Police urge not to apply for passport, if not urgent due to huge rush

The Helsinki Police on Friday urged the people to not apply for passport, if it is not urgent due to huge rush at the licence services.

There was an unprecedented number of customers at the licence services of the Helsinki Police Department at Pasilanraitio on Friday and customers faced queue outside of the building, said police in a press release.

The Police had to regulate the number of customers let inside the building.

“If there is no pressing need to apply for a passport right now, it is not worth coming here today (Friday). We have had a lot of customers all week long, about 800 customers a day. Since this morning, there have been more customers than has ever been seen before,” said superintendent Pekka Kallio.

The licence services are available for both those who have booked an appointment beforehand and those who choose to queue for service instead.

If people need to book an appointment for renewal of passport or identity card, the next available times in Helsinki are currently six weeks from now.

However, there will be free times whenever someone else cancels their appointment, and new appointments for the upcoming weekend are added to the calendar at the beginning of each week.