Finland Business Immigration

Finland visa

A Finnish visa is a short-term permit that allows the holder to enter and stay in Finland for a specific period of time. Finland is located in northern Europe, surrounded by Russia, Sweden, Norway and the Baltic Sea. In 1996, it officially became part of the Schengen area along with 25 other European countries. Schengen countries have abolished their borders, meaning their residents can travel visa-free throughout the region.

However, residents of countries without a visa agreement will need a Schengen visa to visit Finland.

Do I Need a Visa for Finland?

You do not need a visa to visit Finland if:

You reside in one of the Schengen Area or EEA/EU countries.
You are a citizen of any country in the world that has a visa agreement with Finland.

Some countries cannot visit Finland without a visa. Sometimes visa requirements may depend on the reason for your visit, your records or the length of your visit. It’s best to check with your local embassy before planning your visit.

Keep in mind that travelers who can enter Finland visa-free are allowed to stay without a visa for only 90 days within a 180 days period.

Types of Finland Visas

There are different types of Finnish visas depending on the purpose of your visit.

Finland tourist visa. This is a typical tourist visa issued to people who want to visit and explore Finland as tourists. Validity period is 3 months within 6 months.
- Finland short-stay visa can also be issued for other purposes such as business or medical treatment.
Finland long-term visa. If you plan to stay for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a long-term visa. The types of long-term visas are:
- Family visa for Finland.
- Finland student visa.
- Finland work visa.
Finland transit visa. This is a type of visa that is only issued when passing through Finland as a transit zone. This means stopping in Finland during your trip and waiting for your connecting flight to your final destination. Some travelers are not allowed to wait in transit zones if they do not have a visa.
Visa for Finnish seafarers. A seafarer visa is a type of transit visa, usually valid for 15 days, issued to third-country nationals who need to transit through a Finnish commercial port to board a new ship, transfer, or disembark in an emergency.
Finland seasonal work visa. Usually, you need a long-term visa to work, but seasonal work requires a 90-day permit.

*Regardless of the reason for your visit, please note that the Schengen visa is a short-term visa and is only valid for 90 days.

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What Are the Requirements for a Finland Visa?

Below are the requirements you need to meet to apply for a visa to Finland:

Passport/Travel. You must possess a valid passport issued within the last ten years. Additionally, your passport must be valid for 3 months after your return from Finland.
Identification images. You must also have a recent passport photo taken. Please follow the Schengen Visa Photo Instructions
Finland Visa Application Form. When applying for a Schengen visa, you must download, print and fill out this form, then attach it to your documents.
Travel insurance Schengen. Schengen travel insurance is mandatory for all visitors to the Schengen area. Insurance must cover costs of up to €30,000 for medical expenses and emergencies, such as accidents, sudden illness and even death.
Invitation letter. This document is required in case you are invited as a guest by a friend or family member. The invitation contains important information about you and the host, such as name, date of birth, address, relationship, etc.
Have sufficient financial means. You must provide proof that you have enough money to fund your trip. Finland requires €30 minimum per day.
Evidence of a Place to Stay. Proof of accommodation sometimes may be required depending on the embassy. It’s important to provide hotel bookings, rental agreements, or Airbnb reservations.
Travel Itinerary. You may also be asked to provide detailed travel plans including departure date, flight number, return date, length of stay, and similar information about your visit.
Copy of previous Schengen visa. You will be asked to provide a copy of your previous visa if this applies to you.
Cover letter. You must write a letter stating the reason for your visit and the duration of your visit.
Civil status documents. Documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce license, adoption certificate must be attached to your application.
Proof of legal residence. You must also provide documentation that you are a legal citizen of your current country of residence.
For minors:
- Authorization for legal guardian to travel alone (if child is traveling alone).
- Authorization of another legal guardian (if the child is accompanied by only one parent/legal guardian).
- Birth certificate.
Any other documents required, depending on the specific visa.

*Please note that the embassy reserves the right to request any additional documents.

How to Apply for a Finland Visa?

Begin by clicking on the “Login” button, which can be found in the menu on the right side of the screen.
If you haven’t registered yet, please register yourself first. After registering, proceed to log in to the panel.
Once you are logged in, navigate to the menu on the left side of the panel.
Select the “Visa Application Form” option from the menu.
Fill out this form with the required information.
Finally, submit the completed form.

Can I live in Finland with a Schengen visa?

No, you can’t. In order to live in Finland, you need to apply for either a residence permit or citizenship.

Can I Extend a Finland Visa?

Yes, but extensions are only granted in specific cases. Your request for an extension will be accepted if you experience force majeure (earthquake, unexpected illness, political situation in your country, etc.) or if you have serious personal reasons involved to family issues.

If you want to extend your visa just because you want to stay longer without a valid reason, you will not be granted an extension.

How Much Does a Finland Visa Cost?

The visa fee will mainly depend on your age and visa type:

Schengen visa fee for adults: €80
Schengen visa fee for children from 6 to 11 years old: €40
Schengen visa fee for children under 4 years 6 years old : free
Schengen visa fee for express visa application: €70

Finland visa fee for these countries is €35:

Albania
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cabo Verde
Georgia
North Macedonia
Moldova
Montenegro
Russia
Serbia
Ukraine

You also don’t have to pay a visa fee if you are a diplomatic passport holder hold a visa or when a minor is traveling for educational purposes.

In some cases, you must pay an additional fee of €10 for any forms you need to obtain in case Finland does not recognize your travel documents. Sometimes visa fees may vary between countries.

You should know that your visa fee will not be refunded in case of refusal. Fees can only be refunded in certain specific circumstances, for example if you applied for the wrong visa type.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Finland Visa?

It takes 15 days to process your Finland visa application.
You can submit your application to the embassy six months earlier if you wish, but it is best to submit your application 15 days before your departure date.

What Are the Reasons for Finnish Visa Application Denial?

The Finnish mission may refuse your visa application for the following reasons: .

Your travel document has expired or will expire during your stay.
You have not stated your reason for coming to Finland.
You do not have enough financial capacity to support yourself during your stay in Finland.
You are prohibited from returning to your country of origin.
You are banned from entering the Schengen area.
The Embassy suspects that you will not return after your visa expires.

What Can I Do in Case the Finnish Authorities Deny my Visa?

If you are denied, you can appeal the decision, you should find appeal instructions in your denial letter.

You can submit a request for review to the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Your request for review must be submitted 30 days after receiving the denial notice from the embassy and must be in Finnish or Swedish. You also have to pay a fee to process your complaint. The cost is €170.

If you wish to appeal the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you can file another administrative appeal with the Helsinki Administrative Court. The fee for this request is €260.

You are free to apply for another visa even if it is refused.

How Long Can I Stay With a Finland Visa?

The Finnish Schengen visa is only valid for three months within a six-month period. During this period, you can also visit other Schengen countries, but the time you spend in other countries will also count towards your three-month permit.

Anyone who stays beyond the legal limit will be subject to any of the following penalties: fines, travel bans, or even detention. If you are not sure, please check with the Schengen visa calculator.

Can I Use My Visa to Travel to Another Country Other Than Finland?

Yes, the Finland visa is valid for any country in the Schengen area, remember that the days you spend in other countries will count towards your 90 day limit.

https://visaguide.world/europe/finland-visa/

Visa Guide