Finland Visa Policy

The visa policy of Finland is designed to regulate the criteria for foreign nationals looking to visit the country for short or long-term purposes. This policy also decides who needs a visa for entry and who does not. Under the current visa policy, visa requirements are based on the visitor’s nationality. Some visa-exempt visitors are citizens from countries on the visa waiver list, and there are non-visa-exempt visitors who need visas for entry.

Finland is a member of the Schengen Area, having signed the same Agreement as other member states. This means that the country doesn’t have an individualized policy but replicates the same policy as agreed by itself and other member states. The Finnish law on visas is also the same but beyond that, Finnish citizens are free to travel and stay in any part of the Schengen zone just as citizens of other member states and visit or stay in Finland due to the universal entry and exit clause in the Schengen Agreement.

Schengen Visa

Under the Schengen visa agreement, member states are allowed to issue Schengen visas recognized and accepted by all states in the zone. Schengen visas are meant for non-Europeans who don’t come from visa-exempt countries. Such visitors can travel to multiple countries in the Area but must not stay for more than 90 days within 180 days. The visa is issued for tourist, medical, transit, or business purposes. Furthermore, it is valid for 180 days from when the holder arrives in Finland or any other country in the zone.

To apply for the visa, the applicant must visit the embassy or the consulate of the embassy they wish y visit, which will be Finland in this case. They must fill and submit an application form alongside the documents requested by the embassy and wait 4-6 weeks to get the visa.

ETIAS For Visa-Exempt Visitors

From 2024, visitors from visa-exempt countries must apply for security clearances online before visiting any part of the Schengen zone, including Finland. The former standard was for such visitors to arrive in Helsinki or any other entry route with a valid passport, and they will be let through. However, to strengthen border security, a new security program called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) has been initiated.

This system collects the information of eligible applicants and then forwards them to several security databases within and outside Europe for scanning. Applicants with clean records that pose no threat to Finland or its neighbors will be issued the approval for entry. Others will be reevaluated or denied entry.

ETIAS is a multiple-entry document so holders can use it several times within the 3 years validity period. Although it is undergoing testing for now, visitors will be mandated to get it before they can travel from the start of 2024.

Key Information About Finland ETIAS and Other Travel Information

It Is Not A Visa: The first thing you should know is that ETIAS is not a visa and should not be used as such. It is only an online pre-screening authorization permit. This means that you cannot use it for study or a permanent residency document. If you must visit and stay in Finland for more than the 90 days allowed, you should get a Schengen visa instead

Only For Eligible Visitors: Only visitors who are citizens of visa-exempt countries qualify for ETIAS. If you can currently visit Finland or any of the countries in the Schengen zone with just your passport, you will be eligible for ETIAS approval once it becomes mandatory in 2024.

The 90/180 Rule: The 90/180 rule must always be followed. This rule simply states that all visitors coming into the Schengen zone and planning to visit more than one country cannot stay in all of them for more than 90 days combined within 180 days. Furthermore, the days start counting from when they set foot in the first EU country they visit. Persons who stay for more than 90 days will have violated the rule and will be sanctioned by the authorities.

Not For Employment: As we pointed out above, ETIAS is not a long-term entry document nor a work visa. You can’t work in Finland with ETIAS as it is only valid for the purposes stated in previous paragraphs. If you must work in Finland, get a work visa, qualifying you for both a work and a resident permit.

Travel Insurance:  Depending on the region you are coming from and the current medical emergency in that Area, if any, you may need to travel with q valid travel medical insurance certificate. Schengen visa holders are currently required to have medical insurance, so enquire if you will need one before your trip and endeavor to get that sorted out in time.

Your Passport: Remember that your ETIAS is linked to your passport, so you should always travel with the same passport used for the ETIAS application at all times. Your ETIAS may be valid for three years but also expires when your passport does.

If your passport expires in less than six months, get a new one before applying for Etias.

Travel To Two Or More Countries: Just like with a Schengen visa, ETIAS holders will be allowed to travel to Finland and any of the other 26 Schengen countries in the zone, including Cyprus, Romania, and Bulgaria. ETIAS is not valid for travel to the UK and The Republic of Ireland.

Application Fee: The application fee must be paid before submitting your application, but this is subject to age. Applicants below 12 and above 70 are exempted from the fee.

Finland e-Visa Online – Get your Finland e-Visa with VisaHQ

If you plan to travel to Finland, you must apply for one travel document or the other, depending on your nationality. Finland welcomes visitors from most countries, provided they satisfy all the established requirements set aside by policymakers.

How To Apply For ETIAS With VisaHQ?

Here are the application steps for ETIAS.

Fill out the form: The online form is on the VisaHQ application page. Input your data accurately and answer the security questions truthfully.

Upload Documents: You must upload scanned copies of your passport bio-data page.

Pay the fee: Before you are allowed to submit the form, you must pay the application fee with a credit or debit card.

Get the ETIAS approval: After submitting the form, wait 20-30 minutes for the system to screen our information. After that, a confirmation will be sent to your email.

Why Use VisaHQ?

You should use VisaHQ for your online application for the following reasons.

• Speedy application process
• Get technical support should you need it
• User-friendly platform
• Advanced data security

And so much more. Proceed to the application page to submit yours, or message us with your inquiries, and we will get back to you speedily.