The summer holiday season is fast approaching. If you have an alien's passport or a refugee travel document, check its validity in good time. If you are planning to travel abroad, contact the authorities in your destination country to check how long your passport must be valid after the beginning of your journey. If your travel document is about to expire in the coming months, apply for a new document now in order to avoid the holiday rush.
Holiday travel is not considered a reason to expedite your application, so you should not book travel tickets before you have received your new travel document.
Apply for a passport at a police service point
To apply for a new alien's passport or a refugee travel document, go to the customer service point at a police station. Take your old passport and a passport photo with you. You will be asked to pay a service charge when you submit your application. If you have a residence permit sticker in your old travel document, it will not be transferred to your new passport. Instead you must apply for a residence permit card from the police.
If you already have a valid alien's passport or a refugee travel document, the police usually issues the decision on your application. The Finnish Immigration Service issues the first alien's passport or refugee travel document.
