New biometric passports to be introduced on 21 August 2006
Finland will start to introduce biometric passports as from 21 August 2006. The new passports will be more secure than the existing passports, thanks to biometric identifiers. The introduction of biometric passports is a joint project of all EU Member States which helps to fight passport fraud and forgery. With the reform, the Finnish passport will get a new design with additional security features and its period of validity will change. Moreover, the processing period for passport applications will shorten and children can no longer be included on the passport of a parent.
The new biometric passport's data page will contain a microchip storing the same data that is printed on the data page: facial image, personal data and passport data. The chip will also contain security features which help to prevent passport fraud and forgery and the misuse of data stored on the chip.
As from 21 August 2006, Finnish citizens can apply for a biometric passport at any police service point or Finnish mission abroad. Applicants must have with them a photo which meets the requirements set in the passport photo guidelines issued in June 2005 and shows their features clearly, thus making them easily identifiable. The new guidelines specify, for example, that the expression must be neutral and the face must be free of shadows.
New biometric passports are issued for a maximum of five years. The passport fee will not rise significantly. The average processing time for passport applications is one week from the date of submitting the application. For an additional fee, it is even possible to obtain a passport within 24 hours through fast track or express service. The fee for a passport issued by a Finnish mission abroad is EUR 80.
Alien's passports, refugee travel documents and diplomatic and service passports issued on and after 21 August 2006 will contain a chip and biometric identifier.
Passports of the current type will continue to be valid travel documents after the introduction of the new biometric passport. Citizens will not need to exchange their valid passports for new biometric passports. All passports will remain valid until their expiry date.
Minister of the Interior Mr Rajamäki: Biometrics - a way of strengthening security
"Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the European Union took urgent action to improve security features in travel documents and to make related regulations legally binding. One way of strengthening security is to make use of biometrics. With this in mind, the Council of the European Union adopted in December 2004 a Regulation on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States", says Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki.
Under the Regulation, passports must contain a chip which stores the passport holder's facial image and fingerprints as biometric identifiers. The transition period for the introduction of a facial image is 18 months and for the introduction of fingerprints 36 months following the adoption of the technical specifications for passports. The facial image must be included on passports by 28 August 2006 at the latest. As regards fingerprints, technical specifications have not yet been adopted but it is expected that they be adopted in spring 2006. Thus, fingerprints will not probably be introduced until early 2009.
According to Mr Rajamäki, Finland has, from the very beginning, been actively involved in making travel documents more secure. Finland will introduce biometric passports in accordance with the timetable set out by the EU. "I am very pleased that the new Finnish passport with improved security features will not be significantly more expensive than the existing passport", emphasises Mr Rajamäki.
A few other EU Member States have already started to issue biometric passports and others are trying to comply with the timetables set by the EU and the United States. However, all EU countries will probably not meet the deadline set for the introduction of biometric passports. In fact, some countries may be at risk of being excluded from the US Visa Waiver Programme.
Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Immigration Service
31 May 2006
