Brisk start to electronic applications for firearms permits

The police have received many electronic applications for firearms permits in March. Incomplete applications slow down permit processing. Applicants can speed up processing by carefully filling in the electronic application and by including all the required attachments.

At the beginning of March, the police introduced the possibility to initiate firearms permit matters and submit notifications in the police's e-services. Nevertheless, the new service channel has not changed permit processing in police departments or the grounds for granting permits. In more than three weeks, police departments have received almost 3,000 electronic applications for firearms permits. Whereas e-services are convenient and in most cases sufficient, many shortcomings have been noticed in applications and notifications alike.

“E-applications must be filled in carefully and all the required attachments, such as a photo of a hunting card, need to be saved. This allows the police department to make the firearms permit decision flexibly without the delay ensuing from having to request more information,” points out Tarja Ranta, Senior Adviser at the National Police Board of Finland.

Instructions for filling in the application and reminders to save attachments are being added to the e-service. 

More information is available on the poliisi.fi website and the Police Helpline.