Visa

Who needs a visa to Finland?

Australian and New Zealand citizens do not need a visa to Finland provided that their stay does not exceed 90 days within the period of 6 months. 

• Visa requirement in the Schengen area and travel documents accepted by Finland

Schengen visa

A Schengen visa is a visa issued under the terms of the Schengen Agreement. A Schengen visa issued by any country under the Schengen rules will be valid for travel in all the Schengen countries i.e. one visa alone will enable the bearer to travel in all the 25 Schengen countries - 22 EU and 3 non EU countries. A Schengen visa enables a person to visit one or several of the Schengen countries for business, tourism, visiting friends/relatives etc for a maximum of 90 days every six months.

Honorary Consulates are not allowed to issue Schengen visas.

If the intended stay in Finland and within the Schengen area exceeds 90 days within a period of six months, a residence permit is required. Residence permits are still governed by the national law of each individual Schengen country. A holder of a residence permit to any of the Schengen countries may travel for three months to the other Schengen countries without having to obtain a Schengen visa.

A Schengen Visa is applied for in person at the embassy or consulate of the country of the main destination. If there is no main destination, it should be applied for at the Embassy/Consulate of the first country that one enters unless it is just a transit country.

Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days in Finland and the Schengen area for tourism and business purposes.

Applying for a Schengen Visa at the Consulate of Finland in Australia or New Zealand the following documents are required to support the visa application: 

• A fully completed visa application form. 
• A passport sized photograph.
• A valid passport or other acceptable travel document.
• The passport must be valid for at least three months after the visa expiry date and it must be enclosed in the application.
• A valid travel insurance for the whole period of travel in the Schengen area.
  The insurance indemnity should be at least EUR 30,000 (approx. AUD60, 000) and should insure the person in case of sudden illness or accident (including travel home) and include transportation home in the event of death. (not required from the dependent family members of EU citizens - copy of the marriage certificate & passport should be included).
• Flight reservation - on collection of the visa, paid return tickets must be presented.
• Visa fees
• Confirmed hotel reservations or an invitation letter where applicable.
• A proof of funds to support the travel.
• A letter from the employer/school/university/college where applicable.
• In some cases, further documentation may be requested.

The Schengen Visa fee must be paid in advance in cash, by a Money Order or a Bank Cheque (not personal) made out to the Consulate of Finland. Payment can be made also directly to the Consulate's bank account (contact the Consulate first). The fee is NON-REFUNDABLE, if the visa application is withdrawn or the visa is refused. The fees are subject to change in accordance with the exchange rate.

Depending on the travel document the processing of the application may take from 3 days to a fortnight or more.

Note

A Schengen Visa is issued free of charge to spouses and dependants of EU-citizens. The spouse's passport and a marriage certificate/children's full birth certificates and parent's passports should be presented. All documents should be original.

Verification of the identity of Schengen visa applicant

A Schengen Visa to Finland should be applied for in person at the Finnish Consulate in Sydney where the verification is performed. When this is not possible and the visa application is sent by mail the verification must be done by a Finnish Consul, Commissioner for Declarations or a recognized travel agent, which should be noted on the application. The photograph should be endorsed before all document can forwarded to the Consulate in Sydney.