FINNISH ID CARD APPLICATION
Applications for a Finnish id card can be submitted via the Police’s eServices or in person at a police licence services point of your choice. It is easiest to do this online:
1. Have your photograph taken at a photography studio that can send your passport photograph to the Police electronically. Find your nearest photographer here: www.lupakuvienvastaanotto.fi/kuvaamoluettelo
2. Fill in the application online: www.poliisi.fi/e-services. Attach the photograph retrieval code you received from the photographer to your application. Pay the application fee online.
3. In certain cases, only the electronic application is required. In other cases, in addition to the application, the applicant must visit a police licence services point in order to be identified prior to processing the application. When you fill in your application, the system will tell you whether you need to visit the police licence services point. If a visit is required, your application will only be processed after the visit. Avoid queueing by booking an appointment in advance: https://asiointi.poliisi.fi/ajanvaraus-fe.
You can also submit the entire application at the police licence services point, but it is cheaper and quicker to submit the application online. The cheaper fee applies even if your electronic application requires a visit the police licence services point. An electronic application cannot be submitted without a digital photograph delivered directly from the photographer to the police. The digital photograph can also be used when you are submitting the application entirely at a licence services point.
A passport photograph attached to an application shall not be older than six months
If you apply for a Finnish id card and a passport at the same time, a lower than normal fee will be charged for the card. This applies to both online applications and applications made at a licence services point.
Finnish Id card for Finnish citizens residing abroad are issued by Finnish missions abroad instead of the Police. Using the Police’s eServices from abroad is not prohibited, but the same service level as found within Finland cannot be guaranteed.Applications submitted online are also paid for online. Paying with a credit card is also possible with the most common credit cards. An unpaid application will not become pending and the licence official is unable to process it.
More information on applying for a Finnish id card
Use of Finnish id card
Service price list
FINNISH ID CARD FOR A MINOR
You can obtain either a regular identity card for a minor that can be used both for travel and identification in online services, or a special minor’s identity card that cannot be used for travel and that does not have a chip enabling online identification. In both cases, the application can be filled online in the same way as the adult’s own application. For a regular identity card, a minor needs the consent of all of his or her guardians, and if the applicant is under 15 years of age, at least one guardian must accompany him or her during the identification visit. Minors aged 15 years or over can visit the police licence services point independently, as long as they can present parental consent in writing and their identity can be verified. A minor’s identity is usually verified by means of a valid passport or identity card.
The identity of anyone aged under 18 years can also be verified on the basis of their guardian. In these circumstances, the identity of the guardian is verified from the guardian’s identity document (a valid passport or identity card). The above-mentioned minor’s identity card without travel right is also issued without the consent of the guardians. In the eServices, it is called a “minor’s identity card without travel right” for the sake of clarity.
WHEN IS A VISIT NOT REQUIRED?
In most cases, the application can be fully completed online if the issuing authority has identified the applicant for a passport or an identity card no more than six years before, the applicant was at least 12 years of age at the time of the identification, and the applicant’s name is still the same as on the previous passport or identity card. If this does not apply to you, you can still submit your application electronically but it will only be processed after you have visited a police licence services point for identification. When you fill in your application, the system will tell you whether you need to visit the police licence services point. Minors seldom meet the above requirements and thus their identity card applications almost always require a visit for identification.
PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPH
One passport photograph must be attached to an identity card application. It is easiest to deliver the photograph to the Police via the licence services photograph server. Almost all photographers can do this for you.
The photographer delivering the photograph to the Police will give you a receipt with a unique photograph retrieval code. Enter the code in your online identity card application or bring the code with you when visiting a police licence services point. You may also use a printed photograph if you wish, but then you cannot submit the application electronically.
A passport photograph attached to an application shall not be older than six months. If your passport or identity card was issued recently, and the photograph in that document is less than six months old, the same photograph can be used in the new application.
The quality of the passport photograph is assessed when the related identity card application is processed. There is no advance inspection of photographs. If the photograph does not fulfil the requirements for a passport photograph, the licence official will ask you to complement the application with a photograph that fulfils the requirements.
List of photography studios that can send photographs to the Police electronically (in Finnish)
Requirements for passport photographs that are also applied to identity card photographs
ALWAYS REPORT A LOST OR STOLEN IDENTITY CARD
If your identity card is lost or stolen, you must report it. This is very important in order to prevent abuse. Submit the report using the electronic form for reporting an offence or visit a police service point. Outside Finland, the report can be made at a diplomatic mission representing Finland. After reporting the loss, you can apply for a new identity card.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE IDENTITY CARD APPLICANT
With electronic services, the applicant is identified using online banking codes, a mobile ID, or a Citizen Certificate. Always use your own personal identification. Guardians may also identify themselves and submit an application for their under-age children.
