PASSIKUVA SUOMI

WHAT IS PASSPORT?
A passport is an identification document for example for traveling.

Please notice the following things:
You can travel only with a valid passport. If your passport is expired or physically damaged, you cannot enter a foreign country – you will be stopped at the border. Remember to check the compulsions for traveling for each country you will plan to travel to. For example, what kind of passport or visa requirements are in effect. For example, some countries require that your passport is valid for more than 6 months when entering the country.

Normally you can have only one valid passport at a time. When you apply for a new passport, the previous one will expire even if it would have an expiration date in the future. Normally passports are valid for 5 years.

For a passport application, you need a passport photo as an electronic or paper version. You can apply Finnish passport online at the site of The Finnish Police or at a police station. You can use the electronic photo at a police station using retrieval code – just tell the code to the official.

RAPID PASSPORT

Passport can be delivered to you with an expedited delivery time for an additional fee. Rapid delivery takes at most 3 working days if you have placed the order on a weekday before 9am and there is room in the express quota.

EXPRESS PASSPORT

Express passport is a passport delivered with an expedited delivery time. The new passport will be delivered on the same day by 4pm if you have placed the order online before 9am and there is room in the express quota. If you make the application at a police station OR the online application requires identification, the time limit is 11am. If you place the order later or there is no room in the express quota for that day, you can collect your passport the next day at 4pm.

You can apply for an express passport at any police station but the new passport will be delivered only to collection points underneath:

Matkahuolto’s Kamppi terminal, Kamppi Centre Narinkka 1, Helsinki

R-kioski, Terminal 2, Helsinki Airport

Verkkokauppa.com’s 24h kiosk, Tyynenmerenkatu 11, Helsinki

COLLECTION OF THE PASSPORT

Standard passport will be delivered to a Matlahuolto’s collection point of your choosing. You will receive a collection note when you can collect your passport! The collection note will include a tracking number that you will need when you are collecting your passport. When you are collecting your passport you also have to prove your identity with a passport or an ID-card. If you do not have a valid passport or ID-card, no more than a year ago expired is also accepted, unless otherwise notified. A driving licence is not accepted as a proof of identity.

You can also authorize another person to collect your passport. They must be able to prove their identity with a valid passport or ID-card. Expired passport or ID-card will not be accepted. A minor’s guardian does not need a power of attorney to collect the passport of their minor.

The delivery of a passport takes normally 5-8 business days.

You can apply for example finnish passport now online!

1. COME TO OUR STUDIO FOR PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPHY. We will send the picture straight to The Finnish Police. You will receive the retrieval code via text message in a minute. The retrieval code is required for applying for a finnish passport online.

2. FILL THE APPLICATION FORM ONLINE on www.poliisi.fi/asiointipalvelu. Paste the retrieval code on the correct field and your photo will be linked to your application. Finish the application online and after the payment you can choose where the passport will be sent. Usually you can finish the whole application online, if your fingerprints have been registered in the last 6 years and your name remains the same as in the previous passport. If these requirements are not met, you can make the application online and it will be finished after you have been at a police station and you have been identified. The system will inform you if you will have to go to the police station when you are making the online application.

You can also make the complete application at a police station, but online application is cheaper and faster. Electronic photo is also accepted at a police station, just tell the official your retrieval code – so keep the text message safe.

The picture for a passport must be taken in the last 6 months. You can also apply for an ID-card simultaneously with a passport and the same picture is valid for them both!

3. RETRIEVING THE PASSPORT
Regular passport is delivered to Matkahuolto service point or to its partner. You will receive a notice of arrival when you can retrieve your passport. The notice will include a shipment ID, which is required when retrieving your passport. When you are retrieving your passport you must also be identified. This can be done via ID-card or passport. An expired passport is valid if it is recently expired. A driving license is not accepted.

You can also authorize another person to retrieve your passport. The authorized person must have the authorization and a valid identification. Parent or guardian of an underaged child does not need authorization.

The delivery of a passport takes normally 5-8 business days.

WHAT IS AN ID-CARD?
ID-card is a credit card sized identification document including a photo of the person. It can be used as a traveling document instead of a passport in some countries. You can check the countries that allow traveling with only an ID-card from the site of The Finnish Police.

APPLYING AN ID-CARD
You can apply for an ID-card online at the site of The Finnish Police or at a police station. Applying online is the most convenient method. Here are the instructions for applying ID-card online:

Come to our studio for photography. We will send your picture straight to The Finnish Police. You will receive a retrieval code via text message in a minute. You can come to our store without booking a time – just walk in.

Fill the application online at www.poliisi.fi/asiointipalvelu. Insert the retrieval code on the correct field. To finish the application check out via online payment at The Finnish Police site.

Usually online application is enough, if the official has identified the applicant for an ID-card or passport within the last 6 years or the applicant is at least 12 years old and he/she has the same name as in the previous identification document. The online system will inform you if you need to go to the police station to be identified. You can finish the application online, but only after you have been identified the application will be finished.

You can make the application completely at a police station, but the online application is faster and cheaper. Electronic photo is valid at a police station, just present your retrieval code – so do not delete the text message!

For an ID-card application you need a passport photo which is taken in the last 6 months. If you have a passport newer than 6 months, the same picture can be used.

RETRIEVING THE ID-CARD
Regular ID-card is delivered to Matkahuolto service point or to its partner. You will receive a notice of arrival when you can retrieve your ID-card. The notice will include a shipment ID, which is required when retrieving your ID-card. When you are retrieving your ID-card you must also be identified. This can be done via ID-card or passport. An expired passport is valid if it is recently expired. A driving license is not accepted.

