A foreigner’s identity card is issued to a persons who has a valid residence permit or residence card, or whose right of residence has been registered and who has a Finnish municipality of residence in accordance with the Municipality of Residence Act, and whose information has been entered into the Population Information System.
In order for an identity card to be issued, the person must have been identified and had his or her identity reliably verified.
At the moment, not all foreigners who have a residence permit and fulfil the requirements for receiving an identity card have actually been granted an identity card because their identity has not been verified as required by the law.
This situation has applied to persons whose aliens’ passport or refugee travel documents state that their identity has not been verified. The majority of foreigners who arrive in Finland and apply for international protection do not have a national passport or another document to prove their identity. In practice, the requirement for reliable verification of identity has often prevented them from receiving an identity card.
In the future, the identity of such persons may be verified by comparing their fingerprints to those on the residence permit card. The fingerprints taken for this purpose will be destroyed immediately after this. This comparison will ensure that the person is the same to whom the residence permit was granted.
This change in the procedure will enable these persons to use banking services, including online banking, and enhances their integration into the Finnish society.
In the new year, identity cards for foreign citizens are granted for a period of five years. However, the cards’ period of validity may not exceed the validity of the applicant's residence permit or residence card. The amendment creates a closer link between the identity card and right of residence.
A foreigner’s identity card jpg, 2,1 MB