When visiting a licence services point, applicants must prove their identity by bringing along a valid passport or identity card. The Police will be able to identity the applicant even without these documents, but this can take a long time. If you do not have a passport or an identity card, bring your driving licence and any other documents that you think could be used to verify your identity. If you no longer have your previous, valid identity card in your possession, you must report it as lost. See Lost/stolen identity cards.
Even a small child for whom the identity card is intended must be present when the application is submitted. The child’s identity can be proven by means of a valid passport or identity card. Guardians can present their own passport or identification card for the identification of a young person under the age of 18 years.
For further information on identification, please see section More information on applying for an identification card
CHANGES IN PERSONAL DATA
An identity card is not a valid travel document or proof of identity if your name or personal identity code has been changed and your identity card shows the old details. Collecting a new document is the exception, as the previous document is usually accepted in that case.
You should prepare to apply for a new identity card as soon as the changes in your name or personal identity number have been recorded in the Population Information System.
ACTING ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE ELSE
The person applying for the identity card must always be present in person when an application is submitted at a police licence services point. This applies when an electronic application requires a visit to a police licence services point for identification purposes and when the entire application is made at a police licence services point.
If the applicant is under 15 years, they must be accompanied by at least one guardian when visiting a licence services point.
Powers of attorney cannot be used when applying for an identity card. The new identity card can be collected with a power of attorney.
For further information on applying for an identity card for minors, please see section More information on applying for an identity card
TEMPORARY FINNISH ID CARD
The Police can also issue temporary identity cards on special grounds. The conditions for issuing a temporary identity card are always considered carefully and on a case-by-case basis.
A temporary identity card can be issued on application, for example, if the documents showing the individual’s identity have been lost or stolen. In these circumstances, a temporary identity card will generally be valid until a new identity document can be obtained.
Applicants are issued with temporary identity cards immediately at the police station. Such cards are valid for a maximum period of four months. Passport photograph for a temporary identity card cannot be sent electronically, two paper photos are needed for the application. Temporary identity cards do not include a chip and cannot therefore be used to access eServices.
In addition, temporary identity cards cannot be used as travel documents.
For further information on the types of identity cards, please see section Features of Finnish identity cards
FOREIGNER’S IDENTITY CARD
The Police can issue identity cards to foreign citizens who reside in Finland permanently, whose details have been entered in the Population Information System, and who have a valid residence permit or residence card or whose right of residence has been registered. Additionally, it must be possible to reliably verify his or her identity. Identity cards for foreign citizens are issued for a period of five years or until the expiry of the applicant’s residence permit or residence card, whichever is sooner. Foreigner’s identity cards cannot be used as travel documents.
For further information on the types of identity cards, please see section Features of Finnish identity cards
IDENTITY CARD WITHOUT TRAVEL RIGHT
An identity card issued to a Finnish citizen is, in principle, a travel document. Exceptions are the special identity card for minors (see information on this page) and a temporary identity card that are not travel documents. In addition, an ordinary identity card issued to a Finnish citizen may, under certain conditions, be granted without the right to travel. This is the case if the preconditions for refusal of an identity card are in place on the basis of an offence, imprisonment or military service, or the applicant is under prohibition to travel or leave the country.
IDENTITY CARD DELIVERY
Regular identity cards will be delivered to a Matkahuolto office or the office of a Matkahuolto subcontractor of your choice in a sealed envelope. You will be notified when your identity card is ready for collection. The notification will include a tracking number. To collect your identity card, you need to present proof of identity and the tracking number. Identity is verified by means of a passport or identity card issued by Finnish authorities.
You can also authorise another person to collect your identity card on your behalf. However, stricter identification rules apply: he or she must always have a valid passport or a valid identity card. An expired passport or identity card is not accepted in this case. Guardians can collect the identity cards of their children without a power of attorney.
The delivery time is between five and eight working days. If you submit your application online but are also required to visit a police licence services point, your application will only be processed after your visit and the delivery time will be calculated from that time. Please note that incomplete applications delay the application process. At busy times, the delivery time may be slightly longer.
More information on the delivery of an identity card
