Features of the visa regime in Finland

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Finland is part of Schengen

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Citizens of Russia and CIS countries need a visa to visit Finland, documents for which are submitted to consulates and visa centers in Russian cities. Finland is one of the countries participating in the Schengen Agreement, so, with Finnish Schengen at your disposal, you can easily visit your neighbors in Northern Europe for a day or two.

One of the features of submitting documents is that you must fill out the application form online. The rest of the requirements are “general Schengen”; The passport is valid for 3 months as of the end of the trip.

Types of visas

• A Schengen visa is issued for a short-term trip: it can be tourism, a business trip, visiting relatives or transit. The entry document is issued according to a single scheme with slight differences in the list of papers, depending on the specific purpose of the visit to the country. Tourist Schengen is the most popular category, so visas are suitable for it.
• A residence permit is similar to a residence permit for a longer stay in Finland. The document is issued in the form of a biometric card (not a sticker in the passport). It gives the right to work, study, family reunification, marriage with a Finnish citizen or a person permanently residing in the country legally.

Applying for a visa yourself

A citizen of the Russian Federation can obtain a visa through the country's visa centers, as well as through the embassy, ​​consulates and consular departments. In the first case, you must pay a service fee for mediation services.

Important: visa centers do not issue residence permits.

The visa application form can be pre-filled on the visa center website, after which you can bring the prepared package of papers within 90 days. There is no need to make an appointment in advance, although this is possible.

The visa center offers the Mobile Biometrics service: an employee of the organization comes to your home, takes biometric data (photo, fingerprints) and accepts documents. Courier delivery of a finished passport with a stamp is also available.

To obtain a residence permit, you need to contact the embassy, ​​consulates in Moscow and St. Petersburg, consular departments in Murmansk and Petrozavodsk. In this case, the applicant must appear in person with a receipt for payment of the consular fee and a completed application form.

The official visa processing time is 10-15 days, in practice it is 6-8.

Registration period

A multiple visa to Finland can be issued for different periods, depending on the number of applicants who applied to the consulate in a certain period. Depending on the region of the Russian Federation, the receipt period varies - from 1 week to 1 month. A special influx is observed on the eve of the New Year holidays.

At the consulate, when submitting documents, each citizen is given a receipt. This document indicates the date that guides the tourist to the approximate time of receiving a multiple visa. But often these dates are inaccurate and do not coincide with real deadlines. To avoid delays, it is necessary to anticipate the influx of people at consulates and begin the registration process in advance.

There are certain nuances in the visas issued. They can be used to reduce the time required to obtain a permit. For example, the application process was started in advance, but the visa was still not received on time. Tourist vouchers that indicate specific dates can help in this matter, and this should speed up the process. The vouchers must be presented to the consul so that he can assist in the process.

This is what a tourist package looks like

Documents for a visa to Finland

Required documents to obtain Schengen category C:

1. Application form
   personally filled out by the tourist online application form in English or Russian, but in the Latin alphabet (the application form can also be filled out by hand);
2. International passport
   Valid for at least 3 months from the end of the trip, it must contain at least two blank pages and the signature of the owner, if any - a second one, as well as an old/canceled international passport;
3. Photo
   1 color photo without a corner (see photo requirements below);
4. Copy of internal passport
   You need pages of a Russian passport with a photo and registration;
5. Certificate of employment
   Certificate of employment with the stated position and salary;
6. Bank account statement
   The statement must be recent and not older than 6 months;
7. For students, schoolchildren
   Certificate from the place of study, sponsorship letter with a photocopy of the sponsor's general passport, certificate from work/extract from the sponsor's account (issued according to the general rules);
8. Medical insurance
   Medical insurance valid throughout the Schengen territory and for the entire duration of the trip (the amount of insurance coverage is at least 30,000 EUR);
9. Hotel reservation
   Confirmation of the reserved room in the hotel/hostel. The document must indicate all members of the incoming family/company, as well as information about payment for accommodation;
10. For private and business visits
    , Russians traveling to Finland for work (short-term business trip), for sports or cultural events, treatment, study, or to visit relatives, enclose an invitation from the receiving organization and, in some cases, a covering letter from the sending party. Also, from September 1, 2021, round-trip tickets and additional documents will be required: certificate of employment, proof of financial solvency, etc.

Accompanying documents (certificates of employment, letters from sponsors, invitations, etc.) must be in printed form. Forms and applications filled out in words will not be accepted for consideration.

How to get a visa to Finland in Moscow: step-by-step instructions

Russians are often interested in how to get a visa to Finland for free travel. To obtain a visa, you need to come to the Consulate General of Moscow or consulates located in other cities.

