According to the Finnish Food Act, a Hygiene Passport is required if a person is handlingunpackaged and perishable foods. A café, restaurant, canteen, kiosk, fast food restaurant, food shop, kindergarten or food processing factory are examples of workplaces where a Hygiene Passport is required

The Finnish Food Authority has published a table (pdf) of the different types of jobs and whether a Hygiene Passport is required for them.

One must acquire a Hygiene Passport within three months of starting a food related job. Any previous food industry work that requires a Hygiene Passport is also considered to be part of this three-month period.

When and where can I take the Hygiene Passport test?

Hygienepassport.fi offers weekly Hygiene Passport tests throughout Finland in Finnish, Swedish and English. Tests translated into other languages like Chinese, Thai, Arabic, Russian, Estonian and Spanish are also arranged. We can also arrange Hygiene Passport tests in other languages on request, provided that at least five people take part in the test. We can also arrange for groups to have their own Hygiene Passport tests and training at a pre-arranged location in Finland. Ask for an offer!

How can I sign up for a Hygiene Passport test?

Tests that are arranged by Hygienepassport.fi can be found on our website Hygienepassport.fi, where you can also sign up for our tests. At the moment, the system operates in Finnish and in English.

How much does the Hygiene Passport test cost, and what methods of payment are accepted?

Prices vary according to the type of test and payment method. The price and payment methods are displayed under the relevant Hygiene Passport test.

The Hygiene Passport test can be paid online. You will receive a receipt for the online payment in your e-mail after the payment has been made.

Invoicing to companies can be done via e-invoice or e-mail. Contact us here!

What is the Hygiene Passport Test like?

The test is comprised of 40 true or false statements. To get a Hygiene Passport, one must answer a minimum of 34 questions correctly. Time allocated for answering the statements is 45 minutes for a normal test* (in Finnish/Swedish/English). The test time for a special situation test is unlimited.

You may leave the test room at the earliest 20 minutes after the start of the test.

*Normal tests are in Finnish/Swedish/English language. Special arrangement tests are all the other tests that are somehow different from normal test (for example, by language).

How can I prepare for the Hygiene Passport test?

We recommend that you familiarize yourself carefully with the topics listed below, as well as with food vocabulary and terms, before taking the Hygiene Passport test.

Hygienepassport.fi sells useful written material in Finnish, Swedish, English, Arabic, Thai, Spanish, Chinese, Turkish and Russian languages. You can purchase material from our online store. You can also practice for the test in Finnish/English on our online training app Trainify.

Food hygiene topics:

1. Microbiology
2. Food Poisonings
3. Hygienic Work Practices
4. Personal Hygiene
5. Sanitation
6. Own-check Practices at Food Premises
7. Finnish Food Legislation and Authorities

Do I have to participate in a course in order to get the Hygiene Passport?

It is not compulsory, but it is highly recommended to participate to the course in order to enable the success of the test. The upcoming courses and registration can be found on Hygienepassport.fi Training section.

You can also practice independently for the test via our online learning app Trainify.

Can I have a temporary Hygiene Passport right after the Hygiene Passport test?

Yes! If you pass the test, you can ask the test instructor or our customer service for a temporary certificate which is a valid document that will prove your hygiene proficiency until the official certificate arrives. The temporary certificate will be sent via email. The temporary Hygiene Passport can be shown to your employer before receiving the official Hygiene Passport.

Do I need an ID in the Hygiene Passport Test?

Please bring an official ID with you to the test. This must be an original identity document that has a photograph and is valid. Please read below the approved forms of identification.

Approved forms of identification:

a Finnish identity card
a Finnish passport
a Finnish driving licence and moped driving licence
a Finnish Kela card with photograph
a foreign identity card
a foreign passport
an alien's passport (an alien's passport is not acceptable as proof of identity if it states that the holder’s identity could not be verified).
a refugee’s travel document (a refugee's travel document is not acceptable as proof of identity if it states that the holder’s identity could not be verified).
a stamped document, given by the police or Finnish Border Guard, which proves your passport is in the possession of an official. The document must include a copy of the passport. This document can be used as a temporary proof of identity.
a residence permit and residence permit card issued by the Finnish Immigration Service to refugees, asylum seekers or other immigrants.

