IMPACT – HIGH

Finland has extended the deadline for residence permit applicants who need to prove their identity at a Finnish consulate or service point in order to have their permit processed.

Key Points:

  • Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants for Finnish residency, registration of right of residence or citizenship will have until Dec. 31 to complete an in-person identity appointment at a Finnish embassy, consulate or service center. Normally, such appointments must be completed within three months of submitting an online application.
  • The in-person appointment is mandatory for the application to be processed. Applicants have their fingerprints taken and documents verified during the appointment.
  • Applicants who are in Finland can apply for an extended residence permit and may be able to avoid an in-person appointment by using “strong identification” in the Enter Finland online service. More information is available here.
  • There is currently a shortage of available in-person appointments at Finnish Immigration service points in the service’s online appointment system. Applicants can monitor the situation here.

Background: According to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, reception activities for residence permit applications have gradually resumed since June 16. The extension marks the third time since the beginning of the pandemic that authorities have extended the deadline for identity appointments. It was initially extended to August 31, and again until Oct. 31.

Analysis & Comments: The extension should provide relief for applicants who have been unable to book an appointment to complete their application process. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

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