In this case, you need to go to the authority that is located in the region of residence. If there is no consular center in your city, you can contact the capital's embassy, ​​travel agency or visa center. For convenience, we provide step-by-step instructions .

Deciding on the type of permission

Before getting a Finnish visa in Moscow , decide on the type of permit. A common option for our citizens is to obtain a short-term permit, which can be issued with different frequency of trips - single, double and multiple entry visas. The latter is issued for 6, 12 or 24 months. As a rule, the document is provided for 30 days, and less often for 2 years.

Permits are also divided according to the purpose of stay:

1. If your plans include employment or business , you need to obtain a work visa to Finland. As a rule, permits are issued by sailors, builders, doctors, scientists, agricultural workers, motorists, etc.
2. To resolve issues in the field of entrepreneurial activity and meet with partners, you will need a business visa.
3. If the purpose is to study, a student visa is required. It allows you to find a job in your specialty (for part-time work), but subject to working a limited number of hours.
4. To visit your family, you need a visitor visa . Issued by invitation and with guarantees of place of residence.
5. If you are traveling in transit and want to leave the airport, you need a transit visa, which allows you to stay in Finland for no more than 5 days.
   You may also need permission for a child if he or she has a foreign passport or a special sticker in the parent’s document.

We pay for the service

The next step in deciding how to get a Schengen visa to Finland is paying for services. The applicant's costs depend on the city and place of registration. The cheapest option is to immediately contact the consulate. To save personal time, it is better to come to a visa issuing center, but in this case you will have to spend money on a service fee. Money is transferred when submitting papers at a bank branch or cash desk of the center. Payments are made in rubles (the current exchange rate of the Central Bank of Russia is taken into account). The cost of a visa to Finland for citizens of the Russian Federation is 35 euros. If the person is under 6 years old, there is no need to pay. For urgent processing, the payment doubles to 70 euros. As for the service fee (if you contact the visa center), it is 26.75 euros. If the applicant is rejected, no one will return the money.

We hand over the documents

The success of the event depends on the correct collection of papers. That is why, before getting a visa to Finland in Moscow or another city, it is better to immediately stock up on the necessary package of papers .

It includes:

• visa application form; • one photo 3.5*4.5 cm; • an international passport with a validity of at least 90 days at the time of return to the Russian Federation (two pages must be free); • passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (for persons over 14 years old); • medical insurance (available regardless of age); • approval of data processing; • papers confirming the purpose of the trip.

In the latter case, for tourism purposes, as a rule, tickets and confirmation of reservation in the hotel room are enough. If you intend to stay with relatives, an invitation is required.

You also need:

• two certificates - from work and on the amount of income; • statement from the banking organization (the account must have an amount including at least 60 euros per day); • letter from the sponsor (with a small income); • parental approval and birth certificate (if a child is leaving)

Before you get a work visa to Finland in Moscow, check the list of required documents. Requirements may vary depending on the purpose of the trip. Those who like to travel by car must present the driving route, license and registration certificate, and Green Card insurance. When transferring documents, a person must approve the processing of personal information. If paperwork is completed with the involvement of a third party, it is recommended to prepare a form in advance and sign it on it. Sometimes it may be necessary to communicate with the consul to explain the reasons for travel, but this rarely happens.

When contacting a visa center, you don’t have to worry about your insurance policy, photograph, and copies. These bureaucratic issues are resolved on the spot.

How to get a visa to Finland: brief instructions

When applying to a visa issuance center, you need to take the following steps:

• collect papers and enter personal data; • make an appointment (you can come without an appointment, but then you will have to wait); • fill out an application for permits; • pay the required amount and collect the receipt; • monitor the readiness of the visa through the authority’s website and pick it up at the appointed time.

We discussed above how to obtain a visa to Finland on your own. If all steps are completed, all that remains is to pick up the document.

This is done in one of the following ways:

1. On your own. Proof of identification, receipt and agency agreement will be required. 2. With the help of loved ones. In addition to the above papers, it is necessary to confirm the relationship. 3. Through a company representative (a power of attorney and a passport of the principal are required). 4. With the involvement of 3rd parties. You also need a passport (copy) and a power of attorney.

If the applicant has not previously submitted biometric data, the papers will have to be collected in person.

Reasons for refusal

Remember that when applying for a visa to Finland, as to any other country, all information must be truthful. There are known situations when, if the information did not match, a person was turned away at the border. In addition, at customs they may ask about the purpose of the trip and the stopover address. To avoid problems, you need to have supporting documents on hand (for example, hotel reservations). If the information provided does not match the reality, the visa will be cancelled. As for refusal of extradition, the reasons may be different - lack of purpose of travel, deviation from established deadlines, etc. In case of an initial violation, the person is warned, but subsequently more severe measures are applied.

