Finland passport and ID pickup rules will change from the start of 2026, ending the use of paper authorization for collecting passports and national identity cards on someone else’s behalf.
From 1 January 2026, anyone seeking to collect another person’s passport or Finnish national ID card will no longer be able to present a paper power of attorney. The Finnish police confirmed the policy shift, saying the decision follows rising concerns about document forgery and a need to meet updated European Union identity regulations.
Under the new process, passports and ID cards will only be handed to the person whose name appears on the document, a legal guardian, or an individual who was officially authorized during the application stage. Any authorization submitted later in paper form will be rejected without exception.
Police officials stressed that permissions must now be recorded during the application itself, whether the request is filed online or at a police station. This replaces the long-standing practice of allowing relatives, employers, and representatives to collect identification using signed letters.
For passport applications, authorization can still be given digitally through the online form or during a visit to a police station. ID card collections will follow more rigid procedures. In those cases, authorization must be completed in person during the applicant’s identity verification appointment at the police station. Only the person granting the authorization needs to appear, and the authorized collector does not need to attend.
According to the police, paper authorizations are increasingly vulnerable to tampering and no longer meet the security standards required for handling national identity documents. Authorities say this move also aligns Finland with EU rules governing electronic identification systems.
Finnish ID cards contain a digital chip known as the Citizen Certificate, which allows access to official services and identity verification in online systems. Because this certificate serves as a digital identity tool, the handling process must meet strict authentication requirements. Paper letters, officials say, fall short of what modern digital identity frameworks demand.
There is a short transition period for existing documents. Passports and ID cards issued on or before 5 December 2025 may still be collected using a paper authorization until the end of the year. After 31 December 2025, paper permissions will no longer be accepted at any location nationwide, regardless of when the document was issued.
The change will also require technical updates to the police digital system. The police e-service platform will be temporarily unavailable on 5 December between 16:00 and 20:00 due to scheduled maintenance connected to the upgrade.
Authorities are advising anyone planning to renew identification late in 2025 to verify collection arrangements in advance. If another person is expected to collect a document, that person must be formally authorized at the time of application.
Once 2026 begins, there will be no exceptions and no paper-based alternatives. The new policy is expected to simplify oversight, reduce fraud, and strengthen personal identity protection in Finland’s increasingly digital environment.
