MFA: Changes proposed to the prices of identity cards and passports issued by missions abroad

The prices of passports issued to veterans of the Finnish wars would remain unchanged.

The proposed changes of identity card and passport prices are based on the cost-price principle referred to in the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State.

The price change is due to the amendments to the Identity Card Act, the Passport Act, sections 15 and 38 of the Act on the Processing of Personal Data by the Police, and sections 33a and 159 of the Aliens Act, which will enter into force on 2 August 2021. From then on, identity cards will include biometric identifiers, that is, a facial image and fingerprints. The additional expenditure caused by the amendments are part of the chargeable services provided by the Foreign Service and, in accordance with the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State (150/1992), must be covered fully by fees charged for issuance of permits.

Since 2014, a passport issued by a mission abroad has cost 140 euros. The price of a passport does no longer correspond to the cost price, which is why a rise to 195 euros is proposed. In accordance with section 6, subsection 1 of the Act on Criteria for Charges Payable to the State, the amount of the fee for services rendered under public law must correspond to the total costs incurred by the State, that is, meet the cost price principle.
The request for comments has been targeted at certain recipients, but opinions on the proposed amendments to the Decree and the explanatory memorandum can be presented also by others.

The proposal for amendments can be viewed (in Finnish) at lausuntopalvelu.fi.

Proposal for amending the Decree and explanatory memorandum (in Finnish): lausuntopalvelu.fi

Inquiries:

Leena Ritola, Director, Passport and Notarial Services Unit, leena.ritola@formin.fi, tel. +358 295 351 524

The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi