For how long is a visa to Finland issued?
The question of how long a Finnish visa is valid for is quite popular. After all, the longer the validity period, the less often you need to collect a package of papers, pay a consular fee, and go to the visa center.
Classification by validity period
Based on the issuance period, the following types of Finnish visas are distinguished:
- Single entry – it is possible to make only one visit to Finland within the specified time frame;
- Double entry – allows you to make two trips to Finland;
- Multiple entries for six months - according to this Schengen visa, the number of trips to Finland within 6 months is not limited, but a stay of more than 90 days is not allowed;
- Multiple entry for a year – provides the opportunity to visit the country within a year from the date of issue;
- Multiple entry Schengen for 2 years;
- Multiple entry Finnish visa for 3 years.
Important! For a total of 6 months (180 days), regardless of how many years the visa was issued for, you cannot stay in Finland or the EU (if the visa is multi-visa) for more than 90 days. Details of the calculation in our calculator - HERE.
A pressing question is how urgent a visa should be for tourists on a cruise in Scandinavia. Russian citizens traveling on a ferry and planning to get off in several cities along the route must have a multiple multi-Schengen visa. Having a one-time ticket will allow you to get off only in one city along the liner’s route.
Factors that determine validity
The question of how long a visa will be issued is always relevant for every applicant. The timing depends on a number of factors, therefore, even at the stage of preparing the package, you can have a rough idea of what period you should expect. You can also take a number of actions so that this period, if possible, can be changed upward.
Let's consider the basic rules on the basis of which the terms of Finnish visas are determined:
- Availability of previously issued Schengen visas.
If an application for a Schengen visa is submitted for the first time or the foreign passport is generally pristine, then the Finns, unlike other neighbors in the Schengen Union, can immediately issue a multi-Schengen visa for six months. In this case, the applicant is assessed comprehensively for solvency and reliability.
If previously Schengen visas were issued, but this is the first time they are applying for a Finnish one, then the Finns also show loyalty and quite often issue them for a period of one year at once. Sometimes the period may be shorter. The determining factor is the conscientiousness of the “rollback” of previously received visas from other countries.
If there are Finnish Schengen visas, then in most cases the next visa is issued for a longer period than the previous one. So, having a six-month multi-Schengen, you can get it a second time for a year. In this case, the decision depends entirely on the consul.
- Conscientious use of previously issued visas (especially Finnish ones).
This factor is taken into account by all countries of the Schengen Union, but it is the Finns who most carefully monitor the integrity of the use of visas issued by them. In addition to the immutable rule of opening any Schengen card (the first trip must be made to the country of issue), there are additional requirements.
To obtain a second Schengen and for a longer period, it is necessary that at least half of the previous trips were made specifically to Finland. More stringent requirements are imposed on the first Finnish Schengen: at least half of the days under it must be spent in Finland. Failure to comply with this rule can significantly spoil the success of further processing of the document.
- Compliance with all rules and regulations.
A prerequisite for successful submission of documents is the absence of any offenses by the applicant committed in the territory of the Schengen Union countries, as well as strict adherence to traffic rules when traveling in Finland. Having an unpaid fine will result in you being subject to visa quarantine.
Here's what drivers should know:
Factors that do not affect the validity of visas
In addition to the real factors that influence the consul’s decision on the validity period of the issued visa, there are false ones, which are nevertheless actively distributed on the Internet. Let's consider what will not affect the visa issuance timeline:
- Payment for urgent processing. The double visa fee for urgent processing is solely a payment for speed of processing. This amount does not perform any other function.
- Registration in St. Petersburg or other cities of the North-Western region. Despite friendly relations with neighbors, the decision on the period of the issued visa is made on the basis of objective factors, and not the applicant’s place of residence.
- Submitting documents through an agent. All travel and visa agencies perform exclusively the role of intermediaries, no matter what benefits and bonuses they promise and what connections they talk about at the Consulate.
Work visa to Finland for Russians
Some citizens do not require a standard visa, but a special one, for example, to work in Finland. A work visa to Finland can be issued to Russians in St. Petersburg at the request of a Finnish company or organization. The employer submits such a petition to local authorities.
In cases where the request is approved, an employment contract is concluded with the prospective employee, on the basis of which a work visa is issued. The processing time is 7-14 days, and the cost is 35 euros.
The graph shows when seasonal work is mostly required in Finland
In cases where the employment is temporary, a special entry visa is not required. For example, having a regular Schengen visa, you can easily get a job in Finland; seasonal work on a farm or harvesting is available with it. The main thing is not to stay in Finland or other Schengen countries for more than 90 days in one period of time.
Of course, picking berries is a tedious task, but in this country this work is considered quite profitable. Residents are quite happy to accept foreign citizens for such work.
You can also get a job as a seller of such berries, of course, for this you need to have good knowledge of the local language.
Often, a simple tourist visa does not provide for getting a job, but you can get a job at all kinds of agricultural enterprises with it. Despite this, it remains a tourist destination, so it has its limitations. For example, such a visa has a limited period of stay in the country of up to 90 days. Therefore, if a trip to Finland involves permanent income, you should still start applying for a work visa. Russians will be helped to obtain a visa to Finland at the visa center.
In order to find a suitable job in Finland, you will still have to go to this country for an interview, because no one hires you without getting to know the person.
- To do this, you will first need to get a visa to Finland, which is called short-term and is issued within seven days from the date of submission of documents.
