Finland is a beautiful country and the best time to visit this place is when you can see the Northern Lights. In Finland, this spectacular light show is visible for more than 200 days in a year. Plan a trip during this time for an experience that you’ll remember forever.
Finland is a popular holiday destination. It received 550,046 visa applications in the year 2016. The visa rejection rate was 8.73% and that is quite high.
You’ll be applying for a Finland Schengen visa from the embassy of Finland in London and it’s important that you do it in the right way. Understanding how the Schengen states work is what is required.
In 2016, more than 2300 people applied for Finland Schengen visas from the embassy in London. These were short-stay visas for tourism purpose.
If you’re planning the same, then this guide is what you need to follow.
Below, we explain how the entire procedure works:
4 steps to acquire a Finland Schengen visa
There are only 4 steps that you need to follow in the case of a Finland Schengen visa. They are:
-
Know whether or not you need to apply for Schengen visa to enter Finland
-
Make an appointment at the embassy of Finland in London ( Get Schengen visa appointment for $ 10 )
-
Collect the documents like passport, residency proof etc.
-
Submit the documents and get the process initiated
Want temporary flight, hotel or insurance for your Schengen visa appointment?
Here’s a detailed explanation of these four steps:
Who needs a visa to apply for a Finland Schengen visa to enter the country?
If you’re a British passport holder, you don’t need a visa to enter Finland. All you need is a valid passport. The validity of your British passport should be 90 days beyond the date of your planned return to the UK.
Do UK permanent residents need a visa to enter Finland?
Unfortunately, yes. If you’re a permanent resident in the UK, you’ll need to apply for a Finland Schengen visa.
This article explains what exactly you need to do. The first thing that you need to do is make an appointment according to the available dates and your convenience and this can be done online.
How to book an appointment for Finland Schengen visa at the embassy in London?
As already mentioned, you need to do it online. Visit the Embassy of Finland in London official website.
On the left of the homepage, you will find ‘Visas and residence permits‘. Click on it.
Did you see the ‘Book an appointment‘ option on the left-hand side of the page? Click on it and you’ll reach a new page with the appointment booking link.
Click on the ‘Booking an appointment for a Schengen visa‘ link and you’ll reach the VFS Global website where you’ll be able to schedule an appointment for your Schengen country.
Now choose your country as ‘United Kingdom‘ and then choose ‘London‘.
Now, you’ll be redirected to a new page, so that you can schedule your appointment. Click on ‘Schedule an appointment‘ from the top menu.
You’ll have to fill a visa application form before you can book an appointment.
Click on the first link that asks you to fill the form.
Register as a new user and enter the details asked for on the screen. You can use the same credentials to book an appointment for your Finland Schengen visa.
Select an available date and time slot to book an appointment. You’ll receive an email confirmation with the date and time you chose. Take a print-out of this email.
Documents required for Finland Schengen visa
You’ll need to ensure that you have the following documents with you to get your Finland Schengen visa process initiated:
-
Passport
-
Schengen visa application form
-
Photo
-
UK permanent residency card
-
Flight ticket reservations
-
Hotel accommodation bookings
-
Cover letter
-
Travel insurance
-
Financial sustenance proof
-
Employment documents
This is how the documents need to be:
Passport: You need to show your original passport and it should have at least two blank pages. Your passports expiry date can’t be within the next 90 days from the date of your return to the UK.
New user registration – the embassy of Finland in London: You need to download this form online and you do so from this website itself. Fill the form carefully and make sure to not make any mistakes. The details you enter should match exactly with what is there on your passport. Take a print-out of this form.
Photo: Paste one recent passport-sized photo on your visa application form.
UK permanent residency card: Bring your original UK permanent residency card to the embassy. Bring a photocopy of the document as well. The embassy might keep the photocopy.
Flight tickets: Like all Schengen nation consulates, the Finnish embassy also needs to know your arrival and departure date from Finland. You need to show a copy of your reserved flight tickets. Don’t worry, you don’t have to book flight tickets before the approval of the visa. Temporary flight bookings are also accepted by the embassy. Travel Visa Bookings offers you the same for a minor price.
Hotel reservations: The embassy also needs to know your staying arrangements before approving your visa. You can opt for temporary bookings in this case as well. Check out Travel Visa Bookings website for more detail.
Travel health insurance: This needs to have a minimum coverage of €43,000. This also needs to be valid in the entire Schengen area.
Cover letter: A detailed cover letter is important if you want your Finland Schengen visa to get approved. Travel Visa Bookings can help you with the cover letter as well.
Proof of sustenance: The embassy needs to know how you will sustain in Finland. Bring copies of your latest bank statements to prove that you can financially sustain in Finland.
Employment documents: If you’re employed, bring a letter signed by your employer that mentions your name, designation, date of joining, salary etc. If you own a business in the UK, bring a copy of your business registration document along with tax documents.
What is the Finland Schengen visa fee?
The fee that you need to pay depends on the type of visa you’re applying for. There are different kinds of Schengen visas and these are their fees:
As you’re applying for a short-stay visa, you’ll need to pay EUR 60. Apart from that, you’ll have to pay for temporary flight, hotel bookings and the insurance. Travel Visa Bookings charges this:
How will you if Finland is the embassy you need to apply for your Schengen visa when you’re visiting other Schengen nations as well?
The embassy you apply at depends on your travel theme. The country you stay in for the longest duration is what constitutes your travel theme. However, if you plan to stay for the same duration in all the countries, then you’ll have to apply in the embassy of the country you’ll enter first.
The following image explains it in a better way:
How long will the processing of the Finland Schengen visa take?
The processing of your visa will take 1-2 weeks.
Can the visa be tracked?
Yes, you can track your visa application on the VFS Global website itself. On the day of your appointment, you’ll receive a receipt with a number. Use this number to track your visa application.
Why should you take temporary bookings from Travel Visa Bookings?
Travel Visa Bookings people are experts in this field. They have processed millions of orders in less than 5 years. They offer travel insurance as well. It’s a one-stop solution for your Schengen visa.
What will be the validity of the visa?
The validity of your visa will depend on the travel itinerary you submit to the embassy. It will be for the days you intend to stay in Finland. So, if nothing has been finalised, then add 5-10 to the itinerary you submit to the embassy to be on the safe side.
The embassy of Finland in London information
Address:
Embassy of Finland
38 Chesham Place
LONDON SW1X 8HW
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel:
+44 20 7838 6200
Fax:
+44 207 235 3680
Email:
sanomat.lon@formin.fi
Related Finland Schengen Visa articles