Biometrics issues

Since the fall of 2015, all travelers must submit fingerprints and take a photo using a special device. To undergo these procedures, you will have to come to the visa issuing authority in person. Information about a person is stored in the database for 59 months, but after this period the procedure may need to be repeated. If the applicant cannot come himself, he has the right to pay about 150 euros and order the service at the place of employment or at home. Biometric information does not need to be submitted to persons under 12 years of age, people with disabilities, as well as citizens who cannot do this due to their physical condition. In addition, fingerprints will not be submitted if this procedure has been carried out within the last five years.

We are waiting for a decision

Knowing how to get a visa to Finland, you can reduce the processing time. On average you have to wait up to 12 days. When completing documents during peak season, you will have to spend more time. Urgent permitting is available (within 3 days), but then you will have to pay double the fee.

Visa cancellation issue

After visiting Finland, a person has the right to visit other states included in the Schengen zone. Today, no records are kept of the days a person stays in the country. Only the number of visits is counted, but transit movements are not taken into account. For example, if you have been to Spain three times, you will have to enter Finland four times. Otherwise, you may encounter difficulties in the future.

Entry by car

Tourists who decide to cross the border with Finland by car first receive a Schengen visa in accordance with the general procedure. Plus you need to have the originals with you:

• driver's license;
• powers of attorney (if the driver is not the owner);
• technical passport of the car;
• vehicle registration certificate;
• Green Card insurance.

In addition, the customs officer may require an insurance policy for the driver and passengers, and a hotel reservation (invitation). There is no strict rule to present a diagnostic card or describe the route, but it is better to go with a recent technical inspection and be ready to answer questions about your travel plans.

When crossing the border, documents must be shown several times: in the border zone, during control, when leaving Russia and when entering Finland. Inspection of a car and luggage is a fairly common occurrence; sometimes vehicles are forcibly sent for maintenance. If something seems suspicious to the customs officer, the car undergoes an in-depth check in a separate box.

Visa for children

Children under 18 years of age cannot travel independently; they must be accompanied. To obtain Schengen, minors submit a standard package plus additional papers. The main document is the consent of one parent/guardian if the child is traveling with the other, and of both in the case of traveling with third parties, including relatives. You also need a birth certificate with a copy and copies of the Schengen visas of your parents/guardians (if available).

Consent is required if the application is submitted at different times with the legal representatives of the minor. It is ordered from a notary and issued in the name of the accompanying person. When applying for Finnish Schengen through an embassy or consulate, it is enough to sign the child’s application form in the presence of a visa officer, then this paper is not needed, you only need to attach copies of the first pages of the Russian passport to confirm the relationship. But the visa center always requires it.

Consent can be replaced by a death certificate of one parent, a certificate stating that his whereabouts are unknown (confirmation from the police or a document from a notary), Form No. 25, or a court decision on the status of a single parent.

Entry rules

In 2001, Finland became a party to the Schengen agreement. Therefore, anyone who has received a Finnish visa can visit all countries of the Schengen area for the period specified in the document.

If a tourist plans to visit several countries, the first one to enter should be Finland.

Schengen visa issued by the Finnish Embassy

Very often, those who want to travel, without knowing it, fall for the tricks of travel agencies. Companies that offer to help you obtain a Schengen visa convince you that it is extremely difficult to do it yourself.

Actually this is not true. A Schengen visa is issued in the same way as any other. You can apply for it at the visa center. When applying for a visa, fill out a form. .

According to the rules of the Schengen visa regime, which are in force in 2021, a foreign citizen must obtain a Schengen visa for the country in which he plans to stay the longest. When applying for an entry permit, you can consult with the visa center staff on any questions.

Many St. Petersburg residents travel to Finland very often. After the imposition of sanctions on some food products, they are sent there even to grocery stores. If you have friends in St. Petersburg, you can simply ask them about crossing the border. Now every fifth resident of St. Petersburg has a valid Finnish visa.

Photo requirements

The photo for the visa application must be no older than 6 months. Only high-quality photographs are accepted without traces of processing in computer programs or changes in real facial features and natural colors.

The position of the face is standard “passport” with the eyes directed towards the camera. The expression is calm, a slight smile is not forbidden. Hair or head coverings (permissible only for religious reasons) do not cover the oval, ears and forehead. The frame of the glasses cannot be too original or massive, otherwise the appearance of the applicant will be distorted. The photograph should be free of shadows, highlights, and unnecessary objects.