You can also authorize another person to retrieve your passport. The authorized person must have the authorization and a valid identification. Parent or guardian of an underaged child does not need authorization.

WHAT IS AN ELECTRONIC PASSPORT PHOTO?

An electronic passport photo is sent straight to the police by the photography studio. You will receive a retrieval code after photography. The code is inserted into a passport or ID-card application. An electronic photo can be used also when applying these documents at a police station – just remember to take the retrieval code with you!

For regular ID-card or passport application you can use electronic or paper photos but an online application can be made only with electronic photo ie. with retrieval code.

ELECTRONIC PASSPORT PHOTO IS VALID FOR FOLLOWING APPLICATIONS
PASSPORT (All documents that are accepted by The Finnish Police or Migri including temporary passport, alien’s passport and refugees’ travel document)
ID-CARD (excluding temporary ID-card)
SECURITY OFFICER CARD
CARD FOR GUARD Also temporary card
SECURITY STEWARD LICENSE
FIREARMS HANDLING PERMIT
RESIDENCE PERMIT, Renewal of a residence permit card and EU citizens’ family members’ residence card

A paper passport photo is required for driving licenses.

For driving licenses you need paper passport photos.

Electronic passport photo is only accepted by Traficom if you have recently applied for a passport or ID-card. The existing photo on your passport will be copied to the new applied driving license. If you are applying for both a passport and a driving license, you can first apply for the passport and after it is granted, you can use the same picture for the driving license. This means you need only one electronic picture if you are not in a hurry with the driving license.

 

An ID-card can be used as a travel document for specific countries.

Please notice that an ID-card cannot be used as a travel document for the following cases: ID-card is applied for an underaged child without parents or guardians permission, ID-card is issued without a travel right, ID-card is granted for a foreign citizen or the ID-card is temporary.

You can check from the site of The Finnish Police where ID-card is accepted as a traveling document https://www.poliisi.fi/identity_card/use_of_the_identity_card

DID YOU KNOW! In Nordic countries you don’t need traveling documents as long as you have documents proving your identity and citizenship of any Nordic country. NB! A driving license doesn’t include the required detail of citizenship – it only informs the place of birth.

 

I LOST MY PASSPORT OR ID-CARD!
If you have lost your passport or ID-card it is important to contact the police immediately to prevent any abuse. You can report online or at a police station. If you are abroad you can contact the embassy. After making the report you can apply for a new passport normally. The police will register the document as missing and invalidate it. After that, the document cannot be recovered – even if it is found.

I BROKE MY PASSPORT OR ID-CARD!
If your passport or ID-card is broken, contact the police or while aboard the embassy. You should avoid traveling with a broken travel document as your trip could be stopped at border control.

Generally the rule for passports is that the whole face must be seen, hair or clothes must not cover the face, eyes should be visible and you should have a neutral facial expression.

Mouth must be closed. Some exceptions can be made for little babies.

Eyeglasses are recommended to be taken off. This prevents glares, shadows and distortions that glasses might cause.

Dark glasses or eyepatch can be used only for medical reasons.

Hat or other headwear can be used only for religious or medical reasons.

A wig is allowed only if the person uses it daily for example for medical reasons. Using a wig has the same rules as natural hair – the face must be shown completely.

You can have jewelry and makeup on passport photos as long as they do not interrupt the identificational properties of the picture. For example, face powder can be used to prevent glares on the face. Please notice that some countries have more strict standards than others.

5 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL PASSPORT PHOTO

1. POSITION
You can lean forward a little. This makes your chin stand out. Leaning backward can make your face look more round-faced than you really do.

2. POSTURE
Sit upright! Keep your shoulders back and relaxed.

3. FACIAL EXPRESSION
The facial expression should be neutral on a passport picture. But remember to smile with your eyes! You could also make a little positive grin with your mouth without smiling too much.

4. GENERAL APPEARANCE
Remember to check out your hair before the photography, the hair should not cover your face especially eyebrows, eyes or make any harsh shadows on your face. You can also check your make-up and make sure your face isn’t glaring. You should also avoid wearing pure white shirts as the background is white on the passport photos. HINT! Face powder helps avoid any glare on the face caused by flashes.

5. COME TO OUR STORE WITH NO STRESS
Don’t take any pressure about the photography. Our professionals are here for you and make sure that you will get the best possible passport photo. At our store you can also see your photo and make sure you like it – we make sure that the officials accept it.

 

Going for a trip is less stressful when you have considered the following things in advance:

1. MAKE SURE YOUR PASSPORT IS VALID

Check in advance that your passport is valid! If your passport has expired you can apply for a new one with a delivery time of 5 to 8 business days or rapid delivery passport with 2 business days or express passport within the next business day

2. CHECK WHAT REGULATIONS FOR TRAVELING THE COUNTRIES HAVE YOU ARE TRAVELING TO

It is important to check the regulations for traveling for each country you plan to travel to. For example, what kind of passport do you need to travel to each country, is there a requirement that your passport will not expire in the next 6 months or is a visa required.

3. TRAVEL DECLARATION

If you are traveling to a high-risk area it is advised to make a travel declaration for the Ministry for foreign affairs. It ensures that the Ministry for foreign affairs can contact you in case of crisis or emergency.

4. TRAVEL INSURANCE

While traveling anything could happen. It is a good idea to be prepared and get travel insurance. Travel insurance is easy to get and you can make it valid during your trip only if needed.

5. VACCINATIONS

You should make sure what kind of vaccines are recommended for each country and get vaccinated by healthcare professionals.