Finnish passport

{{Short description|Passport of the Republic of Finland issued to Finnish citizens}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}

{{Infobox Identity document

| document_name = {{ubl|Finnish passport|{{lang|fi|Suomen passi}}
{{lang|sv|Finskt pass}}}}

| image = Finland passport 2023.jpg

| image_caption = Finnish passport from 2023

| image2 =

| image_caption2 = The data page of a contemporary Finnish biometric passport

| date_first_issued = 1862 (first passport regulations, as Grand Duchy of Finland){{cite web|url=https://histdoc.net/historia/passi1862.html |title=Passiasetus Suomen kansalaisille ja ulkomaalaisille 1862 |publisher=Histdoc.net |date= |accessdate=2022-07-18}}
1996 (first machine-readable EU design)
21 August 2006 (first biometric version)
1 January 2017 (second biometric version){{cite web |title=Lapin luonto kuvittaa uutta Suomen passia ja henkilökorttia |url=https://www.poliisi.fi/uutiskaruselli/1/0/lapin_luonto_kuvittaa_uutta_suomen_passia_ja_henkilokorttia_53748 |website=Poliisi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231203006/https://www.poliisi.fi/uutiskaruselli/1/0/lapin_luonto_kuvittaa_uutta_suomen_passia_ja_henkilokorttia_53748 |access-date=5 January 2022 |archive-date=31 December 2017 |language=fi |url-status=dead}}
13 March 2023 (current version)

| using_jurisdiction = {{flagdeco|Finland}} Police of Finland

| valid_jurisdictions =

| document_type = Passport

| purpose = Identification

| eligibility = Finnish citizenship

| expiration = 5 years after issuance

| cost = €50 (regular application),
€44 (electronic application),
€25 (when the applicant is a veteran of Finnish wars),
€22 (veterans of Finnish wars, electronic application),{{cite web | url=https://poliisi.fi/maksutaulukko | title=Maksutaulukko - poliisin lupahakemuksien ja ilmoituksien hinnat }}
€235 (at embassies){{cite web | url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/world-int/24544-finnish-expats-decry-high-passport-fees-abroad.html | title=Finnish expats decry high passport fees abroad | date=3 December 2023 }}

}}

Finnish passports ({{langx|fi|Suomen passi}}; {{langx|sv|finskt pass}}) are issued to nationals of Finland for the purpose of international travel. Aside from serving as proof of Finnish nationality, they facilitate the process of securing assistance from Finnish consular officials abroad (or other EU consulates or Nordic missionsArticle 34 of the Helsinky Treaty ([http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:702145/FULLTEXT01.pdf Article 34 p. 8]) in case a Finnish consular official is absent).

Finnish passports share the standardised layout and burgundy-red cover with other EU countries. Passports are issued by the local police or by an authorised Finnish diplomatic mission abroad.

Men who are less than 30 years of age and consequently eligible for military service, but have not completed it, may only be issued a passport with an expiration date up to the last legal start date for completion of the obligation, which is at the age of 28. Men older than 30 can receive a passport with normal expiry dates regardless of the status of completion of the military duty.

Every Finnish citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland. For travel within the Nordic countries no identity documentation is legally required for Nordic citizens due to the Nordic Passport Union.

The passport cards are currently printed and customised by Thales Group.{{cite web|url=https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/digital-identity-and-security/government/customer-cases/finland-passport|title=ePassport and eID for Finland|date=17 March 2023 }}

Physical appearance

From 1996, Finnish passports have had burgundy-coloured covers and use the standard European Union passport layout, with the Finnish Coat of arms emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The words "Euroopan unioni" (Finnish) and "Europeiska unionen" (Swedish) meaning "European Union" are inscribed above the coat of arms, and the words "Suomi – Finland", the country's name in Finnish and Swedish, and "Passi – Pass", meaning "Passport" in Finnish and Swedish, below. In older non-biometric EU passports issued prior to August 2006, the words were entirely in capital letters, but current versions use mixed case. Biometric passports, first issued on 21 August 2006, also have the standard biometric symbol at the top. In 2012, the coat of arms was enlarged and the European Union title was shifted below it and separated by a double line from the country's name which is now in all capitals. The biometric symbol has been moved to the bottom. The inside pages on the older version contain drawings of a moose that when flipped rapidly show the moose in motion, while the 2017 version has a swan that is shown flying. The current version features a seal.{{Cite web |last=Suutari |first=Elli |date=2023-02-27 |title=Passit uudistettiin täysin – tältä ne näyttävät |url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009409833.html |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi}} The cover is embossed with a snowflake motif.

