Things to bring with you when collecting a passport
Tracking number: To collect your passport, you need to present proof of identity and the tracking number. You can show the tracking number for example on your phone screen or a printout of the notification, or you can write it down on a piece of paper.
Verifying your identity: Your identity is verified by means of a valid passport or identity card issued by Finnish authorities. If you have neither, a Finnish passport or identity card expired no more than a year ago is also accepted, unless you are otherwise notified.
In any case, the passport or identity card you present must have a photograph from which you can be recognised without difficulty.
A driving licence is not an accepted proof of identity for collecting a passport.
Authorising someone else to collect your passport
Power of attorney: You can also authorise another person to collect your passport on your behalf. In this case, you need to give that person a power of attorney specifically addressed to them. Please note that anyone collecting a passport using a power of attorney must be able to prove their identity with a valid passport or identity card issued by Finnish authorities.
Download a template of a power of attorney
Persons under the age of 18 cannot independently authorise another person to collect their own ID card. If a proxy is to be used to collect an ID card for a minor, the guardian must duly ensure that authorisation (power of attorney) is given. However, the guardian of a minor can pick up an ID card without a power of attorney.
I don’t have a passport or an identity card, and I don’t want to give a power of attorney to anyone. What should I do?
If you don’t have a passport or identity card required to collect your new passport, and you don’t want to give a power of attorney to someone else so that they can collect your passport, you can collect your passport from a police station. To do this, visit the police station and talk to a member of staff to arrange the collection.
Our online service will check our registers to see if you have a passport or identity card needed for collecting a new passport. If you don’t have either, you can select a police station as the collection point.
More information about the rapid passport
A rapid passport is a standard passport with an expedited delivery time. There is a limited number of rapid deliveries allocated for each day.
Delivery time: If you submit a rapid passport application online no later than 9:00 on a working day, the finished passport can be collected no later than on the second working day after the application date, provided that there is room in the rapid passport quota for the same day. If you submit the application at a police station or if your online application requires an identification visit, the deadline is 11:00. If you submit the application later, or there is room only in the next day's quota, the finished passport can be collected no later than on the fourth working day after the application date.
Please note that applications are only processed between Mondays and Fridays.
Submitting a rapid passport application online: If you submit your application online and the system tells you that you need to visit a police station for identification, you can only select standard delivery in your online application. However, you will be able to opt for expedited delivery time at the police station. In this case, you will have to pay the difference between the prices of a standard and expedited delivery.
Please note: Temporary passport is not the same as a rapid passport. A temporary passport is a passport filled in at a police station which can only be issued to you for particularly compelling reasons, and which does not grant you access to all countries. A rapid passport, on the other hand, is identical with a passport with a standard delivery time.
More information about the express passport
An express passport is a standard passport delivered at express delivery time. There is a limited number of express deliveries allocated for each day.
Delivery time to a collection point located in Capital Region (Helsinki and Vantaa): If you submit an express passport application online no later than 9:00 on a working day, the finished passport can be collected at 16:00 on the same afternoon, provided that there is room in the express passport quota for the same day. If you submit the application at a police station or if your online application requires an identification visit, the deadline is 11:00. If you submit the application later, or if there is room only in the next day's quota, you can collect the finished passport at 16:00 on the next working day.
Delivery time to a collection point outside Capital Region: If you submit an express passport application online no later than 9:00 on a working day, the finished passport can be collected by noon the next day, provided that there is room in the express passport quota for the same day. If you submit the application at a police station or if your online application requires an identification visit, the deadline is 11:00. If you submit the application later, or if there is room only in the next day's quota, you can collect the finished passport by noon on the second working day.
Please note that applications are only processed between Mondays and Fridays.
Delivery locations: You can apply for an express passport at any police station, but the finished passport can only be delivered to certain collection points in these cities: Helsinki, Vantaa, Kouvola, Lahti, Tampere, Turku, Kuopio, Vaasa, Oulu ja Rovaniemi.
Submitting an express passport application online: If you submit your application online and the system tells you that you need to visit a police station for identification, you can only select standard delivery in your online application. However, you will be able to opt for expedited delivery time at the police station. In this case, you will have to pay the difference between the prices of a standard and expedited delivery.
Checking your new passport
Your new passport will come with a letter explaining how to check the condition of your passport and your personal details in it. Read the instructions carefully.
It is especially important to check that
- the passport is intact: the covers, pages and binding must be in excellent condition.
- your personal details are correct and complete: your full name, nationality, date of birth, sex, the last four digits of your personal identity code and your place of birth.
- signature: the signature field must have a signature or a line instead of a signature if the passport holder cannot write (this mostly applies to young children).
- the information on your passport is complete: the passport must show the passport type, country, passport number, date of issue, expiry date and the name of the authority that issued the passport.
- photograph: your photograph must have nothing unusual in it.
If you want to, you can also visit a police station to check that the chip works and that the information contained on the chip is correct.
If you spot any mistakes or defects in your passport, take it to a police station. If the defect is found to have been caused by the passport manufacturer or the authority that issued the passport, you will not have to pay for the replacement.
Keep in mind that you can only use an intact passport with correct information for travelling.
Invalidating and destroying your old passport
Your new passport will come with a letter explaining how to invalidate and destroy your old passport. Read the instructions carefully.
When you receive your new passport, your old passport will expire automatically. You cannot use your expired passport as a travel document once you have been issued a new one, even if your old passport hasn’t expired yet.
To invalidate your old passport:
- destroy the chip by cutting through it: Cut across the identity page of the passport so that you cut through the chip on the right-hand side of the page. The location of the chip is visible as a square shape where the name of the issuing authority is.
- cut the front cover: Cut off one of the corners of the front cover of the passport.
Invalidating your old passport is extremely important to protect your legal rights. If your old passport ends up in the wrong hands, your identity could be used for criminal purposes. In addition to taking the steps above, the safest option is to destroy all the pieces of your old passport completely. Please note that the casing of the passport’s chip is extremely durable and cannot be destroyed by burning.
If you want to, you can also return your old passport to the police. Schenker and its subcontractors’ offices do not accept old passports.
