In 2025, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finnish missions abroad provided consular services to approximately 245,000 citizens. The Ministry’s 24/7 service was contacted around 6,700 times during the year, with the highest demand coming from popular travel destinations such as Spain, Germany, Thailand, Estonia, and Sweden. The Unit for Consular Assistance handled 610 cases of death abroad, 71 victims of crime, 204 requests related to illness, and 147 arrests or detainments, excluding cases in Nordic countries managed directly between authorities.
Finnish missions issued 15,947 new passports and 5,559 identity cards in 2025. Requests for assistance can be submitted to the missions, the Ministry, or the 24/7 service, which primarily provide guidance and support for handling matters independently. The escalated conflict in the Middle East was the major crisis keeping consular services busy, alongside political unrest and violent demonstrations in countries like Tanzania and Nepal. Additionally, natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions continued to create urgent situations requiring consular support.
Travel advisories and notifications remain key tools for the Ministry. In 2025, the Ministry published advisories for more than 150 countries, with the most popular being Spain, Greece, Thailand, and Italy. Nearly 230,000 travellers submitted notifications via Matkustusilmoitus.fi for 216 countries or regions, an 11 percent increase from the previous year. These notifications enable the Ministry to quickly inform travellers of emergencies through email or text messages.
Common issues faced by Finns abroad include expired, lost, or forgotten passports. Travellers are advised to ensure passports remain valid for several months beyond their journey and to carry any dual-nationality documents if required. Safeguarding passports and valuables, including avoiding leaving them in rental cars, is essential.
The Ministry emphasizes the importance of travel preparation, including taking out sufficient travel insurance and carrying the European Health Insurance Card when travelling within the EU, EEA, Switzerland, Great Britain, or Northern Ireland. Travellers are encouraged to read the relevant travel advisories and submit notifications before travelling, and to keep the Ministry’s 24/7 service contact information handy for urgent assistance.
