Page 18 - DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES IN FINLAND

The Ministry issues residence permits to members of missions, their family members as well as to those private servants who have the nationality of the sending state (please note also sections 1.13 and 1.14). Also children who are included in the passport of a parent receive a residence permit of their own. It should be noted that children under the age of sixteen years may be included in a parent’s passport. The passport must include a photograph of a child who has reached the age of seven years.
The residence permit issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is included in the identity card of the Ministry. For this purpose the identity cards contain the following text on the front side of the card: This card authorizes residence in Finland. There is also an image of the flag of the European Union on the back of the card and a text which refers to the right of the card holder to enter into the Schengen area.
The residence permit stickers (Schengen stickers) and identity cards issued before 1 January 2012 by the Ministry will remain in force until their date of expiry.
The Ministry also issues residence permits and/or identity cards to members of the diplomatic staff of missions located outside Finland if they are assigned to perform duties in Finland, as well as to their family members. The appropriate documents for a residence permit must be submitted to the Protocol Services when the person concerned is visiting Finland (please note section 1.3). An identity card which does not include a residence permit may, however, be applied for by sending the necessary documents by mail to the Protocol Services (a verbal note as well as the original notification forms together with copies of the passport, the local residence permit and/or the local identity card).
Furthermore, the Ministry issues short-term residence permits to foreign persons who arrive to undertake construction or maintenance work on the premises of a mission or an ambassadorial residence.
The first residence permit and/or identity card is issued for the estimated term of office in Finland, however not beyond the validity of the passport of the person concerned. If no estimated term of office has been notified to the Ministry, the first permit and/or identity card is valid for a period of two years at the most.
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