Backlog in the processing of alien’s passports and refugee travel documents

If you have applied for an alien’s passport or a refugee travel document, you will receive the decision on your application later than normally. At the moment, the estimated processing time for alien’s passports and refugee travel documents is five months.

The current estimate is that the backlog will continue until the end of 2022, after which applications can again be processed in the target time of 2–4 months. The duration of the backlog depends on the number of new travel document applications submitted in each month.

We apologise for the delay.

If the estimated processing time has been exceeded, there is no need for you to contact the Finnish Immigration Service

Alien’s passport and refugee travel document applications are processed in the order in which they have been submitted.

If the estimated processing time of your application has been exceeded, there is no need for you to contact the Finnish Immigration Service. Your application is being processed and you will be contacted, if necessary.

The telephone service cannot give a more detailed estimate of the processing time.

How to speed up the processing of your application

• Read the instructions for applying for an alien’s passport or a refugee travel document on our website. 
• Book an appointment at the Finnish Immigration Service’s service point well in advance.
• When you come to the service point, bring the following with you:
  • cash, a payment card or a voucher for paying the processing fee,
  • a certificate of identity and
  • a passport photograph complying with the police’s passport photograph instructions, or the photograph retrieval code received from the photography studio. Please note that the photograph may not be more than six months old.
• An applicant under the age of 18 must have the consent of his or her guardians or legal representative.
• If you have a previous alien’s passport or refugee travel document, show it to the service point employee.