File:1st page of the finnish passport.jpg

Visa requirements

{{main|Visa requirements for Finnish citizens}}

File:Visa Requirements for Finnish Citizens.svg{{legend|#002377|Finland}}

{{legend|#1191E5|Freedom of movement}}

{{legend|#22B14C|Visa not required / ESTA / eTA / eVisitor}}

{{legend|#B5E61D|Visa on arrival}}

{{legend|#61C29C|eVisa}}

{{legend|#79D343|Visa available both on arrival or online}}

{{legend|#ABABAB|Visa required prior to arrival}}]]

In 2022, Finnish citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 189 countries and territories, ranking the Finnish passport third in the world (tied with Italian and Luxembourgish passports) according to the Henley Passport Index.{{cite web|title=Global Ranking – Visa Restriction Index 2018|url=https://www.henleypassportindex.com/passport-index|access-date=30 July 2018}} Additionally, Arton Capital's Passport Index ranked the Finnish passport second in the world, with a visa-free score of 172 (tied with Austrian, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Luxembourgish, Spanish, Swedish, Swiss, and United States passports), as of 19 September 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php|title = Global Passport Power Rank 2021 | Passport Index 2021}}

As a member state of the European Union, Finnish citizens enjoy freedom of movement within the European Economic Area (EEA). The Citizens’ Rights Directive{{cite web|title=EUR-Lex – 32004L0038R(01) – EN – EUR-Lex|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32004L0038R(01)|access-date=25 November 2017|website=Eur-lex.europa.eu|date = 29 June 2004}} defines the right of free movement for citizens of the EEA. Through bilateral agreements freedom of movement is extended to Switzerland,{{cite web|last=Migration|first=State Secretariat for|title=Free Movement of Persons Switzerland – EU/EFTA|url=https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/fza_schweiz-eu-efta.html|access-date=2020-11-14|website=www.sem.admin.ch|language=en}} and all EU and EFTA nationals are not only visa-exempt but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other's countries.

Different spellings of the same name

Names containing special letters (ä, ö, å) are spelled the correct way in the non-machine-readable zone, but are mapped in the machine-readable zone, ä becoming AE, ö becoming OE, å becoming AA.

For example, Hämäläinen → HAEMAELAEINEN.

History

Finnish passports issued from the 1930s until the 1970s had a white paper cover with the bearer's photograph and the seal of the province where the bearer applied for his or her passport affixed on the back cover.{{cite web|url=https://www.valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi/fi/nayttelyt/kehon-kirjaaminen-suomen-passin-historiaa |title=Kehon kirjaaminen – Suomen passin historiaa | Suomen valokuvataiteen museo |language=fi |publisher=Valokuvataiteenmuseo.fi |date=2020-05-24 |accessdate=2022-07-18}} Those issued from the 1970s until the adoption of the EU design in 1996 had a dark blue leather cover and did not contain the "European Union" texts, but were otherwise broadly similar in appearance. Previously, children could be included in the parents' passport, but this is no longer allowed and children must be issued their own passport, regardless of age.

File:Russian Finland International Passport.jpg|An international passport of the Grand Duchy of Finland from the late-1800s or early-1900s (About 1890)

File:Suomen passi vanha.jpg|Front cover of a pre-1996 Finnish passport

File:Suomen passi EU ei biom.jpg|Front cover of a 1996–2006 EU-format machine-readable, non-biometric Finnish passport

File:Finland passport.jpg|Front cover of a 2006–2012 biometric Finnish passport

File:EU_Passport.jpg|Front cover of a 2012–2016 biometric Finnish passport

File:Finland passport 2018.jpg|Front cover of a 2017-2023 biometric Finnish passport

Finland passport 2023.jpg|Front cover of a 2023- biometric Finnish passport

File:Finlanddippassport.jpg|Front cover of a biometric diplomatic passport (2006–2012 design)

File:Finlandservicepassport.png|Front cover of a biometric service passport (2006–2012 design)

File:Åland passport.jpg|2018-2023 series passport issued to residents of Åland

File:Finnish passport 2007.jpg|Current-type passport with no RFID chip (only issued at Finnish embassies abroad)

File:Suomen vanhojen passien kokoelma.jpg|A collection of old Finnish passports displayed by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Åland

Åland, being an autonomous region with its own government, has a separate passport. The Åland Islands passport does not however indicate a different nationality, with all holders being Finnish citizens. Unlike the Danish autonomous countries (none of which belong to the European Union) the Åland Islands autonomous region is a full part of the Finnish state, and an Åland Islands passport therefore brings all the rights and benefits of European Union membership for the holder. The passport follows the standard European Union format, and is marked on the front cover with both Finland and Åland.[https://finland.fi/life-society/the-example-of-aland-autonomy-as-a-minority-protector/ The example of Åland autonomy as a minority protector], accessed 10 October 2016.{{cite web |title=Finnish citizenship and Åland {{!}} Nordic cooperation |url=https://www.norden.org/en/info-norden/finnish-citizenship-and-aland |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=www.norden.org |language=en}}

See also

References