Not valid proof of identity:

an expired driver's license, passport or ID card
a foreign driver's license
a Finnish Kela card with no picture
a Finnish military passport
photocopies of ID cards, passports or other documents
any form of identification in which it is easy to change the photo or does not have a name or a social security number
a student card, bus pass, library card or similar (even if they have a photograph)

Can I take the Hygiene Passport test without ID?

According to the Finnish Food Authority's guidelines, the test instructor must check the identity of the participant when participant returns the test paper to the to the test instructor. Identification can be proved only with an official valid identification card. The participant's parents cannot provide identification.

If the Hygiene Passport test is arranged as a part of one's education (comprehensive school, upper secondary school, occupational school) and the participant does not have an identification card, the participant's teacher can identify him. This practice cannot be applied in open Hygiene Passport tests.

Can the test questions be interpreted for someone who does not understand the test language?

An interpreter cannot be used for a normal Hygiene Passport test. For languages other than Finnish, Swedish or English, our test instructors will primarily arrange written, translated special situation tests. There is no interpreter present for written translated tests. If, for a specific reason, an additional external interpreter is required, such a special situation test can be arranged by prior arrangement. Strong justification for the use of an interpreter is required.

If a Hygiene Passport test is organized with an interpreter, the test instructor will first order a written translation of the test, arrange for an external interpreter and ensure that the interpreter has no contact with the test participants. In this case, the interpreter will read out the statements from a separately translated paper. The interpreter is not allowed to assist the participants or answer questions. The participation fee of a translated, interpreted test has to cover the costs of the test organization, the translation and the presence of the interpreter.

Is it possible to get more time to do the Hygiene Passport test?

Yes, but only in special arrangement tests which have to be booked in advance. Contact our customer service here.

Are dictionaries allowed during the Hygiene Passport test?

Yes, but only in special arrangement tests which have to be booked in advance. The use of dictionary has to be agreed in advance. The dictionary must be handed to the instructor before the test. Contact our customer service here.

Is it possible to go through the Hygiene Passport test answers?

All the questions are under the property of Finnish Food Authority (EL 28 a §) and copying, storage (including electronic), disclosure and distribution of the test material is prohibited due to risk of copying. In other words, it is not possible to send the original or copied version of one's Hygiene Passport test sheet.

It is possible to go through your answers with the test instructor. You can do this right after the Hygiene Passport test has ended or you can have an arranged meeting with the instructor.

The customer service of Hygienepassport.fi can arrange the meeting for you and your instructor, just send an email to: info@hygienepassport.fi

How long does it take to receive the Hygiene Passport?

After you have passed the test, delivery of the Hygiene Passport takes approximately 4–6 weeks.

How long is my Hygiene Passport valid?

Under current Finnish legislation, the Hygiene Passport is valid until further notice and does not need to be renewed.

I have lost my Hygiene Passport; what do I do?

One part of the Hygiene Passport (card or paper certificate) has been lost

You can order a new Hygiene Passport from our online shop if you have lost one part of your Hygiene Passport. You will need to return the remaining part of the passport to our office for archiving.

Place a Hygiene Passport reorder in our online shop.
Please contact Hygienepassport.fi customer service to let them know you have made an order.
Deliver the part of the Hygiene Passport that you still have for archiving to the address given by our customer service.
The test instructor will order a new Hygiene Passport for you from the Finnish Food Authority. The new Hygiene Passport will arrive within 4–6 weeks after the renewal order.

Both parts of the Hygiene Passport (card and paper certificate) have been lost and it has been less than 5 years since your Hygiene Passport test.

Please contact the test organizer or Hygiene Passport test instructor who organized the test and issued you with the original Hygiene Passport. A reorder can only be made by the test instructor who conducted the original test.

If you have taken the Hygiene Passport test via Hygienepassport.fi, please contact our customer service here.

Once you have received confirmation from customer service or from the test instructor, you can place a reorder in our online shop.
The test instructor will order a new Hygiene Passport for you. Your new Hygiene Passport will arrive within 4-6 weeks of your renewal order.

It is the responsibility of the test instructor to archive the documents (such as the test form) for five years from the date of issue of the Hygiene Passport. If you have a copy of your Hygiene Passport you will see the name and/or code number of your Hygiene Passport test instructor (the code number is in format B1234).

You can find the contact details of the Hygiene Passport test instructors authorized by the Finnish Food Authority here. If the name of the test instructor is not listed, you can contact the Finnish Food Authority by email at hygieniapassi@ruokavirasto.fi.

