Finland Visa

• Finland Tourist Visa Overview:
  
  All Indian nationals are required to apply for a tourist visa before entering Finland and/or other countries under the Schengen agreement. It is therefore, mandatory to clearly state your ‘purpose of visit’ and the Schengen visas (for Finland) must be applied at the nearby respective Embassy/Consulate of your city. A tourist visa can be issued for single or multiple entries and this type is issued to those travelling for sightseeing and experiencing the leisure activities in Finland or staying with relatives or friends. Kindly note that the Embassies accept applications for short stay tourist Schengen visas only (not exceeding 90 days during 180 days period).
  
  Documents Required for Finland Tourist Visa

  • Duly filled Schengen Visa application form
  • 2 Coloured passport size photographs (recently clicked) with a whole-face capture and light background
  • Original passport with a minimum validity of 3 months after the intended journey and issued within previous 10 years; should have at least two blank pages
  • Copy of return ticket reservation- including possible third countries. We do not recommend purchasing the tickets before the final visa decision
  • Travel medical visa insurance with a minimum of 30,000 € coverage within Finland and the entire Schengen area or worldwide. This amount of insurance covers the entire duration of your trip to the Schengen are.
  • Cover letter stating the purpose of visit to Finland and itinerary
  • Proof of accommodation for the entire duration of intended stay
  • Proof of sufficient funds to manage the expenses during the stay (includes bank statement of last 3 months and ITR form past two years)
  • In case of minors travelling alone or with one parent, the below mentioned documents are required:
      1. Passport and ID copies of custodian(s) (from both the parents if applicable)
      2. Birth certificate/court decision of custody(notarized)
      3. Permission to travel from the guardian(s) if not travelling together with the child (notarized)
  • Proof of employment/studies on official letterhead, stamped and dated. The letter should contain the address, email, telephone number as well as name, designations and signature of the countersigning officer. The letter must mention the name and position of the applicant, salary, years of employment/studies and approval of absence/position after leave.
      1. For the retired personnel: proof of pension or other regular income is required
      2. For the unemployed/ dependents: Unemployment certificate and proof of income, if any (in case you are married: employment certificate of spouse, document of the income of the spouse and a marriage certificate)

  Finland Business Visa Overview:
  
  All Indian nationals are required to apply for a tourist visa before entering Finland and/or other countries under the Schengen agreement. This category of visa is issued to Indian citizens for visiting Finland with various business purposes including a business or conference trip, attending lectures & seminars and participation in negotiations. Kindly note that the Embassies accept applications for short stay Business Schengen visas only (not exceeding 90 days during 180 days period).
  
  Documents Required for Finland Business Visa:

  • Duly filled Finland Schengen Visa application form
  • 2 coloured passport size photographs (recently clicked) with neutral expression and light background
  • Original passport with a minimum validity of 3 months and at least two blank pages for visa stamps
  • Copy of return ticket reservation- including possible third countries. We do not recommend purchasing the tickets before the final visa decision
  • Travel medical visa insurance with a minimum of 30,000 € coverage within Finland and the entire Schengen area or worldwide. This amount of insurance covers the entire duration of your trip to the Schengen area.
  • Employment letter on official letterhead, stamped and dated. The letter should contain the address, email, telephone number as well as name, designations and signature of the countersigning officer. The letter must mention the name and position of the applicant, salary, years of employment/studies and approval of absence/position after leave
    1. For the retired personnel: proof of pension or other regular income is required
    2. For the unemployed/ dependents: Unemployment certificate and proof of income, if any (in case you are married: employment certificate of spouse, document of the income of the spouse and a marriage certificate).
    3. If in case the applicant is financially supported by his/her employer for the trip, this must be clearly mentioned in the Employment letter
  • Proof of accommodation for the entire duration of intended stay
  • Proof of sufficient funds to manage the expenses during the stay (includes bank statement of last 3 months, salary slips and ITR from last two months)

1. Do Indian nationals need a visa for visiting Finland?

Yes. It is mandatory for the Indians to obtain a visa for visiting Finland. They will need a short-term Schengen visa which is valid for 90 days to enter Finland.

2. For how long can the Indians stay in Finland?

The tourist visa to Finland can be issued for a short-term a temporary visit. The period of stay is up to 90 days which can be valid for maximum 180 days. If you want to stay in Finland for more than 90 days, you need a residence permit.

3. When will I receive my Finland tourist visa after submitting the visa application?
 
The approximate processing time is up to 15 working days for individuals and in case of a group of 15 or more are travelling, it can take up to 20 working days. In a few exceptional cases that include the peak season, the Embassy has the right to extend the processing time to 30 days if needed.

4. When will I receive my Finland business visa after submitting the visa application?

For Business visas to Finland, the processing time for individuals ranges between 3 to 10 working days and 20 working days for groups. Kindly note the processing time does not include week-ends or public holidays (either Finnish or Indian).

