Starting June 1, 2026, Finland will no longer accept non-biometric passports issued by the Russian Federation, with the following exceptions:
- Non-biometric passports issued to individuals under 18 years old will be accepted.
- Non-biometric passports will be accepted if Finland granted the passport holder a residence permit before June 1, 2026. Therefore, it will still be possible to apply for an extension of a Finnish residence permit using a non-biometric passport.
- In special cases, a non-biometric passport may be accepted for someone applying for an entry permit to Finland or residing in Finland, based on individual consideration.
The goal of this decision is to make sure that travel documents recognized by Finland are as secure as possible.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Transition Period: 1 June – 31 December 2026
During this period, Finland will accept non-biometric Russian passports that have a valid visa issued by Finland before June 1, 2026. Additionally, non-biometric passports with a valid visa or residence permit from another EU member state or Schengen country issued before that date will also be accepted.
Non-biometric passports are those without an embedded chip storing biometric identifiers. The Finnish foreign ministry advises holders of such passports to plan ahead if they intend to apply for visas or residence permits.
The goal of this decision is to make sure that travel documents recognized by Finland are as secure as possible. The transition period and listed exceptions are meant to help people adjust and support family life during the change.
Finland started using biometric passports in 2006; Russia has been issuing both biometric and non-biometric versions since then. Entry restrictions on Russian citizens were introduced through two government resolutions in 2022 and 2023: currently, Russian citizens are banned from entering Finland or traveling through it into the Schengen area for non-essential travel.