Both parts of the Hygiene Passport (card and paper certificate) have been lost and it is more than 5 years since your Hygiene Passport test

The Hygiene Passport test must be retaken. You can find all of our upcoming tests here.

If both parts of your Hygiene Passport are missing and it is more than 5 years since your Hygiene Passport was issued, you must retake the Hygiene Passport test. The Hygiene Passport test must also be retaken if the Hygiene Passport needs to be renewed (e.g. name change) or the Hygiene Passport was originally issued on the basis of previous education.

My name / date of birth changed – what do I do?

You have both parts of the Hygiene Passport (card and paper certificate) or only one of them

Contact Hygienepassport.fi customer service.
Place a Hygiene Passport reorder in our online shop.
Deliver the following certificates to the address provided by the customer service:

Both parts of the hygiene passport (card and paper certificate) or the part you still have.
A copy of the official certificate showing the change of name or date of birth. Submit it either as a printed version or electronically. The certificate can be:

a certificate or civil service certificate issued by the Police, the Local Register Office, the Population Register Centre or the parish
a certificate of personal data from the Suomi.fi service, showing the current and previous name or date of birth
your previous and new personal identity document

The test instructor will order a new Hygiene Passport for you. Your new Hygiene Passport will arrive within 4-6 weeks of your renewal order.

Both parts of the Hygiene Passport (card and paper certificate) have been lost and it has been less than 5 years since your Hygiene Passport test.

Please contact the test organizer or Hygiene Passport test instructor who organized the test and issued you with the original Hygiene Passport. A reorder can only be made by the test instructor who conducted the test.

If you have taken the Hygiene Passport test via HygienePassport.fi, please contact our customer service here.

Once you have received confirmation from Hygieniapassi.fi customer service or from the test instructor, you can place a reorder in our online shop.
Deliver the following certificates to the address provided by the customer service:

A copy of the official certificate showing the change of name or date of birth. Submit it either as a printed version or electronically. The certificate can be:

a certificate or civil service certificate issued by the Police, the Local Register Office, the Population Register Centre or the parish
a certificate of personal data from the Suomi.fi service, showing the current and previous name or date of birth
your previous and new personal identity document

The test instructor will order a new Hygiene Passport for you. Your new Hygiene Passport will arrive within 4-6 weeks of your renewal order.

Both parts of the Hygiene Passport (card and paper certificate) have been lost and it is more than 5 years since your Hygiene Passport test

The Hygiene Passport test must be retaken. You can find all of our upcoming tests here.

What can I do if my name is not correctly spelled on the Hygiene Passport?

When you receive your Hygiene Passport via Hygienepassport.fi, check immediately that your name and date of birth are correct.
Contact Hygienepassport.fi customer service immediately if you notice any errors in your Hygiene Passport.
Deliver both parts of your Hygiene Passport (card and paper certificate) to the address provided by customer service.
The test instructor will order you a new Hygiene Passport with the correct information. The reorder is provided free of charge if the spelling error is due to a mistake made by the test instructor and the error is reported within 4 months of the test date, as specified in our terms and conditions. Your new Hygiene Passport will arrive within 4-6 weeks.

Is it possible to have the Hygiene Passport based on previous education?

The Finnish food legislation has changed on 1.1.2020 and after that everyone has to take the Hygiene Passport test in order to get a Hygiene Passport. Hygienepassport.fi will no longer accept new hygiene passport orders based on previous education.

Is another country's Hygiene Passport valid in Finland?

Unfortunately not. The Hygiene Passport test must be carried out in Finland. The Finnish Hygiene Passport is specifically about the knowledge of Finnish food legislation.

Is Finland's Hygiene Passport valid in other countries?

Please check the validity from the other countries' authorities. However, note that Finnish Hygiene Passport is specifically about Finnish food legislation.

What does the Hygiene Passport (card) and Hygiene Passport paper certificate look like?

The Hygiene Passport consists of a plastic card and a paper certificate. See model versions of both the card and the certificaee on the Finnish Food Authority's website.

Didn't find an answer to your question? Contact us!

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Hygienepassport.fi Customer Service
Email: info@hygienepassport.fi
Tel. +358 (0)400 809 009 (Mon-Fri 10–13)

Our customer service operates in Finnish and in English.

Posting address

Hygienepassport.fi / Osaamistehdas Oy

Iso Roobertinkatu 20–22 A, 00120 Helsinki

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Hygiene Passport – Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Hygiene Passport needed for?