Foreign Ministry sends out for comments draft government proposal to amend Passport Act and Identity Card Act

The proposal seeks to update legislation on passport and identity card services with regard to the activities of the Foreign Service.

The Government proposes several amendments to the Passport Act and the Identity Card Act to better align their content with changes that have already taken place in the Foreign Service and to bring regulation in line with the Constitution and the statements of the Constitutional Law Committee. 

The proposed amendments include centralising decision-making on passports and identity cards applied for by Finnish citizens staying abroad from Finnish missions to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Finnish missions abroad would continue to accept applications for passports and identity cards as before. Applications could also be handled by persons who are in an employment relationship with a Finnish mission. Their required qualifications, duties, and criminal liability for acts in office would be laid down in law.

The law would also provide for Finnish honorary consulates’ duties in passport and identity card matters as required by the Constitution. 

The proposal aims to ensure that the Foreign Service can deliver passport and identity card services flexibly, economically and efficiently within the scope of the available appropriations and human resources.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs requests comments on the draft government proposal by June 10th, 2026