More detailed information on the ID card issue communicated on 28 December

Due to an error in ID card production, some ID cards issued in November December were individualised on a card template that had already been taken out of use. The extent of the problem has been contained and around 200 ID cards on the old template have probably ended up being issued to citizens.

ID cards issued to Finnish citizens on or after 2 August 2021 have a new design that was introduced following an amendment to the Identity Card Act required by the EU Regulation on identity cards.

The old and new card template look very similar. The new card can be recognised by the EU flag logo at the top left-hand edge on the front of the card and by the black lock symbolising the EU Trustmark logo on the reverse side of the card. These logos do not feature on the old ID card template. Images of the old card and the new card introduced on 2 August 2021 can be found on the Police website at Finnish ID cards (poliisi.fi). 

Citizens who have been issued with an ID card in November or December are requested to check to see whether their card is on the old or new template. Persons whose card is on the old template are asked to contact a police station to exchange their ID card. A new ID card will be granted free of charge for the period of validity of the card to be replaced.

If the card has been printed on a template which was no longer used in production at the time the card was issued, it might be considered a forgery in situations where the card is inspected and the cardholder could experience delay and other difficulties as a result. This is why any faulty card should be replaced without delay.

Old cards issued on or before 1 August 2021 can still be used normally. Furthermore, ID cards without a travel right, a minor’s ID card without a travel right or a foreigner’s ID card are not affected by the error.