Planning On Visiting Finland? Here’s What You Need To Know About A Visa

Anyone wishing to visit Finland for its spectacular national parks and its cities could need a visa. While European travelers just need their passport, others might need to apply for a Schengen visa. Fortunately, visas are very easy to get.

Visa requirements for Finland

Whether you are planning to visit Finland’s national parks, or just wishing to experience the world’s happiest country, getting a visa is an easy process. While most Western travelers can simply present their passports on arrival in the country, others may need a Schengen visa. Read on to learn more about the visa process.

Who doesn’t need a visa?

Because Finland is part of the Schengen Agreement, nationals from its 26 member nations can enter without a visa. Meanwhile, this also applies to visitors from several other countries, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the US and the UK.

Despite this, these visitors do need to carry their passport and this must be valid for at least 90 days after their date of departure from the Schengen zone. Meanwhile, the passport must have been issued no more than 10 years prior to the traveler’s arrival in Finland.

How long can travelers stay?

Travelers from visa-exempt nations outside the Schengen zone can stay in the area for 90 days of a 180-day period. This means that once they have spent three months in one or more Schengen nations, they won’t be allowed to return until the end of a six-month period, dating back from their initial entry.

Meanwhile, the same rule applies whether travelers spend a straight 90 day period in the Schengen zone, or spread across more than one visit within the allowed 180-day period. While this may sound complicated, it is easy to use the European Commission’s Schengen visa calculator to work it out.

Schengen member countries are as follows: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

How to apply for visas to visit Finland

Visitors from countries outside the Schengen area can apply for visas at Finnish embassies, consulates and visa centers. For example, these can be found in London, Canberra and Washington, DC. However, in countries like Canada and New Zealand, Finland is represented by another Schengen nation and travelers should apply to that diplomatic mission.

Travelers can apply for a single-, double- or multiple-entry visa, all of which permit entry for 90 days of a 180-day period. Normally, the application fee is €80, or the local equivalent, paid in cash. However, some missions do accept bank transfers. For children, the fee drops to €40 for children aged six to 11 and is free for children under the age of six.

To be able to apply, travelers need a passport issued no more than 10 years ago and valid for at least three months following the trip. They will also require a completed and signed application form, together with a color passport photo. Moreover, travel insurance is a standard requirement to cover the traveler for their stay.

This type of visa application must be submitted in person at least 15 days prior to travel. However, in the case of applications in another Schengen country, this may be longer. Meanwhile, the application must be submitted no more than six months prior to departure for Finland.

Visa extensions

If it is necessary for visitors to extend their standard 90-day visa, this can be done. However, this will only be in the event of a serious problem. This could be a last-minute flight cancellation or severe illness of the traveler or a family member. Meanwhile, this visa extension application must be made at a police station.

Plan ahead for your vacation in Finland to avoid any last-minute disappointments.