Key Takeaways: Finland will stop accepting non-biometric Russian passports from June 1, 2024. Exceptions apply for minors, current residents, and special cases. A transition period runs until the end of 2024 for visas issued before June 2026.
Finland is tightening its border controls for Russian citizens by phasing out an older generation of travel documents. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs announced that, starting June 1, 2024, it will generally no longer accept non-biometric passports issued by the Russian Federation.
This move aligns Finland with modern international travel security standards, as biometric passports contain embedded chips with the holder's data. The older, non-biometric documents lack this enhanced security feature.
Who Is Exempt from the New Rule?
The ban is not absolute. Finnish authorities have outlined three key exceptions to ensure the rule is applied fairly and does not cause undue hardship.
- Minors: Russian citizens under the age of 18 can still use their non-biometric passports.
- Current Residents: Individuals who were granted a Finnish residence permit using a non-biometric passport can continue to use that document to apply for permit extensions until June 1, 2026.
- Special Circumstances: Authorities may accept a non-biometric passport on a case-by-case basis for "special reasons," such as humanitarian grounds.
Understanding the Transition Period
To manage the change, a transition period will be in effect from June 1 to December 31, 2024.
During these seven months, Finland will still accept non-biometric Russian passports if they contain a valid visa or residence permit issued before June 1, 2026. This applies to documents issued by:
- Finland itself.
- Any other European Union member state.
- Any other country in the Schengen Area.
This grace period is designed to allow travelers with existing long-term permissions to complete their journeys or residency processes.
Context and Background
Finland and Russia both began issuing biometric passports in 2006. However, unlike Finland, Russia has continued to issue the older, non-biometric version alongside the new ones, creating a two-tier system.
This passport policy is the latest in a series of measures restricting Russian travel to Finland. Since 2022, Finland has banned non-essential travel by Russian citizens to its territory and through it to the wider Schengen Zone, a direct response to geopolitical tensions.
The new rule effectively adds an extra layer of scrutiny, ensuring that Russian travelers entering under limited exceptions (like family visits) do so with the most secure and verifiable documents available.