Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has invited stakeholders to comment on a draft government proposal that would modernise the 2005 Passport Act and the 1999 Identity Card Act. If adopted, the changes would transfer final decision-making on passports and ID cards for Finns abroad from embassies and consulates to a specialised unit at the ministry’s headquarters in Helsinki. This centralisation is designed to make processing more consistent, cut turnaround times and enable 24/7 digital case-handling, the ministry said. Under the proposal, Finnish missions would remain the first point of contact for applications, but locally-hired staff could be authorised to accept and forward paperwork, provided they meet strict training and liability requirements.
![Finland opens public consultation on major Passport Act and ID Card reforms]()
For individuals and companies that need hands-on assistance navigating Finland’s evolving passport and visa rules, VisaHQ can help by offering a fully digital application interface, real-time status updates and expert support on documentation requirements; details are available at https://www.visahq.com/finland/
Honorary consulates—often the only Finnish representation in secondary business hubs—would for the first time get a clear legal mandate to witness biometric enrolment and identity verification. Businesses that move personnel in and out of Finland should benefit from a more predictable passport-renewal process for expatriates and their dependants. The reform dovetails with EU-wide plans for digital travel credentials and will allow Finland to pilot mobile ID and remote interviews once the technology matures. The ministry is also exploring secure courier channels so that new documents can be shipped directly to applicants’ EU addresses, further reducing embassy footfall. Comments on the draft are due by 10 June 2026, and the government aims to submit the final bill to Parliament in early autumn. With cross-party support expected, the new rules could enter into force as early as January 2027—well ahead of the EU’s timeline for fully digital travel documents.
For individuals and companies that need hands-on assistance navigating Finland’s evolving passport and visa rules, VisaHQ can help by offering a fully digital application interface, real-time status updates and expert support on documentation requirements; details are available at https://www.visahq.com/finland/
Honorary consulates—often the only Finnish representation in secondary business hubs—would for the first time get a clear legal mandate to witness biometric enrolment and identity verification. Businesses that move personnel in and out of Finland should benefit from a more predictable passport-renewal process for expatriates and their dependants. The reform dovetails with EU-wide plans for digital travel credentials and will allow Finland to pilot mobile ID and remote interviews once the technology matures. The ministry is also exploring secure courier channels so that new documents can be shipped directly to applicants’ EU addresses, further reducing embassy footfall. Comments on the draft are due by 10 June 2026, and the government aims to submit the final bill to Parliament in early autumn. With cross-party support expected, the new rules could enter into force as early as January 2027—well ahead of the EU’s timeline for fully digital travel documents.
