Do I need a passport when travelling to Finland?
Nordic citizens can travel to Finland without a passport. EU and Schengen citizens need a passport or national identity card when travelling to Finland. Citizens of other countries need a passport and in some cases a visa or residence permit when travelling to Finland.
Nordic citizens
Nordic citizens do not need a passport to travel between the Nordic countries. This means that Nordic citizens can stay and travel in the Nordic countries without a travel document. Read more about the Nordic Passport Control Agreement.
Even if you travel to Finland without a passport, you must still be able to prove your identity if necessary. Countries can also re-introduce temporary border control at any time, in which case you must show proof of identity when crossing the border. In some cases, a driving licence can be used for this purpose.
If you travel to Finland e.g. by plane or boat, check what forms of identification are accepted by the transport company you are using.
If you travel outside the Nordic countries, or from outside the Nordic countries to the Nordic countries, you will need either a valid passport or other travel document. Read more on the website of the Finnish Border Guard.
EU and Schengen nationals
If you are a citizen of an EU or Schengen country, you must have a valid passport or national identity card with you when you travel to Finland. Children must also have their own passport or identity card.
When you cross the internal borders of the Schengen area, you do not usually need to present a travel document. However, countries can reintroduce temporary border controls at any time, requiring you to show a valid passport or identity card when crossing borders.
If you are travelling to an EU or Schengen country from outside the EU or Schengen area, you must have a valid passport with you. Read more on the Finnish Border Guard and Your Europe websites.
Citizens of other countries
If you are not a citizen of a Nordic, EU or Schengen country, you will need a passport to travel to Finland. If you are a citizen of a visa-free country, you do not need a visa to travel to Finland. You can stay in Finland for 90 days without a visa or residence permit. If you are not a citizen of a visa-free country, you will need a visa or residence permit in addition to a valid passport. You can stay in Finland for 90 days without a residence permit, but you will still need a visa.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave Finland. Your passport must not be more than 10 years old. If you have a residence permit for Finland, these time limits do not apply to you. In this case, it is sufficient that both your passport and your residence permit are valid.
If you have a residence permit for Finland, you can travel in the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You must have your passport and residence permit card with you when you travel. If you have a residence permit for another Schengen country, you can use it to travel to Finland for 90 days during a 180-day period without a visa. This time limit applies to a cumulative stay in the whole Schengen area, not just in one country. Read more on the Finnish Immigration Service website.
If you have an alien's passport or refugee travel document, read the instructions on the Finnish Immigration Service's website.
Read more about visas on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and residence permits on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service.
More information
Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.
NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.
