FINAS' assessment team can also include foreign assessors. In general, the foreign assessor used have been qualified as technical assessor in their own country where they have experience in accreditation assessments. Typically foreign assessors are used when Finnish technical assessors with proper technical knowledge are either not available or impartial. Before using a foreign assessor FINAS ensures that the person has received appropriate training and has sufficient skills to act as an assessor and has the sufficient knowledge and skills to perform the planned assessment.
The use of a foreign assessor is always agreed with the client. When using a foreign assessor FINAS shall make sure that the assessor has sufficient information about FINAS procedures. If needed, either FINAS' lead assessor or other FINAS support person supports the foreign assessor during the assessment visit. Typically this mean that the support person guarantee that the foreign assessor knows the assessment principles of FINAS. There will be no costs for the client from the presence of a support person and FINAS descides when a support person is needed.
The foreign assessor must have advance material available to be able to familiarize him- or herself with the activities to be assessed. Predominantly, it is FINAS' client's task to supply adequate material in a foreign language. FINAS can also handle the translation of the material, in which case the costs of the translation are invoiced from the client. The customer may use an interpreter in the assessment if they wish, but the arrangements and costs for the use of the interpreter are the responsability of the customer.
Description of the organisation (responsible persons), information on methods and equipment used, key figures (volume of operations, clients) and a summary of quality control methods (mainly results) are examples of essential material for the assessment. In addition, special requests of the foreign assessor must be taken into account.