The world surprised in 2014, too – a record number of travellers needed consular services 

Press Release 14/2015
16 January 2015

In 2014, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finland’s diplomatic missions abroad provided a record number of consular services to Finns in need of assistance. In all, about 44,000 consular services were registered during the year.

The most common problems experienced by Finns pertained to travel documents. A total of 13,748 Finns turned to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs regarding the disappearance of their passport or other passport-related problems. The number of new Finnish passports issued by diplomatic missions abroad totalled 18,876.

A total of 909 Finns who fell ill or were involved in an accident abroad received assistance from the Finnish embassy or consulate. There were 728 Finns who needed assistance because they were victims of crime. A total of 426 Finns arrested or incarcerated abroad were assisted during 2014.

In all, 502 Finns died while abroad during 2014. The vast majority of the deceased were brought back to Finland. Over the past three years, the number of deaths has increased by 47%.

In accordance with the Consular Services Act, assistance is provided to both Finnish citizens and foreigners living permanently in Finland. Advice is the primary mode of assistance. If necessary, the diplomatic missions of Finland may provide assistance, for example, with maintaining contacts, receiving information, gaining access to medical care and with other essential assistance required by the situation.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs recommends that all Finns travelling abroad take out comprehensive travel insurance. It is also recommended that travellers going outside Europe and independent travellers, in particular, report their contact information to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on the site matkustusilmoitus.fi(Link to another website.).

Information on the security situation in the destination country, from the perspective of Finnish travellers, can be obtained from the Foreign Ministry’s travel bulletins (formin.finland.fi - Palvelut - Matkalla - Matkustustiedotteet(Link to another website.)).

Additional information: Teemu Turunen, Head of the Unit for Consular Assistance, tel. +358 295 351 063 Passport statistics: Team Leader Jorma Mussalo, Passport and Visa Unit, tel. +358 295 351 906.