Finland is considering the introduction of 10-year passports, targeted for roll-out by 2027, contingent on the ongoing reforms in the Ministry of the Interior. Concurrently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating how Finnish citizens abroad can renew their passport and identity card services. They announced their plans to evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of accepting digital applications during the current year.

Implementing a 10-year passport would necessitate changes in both legislation and existing systems, which the government acknowledges will require substantial effort. Moreover, while they are evaluating the practicality of digital applications, it was made clear that personal appearance at a Finnish authority abroad or in Finland remains mandatory for the application process. This means that even with a digital application system in place, individuals will still need to visit an embassy or consulate to complete their application for a 10-year passport.

Currently, applying for a Finnish passport from abroad incurs a cost of 235 euros, considerably higher than the less than 50 euro fee for applications made within Finland. This significant price difference has raised concerns about accessibility for Finns living abroad, prompting discussions about modifying the application process to better serve expatriates. The outcome of this investigation and subsequent reforms could lead to improved services for Finnish citizens overseas, particularly regarding ease of application and cost-effectiveness.