Frequent flyers accustomed to picking up last-minute travel documents at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport will need to change their routine. The Police Board confirmed today that its temporary-passport desk has relocated from the long-standing Lentäjäntie 1 B site to a new permit-service office 150 metres closer to Terminal 2 departures. The move—effective immediately on 24 September 2026—aims to streamline passenger flows ahead of the winter-holiday rush. The relocation means that travellers who lose or damage their passport on the way to the airport must now follow new signage to the ground-floor service lobby adjacent to the train-station entrance. Opening hours (06:00-22:00 daily) remain unchanged, but the police warn that walk-in capacity will be limited during the first week while IT systems are calibrated. Online pre-booking via the Finnish Police ePermit portal is “strongly recommended.” Finavia, the airport operator, welcomes the shift, noting that the old desk sat outside the airport security perimeter, forcing stressed passengers to double back through traffic. The new location allows applicants to proceed directly to security screening once an emergency passport is issued—a potential time-saver for tight connections and corporate road-warriors. For global-mobility teams, the change underscores the importance of up-to-date airport briefings in assignment handbooks. Companies should circulate the new map, advise travellers to bring two EU-standard biometric photos (or ensure access to the on-site photo booth) and remind staff that emergency passports may not be accepted in certain non-Schengen destinations. The Police Board says the move is part of a broader digital-first strategy that will eventually allow emergency-passport pre-clearance via mobile ID. A pilot is slated for Q2 2027, pending legislative approval.
Source: Stara.fi
