Travel documents
An alien`s passport and a refugee travel document are travel documents given in stead of a national passport. They are not official identification documents even when they do not state unverified identity. You can apply for an official identification document (identity card) from the police.
The holder of an alien’s passport or a refugee travel document may return to Finland from abroad if the travel document concerned and the holder’s residence permit are still valid.
The residence permit may be found
Biometric travel documents
Finland introduced the biometric passport on 21 August 2006. Since that date, travel documents issued by Finland have contained a microchip. The alien’s passport and the refugee travel document also contain a microchip. The chip stores the information contained in the travel document: a facial photo, personal information, information on the passport, and fingerprints of persons over 12 years of age. The chip also contains data which make it difficult to forge the passport or the travel document and to misuse the information contained in the chip.
No old-style alien’s passports or refugee travel documents have been issued since the biometric passport was introduced, though they may still be used until their expiry date. A biometric alien’s passport or refugee travel document is valid not longer than five years. The validity of a passport document cannot be extended; instead, upon passport expiry, a new travel document is issued for a period not exceeding five years.