Please read these instructions carefully before starting to apply for a Finnish ID card or strong identification.
Applying for the Finnish identity card (available for those in Finland at least for one year) or an identity verification certificate i.e. todistus ensitunnistuksesta from the Finnish Police is not necessarily mandatory, but makes life easier in Finland, particularly if you are living in the country for several months.
Why apply for a Finnish ID card or identity verification certificate?
1. If you have opened a bank account in Finland, either of these documents from the Police enables you to receive online banking codes with a strong electronic identification function. These codes with this specific function, in turn, allow you to use online services very commonly provided in Finland. With the strong identification codes, you can prove your identity safely in various electronic services, for example:
- booking appointments with private and governmental agencies,
- making purchases online,
- using mobile pay (like Finnish Venmo),
- doing a customs clearance for a package coming from the U.S.,
- signing up a child for daycare, or
- using My Kanta Pages (citizens’ own online service where you can browse own health records and prescriptions)
These services typically require strong electronic identification codes.
2. In addition to enabling the strong electronic identification codes, the Finnish ID card (also called Alien’s identity card) has other benefits. Instead of carrying your U.S. passport with you, you can use the Finnish ID card for proving your identity in different instances (e.g. picking up a package at Posti, visiting the bank, or when proving your age at the state-owned liquor store Alko to mention a few). Please note that the Finnish residence permit card does not qualify as an identity card in Finland. Nevertheless, you need to carry the residence permit card with you to be able to prove your right to stay in the country if needed.
How to apply for a Finnish ID card? (for those in Finland min. 1 year)
- Finnish identity card is also called Alien’s identity card
- You can apply for the Finnish ID card only
- if you stay in Finland for at least one year and
- you have registered your Finnish address at DVV as a permanent address (i.e. you are assigned a municipality of residence kotikunta).
- The Finnish ID card application instructions are available at the Police website: https://poliisi.fi/en/identity-card
- You can apply for the identity card by visiting your local police station (applying online requires strong identification codes from the bank which you most likely don’t have at this point).
- You can either make an appointment in advance with the Police’s local customer service point or queue for service. The waiting times vary by service point and can be up to several hours.
- Book an appointment in advance here: https://asiointi.poliisi.fi/ajanvaraus-fe/reserve or call the police helpline at +358 (0)295 419 800.
- Before visiting the police, make sure you have read the instructions and know which documents you need to have with you at the Police station (typically your current passport, Finnish residence permit card, a certificate from DVV, and a photo taken within the last 6 months).
- Processing time varies by Police service points. For example, in Helsinki, it's typically 2-3 weeks (January 2022).
- Fee for Alien’s identity card: EUR 60 (January 2022). Please see further information at https://poliisi.fi/en/fees-and-payments.
How to apply for an identity verification certificate (todistus ensitunnistuksesta)?
- If you are in Finland for less than one year, you can apply for an identity verification certificate (todistus ensitunnistuksesta) from the Police. Those eligible for the Finnish ID card (thus staying in the country at least for a year) may sometimes also choose to apply for todistus ensitunnistuksesta if they wish to receive strong identification codes a bit faster as the todistus ensitunnistuksesta process is typically a somewhat shorter (app. 1-2 weeks) compared to the Finnish ID process (situation in Helsinki as of January 2022).
- The application instructions are available at the Police website: https://poliisi.fi/en/instructions-for-applying-for-identification-for-the-purpose-of-electronic-identification-documents
- First, visit your local bank and complete the application for identification with the help of a bank clerk who typically fills in part of the application. Alternatively, there might be prefilled applications available at the bank.
- Next, visit your local police station to have your identity verified. Bring with you the prefilled application as well as two identical passport photos.
- Depending on your host town, you can either make an appointment in advance with the Police’s local customer service point or queue for service. For example, in Helsinki, you have to queue for service as appointments are not made for applying for this specific certificate. The queuing times vary by service point and can be up to several hours.
- Book an appointment in advance here: https://asiointi.poliisi.fi/ajanvaraus-fe/reserve or call the police helpline at +358 (0)295 419 800.
- If the police can verify your identity, you will be issued todistus ensitunnistuksesta certificate, which will be posted by recorded delivery directly to your local bank for processing the strong identity codes for you. So, you don’t get any sort of certificate — the information goes directly to the bank.
- The certificate is eligible for one-time use only.
- The certificate processing times vary by Police service points. For example, in Helsinki, it’s typically one week (January 2022).
- Fee: EUR 47 (January 2022). Please see further information at https://poliisi.fi/en/fees-and-payments.
I would say it could be a good idea for someone to consult with their bank just to confirm they will accept that form of ID, at least that is what I did with Nordea, since they mentioned at the Police that I should be sure before I pay the 47 euros.
Information on this page is based on the material on the Police website and consultancy given by Police customer service in January 2022 and Fulbright alumni in 2021.
