.O.Box 176, 00161 Helsinki, Finland Tel. +358-9-160 05 or +358-9-578 15 Fax: +358-9-1605 5684 E-mail (passport and visa): visas.passports@formin.fi

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Last update 11/13/2007

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