5. Can I extend my Finland tourist visa?

Usually, it is not possible to extend the tourist visa beyond 90 days. But it is only possible under certain emergency situations which include sudden cancellation of flights, severe illness or humanitarian reasons. However, a stipulated fee will be charged for the extension of the visa.

6. What are the documents required to obtain business visa for Finland from India?
 
The list of the mandatory documents is mentioned below:
  • Finland Schengen Visa application form (filed and signed)
  • 2 coloured passport size photographs with light background
  • Original passport valid for 3 months
  • Copy of return ticket reservation
  • Travel medical visa insurance with a minimum of 30,000 € coverage
  • Employment letter on company’s letterhead
  • Proof of accommodation 
  • Proof of sufficient funds- bank statement of last 3 months, salary slips and ITR)

7. Can I travel to other European countries with Finland’s Schengen visa?

Yes, you can. The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe that lets you travel within the Schengen member countries and Finland is one of them. With a Schengen visa in hand, you can travel to and stay in Finland and all the other 26 Schengen countries. Do keep in mind that the days you spend in other countries are counted in your total 90 days limit.

8. Can Indians apply for visa on arrival for Finland?

No, Finland does not offer visa on arrival option to the Indian nationals. You can either apply directly through the embassy in your respective/ nearby states of India or hand over your visa hassles to travelling experts like Dook.  

9. How to apply for a Finland Tourist Visa?

These are a few simple steps that you need to follow to apply for a Finland tourist visa:
  • Assemble all your required documents (see the list above)
  • Contact Dook’s Visa team who will submit your application after all the verification
  • Dook will make an appointment for you at the Embassy and assist you for the visa interview
  • Once the interview is done, wait for the update on application status

10. Is it easy for Indians to get the Finland tourist visa?

Undoubtedly, Finland falls under the category of one of the easiest Schengen countries to get a visa from. Despite the great number of visa applications submitted each month, there are high chances of obtaining a Schengen Visa to Finland without hassle. However, in case of incomplete documentation, fraudulent situations presented to the embassy or criminal background, the visa may get rejected/ delayed.

11. Is Finland allowing Indian tourists during COVID?

Yes. However, Indians including the other foreign nationals travelling to Finland will have to mandatorily present the negative RT-PCR test done within 72 hours prior to arrival. Passengers coming in from high risk countries like the UK, Turkey and African region are prohibited from entering Finland.

12. Is it necessary to take the RT-PCR test before travelling even we have taken one dose of vaccination?

You can arrive in Finland, but you need to take a COVID-19 test within 3-5 days after arrival. The vaccination needs to be taken at least 14 days before you travel. Unvaccinated travellers arriving without a negative test result or a certificate indicating recovery will have to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival and can be subject to self isolation.

13. What are the COVID testing requirements to enter Finland?

Passengers must have a COVID-19 (PCR or antigen) test issued at most 72 hours prior to arrival. The individuals who have received a complete and valid vaccination series may be granted entry without testing on arrival into Finland from any country, provided at least 14 days have passed since the last vaccine dose has been received.

14. What all vaccines are accepted by Finland authorities for travel?

Vaccines accepted include AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), Covaxin, Covishield, Janssen, Moderna (Spikevax), Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Sinopharm or Sinovac.

15. Do I need to submit the proof of funds in case I am travelling on a tourist visa?

In order to obtain both your short-term tourist and business visa, it is mandatory to submit the proof of funds along with the other important documents. This must include the bank statement of last 3 months, ITR and salary slips (in case of business visas).

16. What are the key steps to obtain a Finland tourist visa?

Firstly and importantly, you should have a valid passport with a minimum validity of 3 months from the intended date of arrival in Finland along with the return ticket reservation (not mandatory), proof of accommodation, proof of sufficient funds, cover letter stating the purpose of visit and travel insurance to present while applying for visa. After submitting all your documents to your trusted Visa Consultant Dook International and filing up the visa application form, wait for the visa to process and upon a following confirmation, you can collect your passport.

17. What should be mentioned in the cover letter to be submitted with my documents?

The cover letter submitted while applying for Finland tourist visa should clearly mention the nature and purpose of your visit. Additionally, you can mention any other regions that you may want to visit and the reasons for doing so.

18. Is it mandatory to purchase the travel insurance for Indians while travelling to Finland during COVID?

When travelling to Finland, the Indians passengers are requested to purchase travel insurance that will help them cover expenses medically, especially amid the COVID-19 crisis and will help them further save their money in case that the trip gets cancelled due to the deadly virus outbreak.

19. Do I need to go in for an interview after applying for Finland visa?

Yes. The embassy will probably ask you to sit in for an interview after you’ve submitted your application. You will be asked questions related to your reason for visiting and similar details around your trip.

20. Will my fees be refunded if my visa application is rejected?

All types of consular and service fees are non-refundable and cannot be refunded in case of visa rejection or delay in process.