The length of the head from the chin to the crown is approximately 30 mm (70-80% of the area). The photo is taken from the front, the gaze is directed at the camera, there is no smile.

Consular fee – 35 €

The fee for all types of visas is 35 EUR and is charged for each passport, including passports of children (regardless of age). A receipt for payment of the fee is issued by a consulate employee at the time of acceptance of documents; you can pay the fee at payment centers or ATMs of Nordea Bank. At Finnish Visa Application Centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities, you will additionally have to pay a service fee of 26.75 EUR. Prices on the page are for September 2021.

The following categories of citizens are exempt from paying the consular fee:

• children included in the parents' passport;
• schoolchildren, students of higher educational institutions, graduate students and accompanying teachers (provided that the purpose of the trip is education);
• close relatives of citizens of European Union states;
• close relatives of Russian citizens legally residing in Finland.

How much does a Finnish visa cost in St. Petersburg - price at the consulate and visa center

Regardless of where the visa is issued, you will need to pay a fee. For citizens of the Russian Federation and children over 6 years old it will be 35 €. An urgent visa will cost 2 times more – 70 €.

Certain categories of citizens are exempt from the visa fee:

• children, if they are under 6 years old,
• close relatives of an EU citizen,
• students and accompanying teachers, if the purpose of the trip is study,
• scientists coming to the country to conduct scientific research and participate in seminars and conferences,
• young participants in sports, cultural, educational events held by non-profit organizations.

If a visa is issued through a visa center, a service fee of 27.20 € is also paid. Children under 6 years of age are exempt from it.

Fingerprinting

Since September 14, 2015, to obtain a Schengen visa, fingerprints must be taken and a digital photo taken to be entered into a single database. Biometric data is valid for 5 years, after which the information will need to be updated. Visa centers, consulates and consular departments are equipped with special equipment; the procedure takes no more than 5 minutes. Children under 12 years of age and people who are unable to have their fingerprints taken (for example, due to a hand injury) are exempt from fingerprinting.

Visa validity periods

Finland follows the same policy as the rest of the Schengen area, therefore, most likely, the first visa will be issued for a period of 3 (6) months with the right to stay in the country for 30 days (in some cases - 20).

Several years ago, the consulate introduced the practice of approving entry documents for 2 years and 5 years in order to increase the tourist flow. However, the basic rule remains unchanged - a citizen of the Russian Federation has the right to stay in Finland for no more than 90 days once every six months. The number of border crossings can be any.

Documents for a Finnish visa

First you need to understand the validity period for which Finland issues Schengen. Most often issued:

1. for half a year;
2. for 2 years;
3. for 3 years;
4. and for 5 years.

But tourists are not particularly willing to issue certificates of long validity the first time, so it is easier to get a document twice for a shorter validity period.

Tourist visa

Before deciding to go on vacation, they prepare documents for a visa to Finland.

To obtain a tourist permit, you need to take:

• questionnaire;
• one photograph;
• foreign passport + copy of the first page;
• health insurance;
• a copy of the Russian general passport.

The passport must have another 3 months before its expiration date and two blank pages.

student visa

A student visa is issued for students. Allows Russian citizens not only to study, but also to get a job.

When applying for a student permit, the following is added to the documents:

1. a certificate from the university stating that the Russian citizen has entered the university,
2. certificate of secondary education,
3. The student must have a financial minimum for the year immediately. The amount is 6720€.

It is important to know! Some universities provide housing and food for students, in which case the financial minimum is reduced.

Visitor visa

Those who go to visit their relatives are issued a visitor visa.

A prerequisite for receiving is confirmation that a Russian tourist is really welcome in Finland. Such confirmation can be a written invitation from relatives. Additionally, you must provide proof of financial and housing abilities.

Transit visa

A transit or single-entry visa is issued provided that the duration of the transfer does not exceed 24 hours.

Work Visa

To conduct any work activity, including any business projects, a work visa is issued.

In this case, it is necessary to collect an additional package of documents:

• departments from work confirming the position and salary of the applicant;
• you need statements from a bank account that is opened specifically for travel (the traveler must have at least 60 € in his account for each day of stay in the country);
• You must have permission to carry out practical or creative activities in the state.

Registration of the permit falls on the shoulders of the inviting company.

Visa for children

Winter Finland is attractive to young travelers, and a visa for children is also relevant.

It is issued either according to the parent’s passport (with a pasted-in photograph of the child) or according to his birth certificate.

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Embassy and consulates of Finland in Russia

Embassy of Finland in Moscow

Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg

Petrozavodsk branch of the Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg

Murmansk branch of the Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg

Finland Visa Application Center in Moscow

United Visa Center in Kazan