A Finnish passport in Helsinki. A passport or ID card delivery can no longer be collected with a paper power of attorney. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva
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From 1 January 2026, it will no longer be possible to use a paper power of attorney to collect a passport or national ID card on someone else’s behalf in Finland.
The Finnish police confirmed the change in a statement issued on Thursday, citing forgery risks and compliance with updated European Union identification standards as key reasons for the policy shift.
Under the new rules, passports and identity cards will only be handed over to the person named in the application, their legal guardian, or an individual authorised during the application process.
Paper documents provided after the fact will not be accepted under any circumstances.
“The collection of a passport or ID card can only be carried out by someone specified at the time of application, either online or at a police station,” the statement said.
Authorisation for collecting a passport may still be made during the online application or in person at a police station. However, identity card authorisations must be done in person. The applicant must appear at a police station to confirm the authorised individual during the required identity verification visit.
The police emphasised that only the person granting authorisation is required to visit in person; the authorised person does not need to be present.
The shift is primarily linked to EU regulations concerning electronic identification. Finnish ID cards include a chip with a so-called Citizen Certificate, which requires strict verification standards.
Authorities say the use of paper authorisations has become increasingly vulnerable to forgery and does not meet the security standards needed for handling national identity documents.
The police confirmed that passports and ID cards issued on or before 5 December 2025 can still be collected with a paper authorisation until the end of the year. After 31 December, paper powers of attorney will no longer be accepted at any pickup location.
The update requires technical adjustments to the police e-service platform, which will be temporarily offline for maintenance between 16:00 and 20:00 on 5 December.
HT
- Next Article Orpo: Finland should issue a state apology to the Sámi people
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
