Applying for a passport or an identity card

  1. The application must be submitted at the embassy in person.
  2. Make sure that your details are up to date in the population information system. Finnish citizens can, if they wish, check their registered data in the population information system once a year. To correct and revise the data, please contact your nearest Digital and Population Data Agency(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window).
  3. You have to pay the fee for a passport or an identity card when you submit the application.
  4. A passport and an identity card are valid for a maximum of 5 years.
  5. It takes from a minimum of two weeks to up to several weeks to get an ordinary passport. A fast-track passport can normally be obtained faster, but the time of delivery depends on the country of issuance.

Passports and identity cards are issued at Finland's embassies, consulates general and consulates led by a career consul. Finland's Honorary Consulates in Germany (Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main) and Spain (Barcelona, Malaga, Las Palmas, Torrevieja) can issue passports.

Identity card

An identity card is a document that you can use to prove your identity in different kinds of public services. It can also be used for travel to a limited extent, and it has a chip that allows you to security log into public services. 

Finnish missions may grant standard and temporary identity cards. An identity card can be granted also to minors subject to parental consent.

Finnish missions do not accept applications for a minor’s identity card not requiring parental consent or for identity cards for foreigners.

Starting on 2 August 2021, the applicant’s fingerprints are stored in the identity card.

Applying for a passport or an identity card in the UK 

In the UK the Embassy in London is the only place where you can apply for a passport or an identity card. Honorary consuls are not able to process applications. Also children must visit the Embassy in person with their guardian when applying. 

All customers are required to pre-book an appointment via our online appointment booking system (except in emergencies). 

Appointments from January 2023 onwards, please use the new appointment booking system(Link to another website.).

The appointments are opened one calendar month at a time on the third Monday starting at 2pm of the previous month. You can track possible cancellations in the appointment booking system. All available appointments are visible in the appointment booking system.

It is the applicant's personal responsibility to check that their personal information is correct and updated in the Finnish Population Register Centre before visiting the Embassy. This means that the registration of birth, marriage, divorce, nationalities, name change or change of address has to be completed in Finland by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency before a passport application can be submitted. If you need to check or correct you personal information, please contact directly the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)

Passport fees, process and collection/delivery

Passport fee is payable in pounds upon applying by debit or credit card only. Current fees are available here: Service Fees (Opens New Window).

Normal processing time for a five year passport is 1-2 weeks. Please note that we cannot guarantee these delivery times, because passports and ID-cards are made in Finland.

Passport can be collected from the Embassy in person or by a person authorised by the applicant. Collections within the Embassy's office hours. Upon request the passport can also be posted using a Royal Mail prepaid Special Delivery envelope provided by the applicant. The envelope must have the appropriate stamps (paid up to 100g). Kindly note that a printed postage sticker with a specific date is only valid for that day and is therefore not suitable for posting passports.

Customer service of the Consular Section

Passport and identity card related enquiries can be sent by email to [email protected]. Please check the customer service times and contact details of the Consular Section here: Customer service of the Consular Section.  (Opens New Window)