Exchanging US drivers licence for Finnish one

[Rip]

If I understand it correctly, the limits are not within two years of arriving in Finland but within two years of becoming a permanent resident.

Within two years from "first" arrival in Finland, even if you did not have a residence permit at the time.

Was once quite relevant, I did ask that in writing from relevant police officer in Helsinki.

When did you ask this? The rules changed at some point from the date of arrival to starting to reside permanently. I think this was a couple years ago.

Right. Seems I was not up to date. (Current driving licence legislation is from 2011)

[cors187]

So are you saying the Finnish drivers license is not considered Legit FIN ID?

yes.

retarded

[Pursuivant]

So are you saying the Finnish drivers license is not considered Legit FIN ID?

yes.

retarded

About as retarded as needing a passport in the country and a different one out of the country like in Russia...

[betelgeuse]

So are you saying the Finnish drivers license is not considered Legit FIN ID?

yes.

retarded

Since the id is currently valid until you turn 70 I can somewhat see a point (I think this is about the change). In reality I think they are interested in the fees for giving id cards or passports.

[rider1000]

So are you saying the Finnish drivers license is not considered Legit FIN ID?

Try flying from Finland to Germany with only your Finnish driver's licence as ID.

Right, of course that won't work.

But saying a Finnish driver's license is not a valid form of ID IN FINLAND is crazy! I'm not going to dispute your word, but you have to admit that it's kinda strange. That would be like saying my Tennessee driver's license isn't a valid form of ID in Tennessee. Which it very much is...
So it's normal for people to be incredulous that a Finnish License isn't really good for much in Finland.

I have seen some strange rules, but this one is pretty good!

[Adrian42]

So are you saying the Finnish drivers license is not considered Legit FIN ID?

Try flying from Finland to Germany with only your Finnish driver's licence as ID.

Right, of course that won't work.

But saying a Finnish driver's license is not a valid form of ID IN FINLAND is crazy!

Both Finnish driver's licenses and Finnish ID cards are valid in the whole EU for their respective purpose, which makes your IN FINLAND sound a bit odd.

I'm not going to dispute your word, but you have to admit that it's kinda strange.

A EU driver's license tells what automobiles you are allowed to drive, but it contains zero information about your citizenship(s).

That would be like saying my Tennessee driver's license isn't a valid form of ID in Tennessee. Which it very much is...

That's actually a US craziness:
The US lacks a national ID, and the driver's license is used instead.

Here in Finland it is quite common that people don't have a driver's license at all - what nationwide valid ID do US citizens without a driver's license have?

[betelgeuse]

So it's normal for people to be incredulous that a Finnish License isn't really good for much in Finland.

I have seen some strange rules, but this one is pretty good!

A driver's license is acceptable in most day to day things (like Alko) so it is useful outside driving.

[Pursuivant]

But saying a Finnish driver's license is not a valid form of ID IN FINLAND is crazy!

No, its fact:
http://yle.fi/uutiset/ajokortti_ei_ole_ ... us/5455151
"The driver's license is a document verifying your right to operate vehicles, not an official identification document"
(this is more referring to the old paper licenses and the hugh jazz plastic ones they had before the credit card size)

what nationwide valid ID do US citizens without a driver's license have?

The DMV's issue ID cards as well. I remember getting one in Florida back in the day to show I was over 21. Looks like a driver's license and kept the bouncers happy as it was familiar to them.

[rider1000]

Ok... to clarify. This is from an American point of view. I'm not saying that how it's done here is wrong, just strange for those of us that are used to doing things the US way.

I never said I didn't believe that a Finland license wasn't a "valid" form of ID, I just said it was crazy. Meaning, it's hard for me to understand why.
And thank you, I understand what a driver's license does and does not say. I am very aware that it says nothing about your citizenship.

What this comes down to, is that I don't want to keep needing to carry around my Passport to prove that I am who I say I am, when I am in possession of a Government issued ID card that says the same thing. I don't need to prove to you that I'm an American to pick up my package at the R-Kiosk, or to open a bank account. I just need to prove that I am who I say I am.

So yes, the Finland driver's license will work for this. But it sounds like it might not work if you come across some ultra legalist when you try to identify yourself. THAT is what is hard to understand. (If this is the mis-understanding, please straighten me out now. I don't think I'm the only confused one on this matter.)

In the US, we have passports. We also have driver's licenses and ID cards for those without a license. These are all government issued, but you only need the passport for travel outside the country. Otherwise the driver's license should work as identification in any part of the country.
The US doesn't need a national ID, it's enough for each state government to issue an official ID that is recognized throughout the country.

So, in that light... Why is the Official Government issued driver's license (or non-driver's ID) from Finland not good enough to be a valid form of ID in Finland?

I know why it's not a good form of ID in other countries... same reason I can't use my US driver's license for anything other than driving when outside the US.

[ritan7471]

I signed up to take the YKI test and you have to show ID when you show up. It specifically says that the driver's license does not count. I definitely think it's weird, but at least I have my passport.

[Pursuivant]

Well, I don't know if you are just being thick, but Drivers licenseand ID are two different things. Totally, utterly separate things from different bureaus. The valid government-issued ID card in Finland has the biometrics and such. A bonus is, that for citizens it allows one to travel within the Schengen zone. The ID issued for funny foreigners is a stagnant color as its not valid for travel. For underageds its a sober color so the bouncers don't need to count too complicated maths. With the chip you can have the KELA card data included ( say if you have free meds).

As to why they are separate lets think you are naughty in traffic, the police takes your license away. So you would cease to be you? The ID card won't be nicked.

[Rip]

I recall the explanation is that drivers licence may (for a while still) have decades old photo and your ID does legally required to be firmly checked when it is given to you.

[rider1000]

Well, I don't know if you are just being thick, but Drivers licenseand ID are two different things. Totally, utterly separate things from different bureaus. The valid government-issued ID card in Finland has the biometrics and such. A bonus is, that for citizens it allows one to travel within the Schengen zone. The ID issued for funny foreigners is a stagnant color as its not valid for travel. For underageds its a sober color so the bouncers don't need to count too complicated maths. With the chip you can have the KELA card data included ( say if you have free meds).

As to why they are separate lets think you are naughty in traffic, the police takes your license away. So you would cease to be you? The ID card won't be nicked.

THIS! This right here. Should have been said about 2 pages ago. This answers my questions.

I wasn't trying to be thick, but as I said, I'm used to the American way of doing things, not the Finnish way. In the USA, a Driver's license IS your ID (if it get's taken away, you're screwed or you get a gov't issued ID that's just the ID part, no license). I knew that it's not the same here, but couldn't for the life of me figure out why or what the differences were. This helps.

Thank you.

[onkko]

I checked my drivers license and its valid till 2047. I recognize my face from it but its already 18 year old photo... Onkko 18y old isnt exactly onkko 36y old.... I had mustache
My ID card is valid till 2015 and it has 3 year old photo.

And what i remember, thinks could have changed, photos and such werent under such scrutiny on drivers licence what they were on ID.

[rider1000]

Ya, in the USA your license is normally only valid for 5 years. So the photo is updated fairly regularly.

This is starting to all make sense