- Once the interview is successful, the next step is to apply for a work visa.
Previously, we considered obtaining this type of visa with the help of the employer, but what needs to be done when the registration falls on the future employee?
In this case, the application for a visa, that is, the application form and all accompanying documents, is submitted in the country of primary residence to a special department of the Finnish mission. Upon receipt of a work visa, a Russian also receives a residence permit with category “B”, which allows him to enter the country and begin work directly.
When you can not apply for a residence permit while working in Finland
There are situations in which obtaining a residence permit for work is not mandatory. It may not be issued in the following cases in 2021:
- When teachers or translators are invited to work by agreement under a contract for a period of no more than twelve weeks.
- When hiring artists or those whose profession is directly related to sports, by special agreement, for a period of no more than twelve weeks.
- If a person works on a ship that serves under an employment agreement and performs international maritime transport.
- For agricultural workers who are engaged in labor activities in the state for no more than twelve weeks.
- For personnel of organizations that work outside the state and are engaged in temporary contract work in Finland.
Also, those wishing to obtain permanent employment in the state can obtain a residence permit for persons engaged in private business. This permit is issued to a person who intends to open his own business on the territory of this state, which will be based on the received conclusion of the state center for employment and economics.
This permit to reside in the country can be obtained from the Aliens Affairs Department and the police, after a procedure has been carried out to determine the presence of connecting factors for issuing a residence permit that comply with the law on foreign citizens.
This permit to reside in the country, which allows you to freely carry out work activities, is temporary, which means that it is limited to the existing period of the employment relationship, which is stipulated in the agreement with the employer. This residence permit is issued for a period of no more than a year.
Finland visa application form
The form must be filled out in Latin, while the Finnish visa application form allows the use of Russian for transliteration.
The form can be filled out either manually or using a typewriter.
At the end, the document is signed by the applicant.
Instead of minors, the form can be filled out by parents or guardians.
and sample filling
Application form for a Schengen visa to Finland (One Download) Sample of filling out an application form for a Schengen visa to Finland (1630 Downloads) How to convey Russian letters using the Latin alphabet (880 Downloads) Instructions for filling out an application form for a Schengen visa (2265 Downloads)
- Read more about filling out the Schengen visa application ->
Electronic visa application
You can also fill out the Finland visa application online using this link.
How to fill out the form correctly
How to get a visa to Finland on your own?
Tourists need to know how to obtain a visa to Finland.
To make a document, contact the consulate located in Moscow or other cities. Registration services are offered by intermediaries, but it must be taken into account that in this case the cost increases slightly.
Obtaining a visa to Finland consists of several stages:
- choosing the type of entry permit;
- preparation of documents;
- choosing a visa agency;
- making an appointment;
- visiting the institution and submitting papers;
- waiting for a decision;
- getting permission.
It is important to know! In some cases, the applicant may be called for an interview at the embassy. There is no need to be afraid of such a procedure, but simply communicate with the consul and answer all his questions.
There is another option on how to get a visa to Finland. The method is to submit documents via the Internet. But you still can’t do without submitting fingerprints.
A Finnish visa can be obtained from embassies, consulates or visa centers.
How to apply for a Finnish visa to St. Petersburg
How much does a visa to Finland cost in 2021?
The consular fee for a Finnish Schengen visa is 35 € for a regular application and 70 € for an urgent one. Children under 5 years of age are exempt from paying this fee.
The consular fee for a Finnish residence permit is much higher:
- 250/220 € for minors;
- 360/300 € for studies;
- 470/420 € for work during holidays, practical training, participation in the au pair program;
- 520/450 € for work, entrepreneurial activity;
- 470/420 € for other purposes.
The cost of a residence permit depends on the type of application. A completed online application costs 30-70 € less.
When submitting documents through the VFS CC, in addition to the consular fee, a service fee of 26.75 euros is charged. At the CC, fees are paid on the spot. When applying to the Embassy in Moscow or the Consulate in St. Petersburg, you need to pay the fee on the day of submitting the application through payment centers or Nordea Bank ATMs (the location is specified in the diplomatic mission). In Petrozavodsk and Murmansk, receipts for consideration of the application are paid at any bank.
All fees are accepted in rubles. The amount is calculated based on the exchange rate on the day of payment. Fees (consular and service) are a fee for processing the application and are not refundable in case of refusal.
Types of visas
To travel to Finland, you need to apply for a visa. The type of permit depends on the purpose of the trip.
The following types of permits exist:
- One-time . Can be medical or tourist, issued for a period of stay of up to 90 days. Suitable for a one-time visit.
- Multiple visa (multiple entry). With this permit you can make several trips to the country (convenient for residents of border areas who plan to visit Finland frequently). It is most often issued by tourists, but often such a visa is also required for work purposes.
- Transit . It is required if you need to cross the territory of the state to visit another country that is not part of the Schengen Union.
You can also apply for a return visa : this permit is issued for travel through Finland - to visit another country, and the return must be through Finland.
Visa categories:
- A - transit. Issued to transit travelers if they need to make a transfer at the airport or train station.
- B - transit. Validity period: 5 days. Allows you to stay within the country and cross the border.
- C - short-term. Most often issued to tourists. Issued for a maximum of 90 days, used for business purposes and visiting relatives.
- D - business. It is issued either for training or for doing business.
