Finland
Tourist visa for Finland: documents, fees and steps
Tourism (short stay) · 104 nationalities · residence in 220 countries · ordinary passport
Stay of up to 90 days · Verified on 7 October 2026
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Documents requested
Completed and signed Schengen visa application formConditions and details
The form is completed online on the finlandvisa.fi website or, failing that, in PDF format, by hand or on a computer. The portal states that it must be completed in English and in the Latin alphabet, then printed, signed and submitted with the supporting documents. Even when using the PDF, the ministry advises checking the list of documents on finlandvisa.fi.- A colour photograph that makes it possible to recognise the applicantThe ministry requires a colour photograph in which the applicant is recognisable and refers to the Finnish police guidelines for the format.
Passport valid for at least three months after the end of the intended journey and issued less than ten years agoConditions and details
The passport must remain valid for at least three months after the end of the intended journey (ninety days after the planned date of exit from the Schengen area, according to the section on the visa requirement) and must have been issued no more than ten years ago. The travel document must also be accepted by Finland for the nationality concerned.Travel insurance covering the entire Schengen area, of at least EUR 30 000Conditions and details
The insurance must be valid throughout the entire validity period of the visa applied for and cover the whole Schengen area. The minimum cover is EUR 30 000; it must cover the costs relating to sudden illness and accident, including medical repatriation, and repatriation costs in the event of death.Proof of the purpose, conditions and duration of the stay (for example tickets)Conditions and details
The page lists "supporting documents" among the required documents. The representation may request documents showing the purpose, conditions and duration of the visit; the ministry cites as examples tickets, a hotel reservation confirmation, a private invitation letter and an official invitation.Proof of sufficient financial means, at least 50 EUR per day in FinlandConditions and details
The applicant must prove sufficient means for the duration and purpose of the stay and the cost of living in the country; Finland requires at least 50 EUR per day. The host's means are not taken into account when assessing the applicant's economic situation, except in the exceptional cases cited by the page.
Depending on your situation
- Hotel reservation confirmationFor a hotel stay, the reservation confirmation is among the examples of supporting documents that the representation may request to establish the conditions of the stay.
Free-form invitation letter from the host, in the case of accommodation with a private individualConditions and details
The invitation is a free-form letter indicating the host's contact details and information about the invited person: name, date of birth, address, passport number, purpose and duration of the visit. For a private visit, it is advisable to specify whether the host is a friend, the spouse or a relative. If the host is not financing the trip, this letter is sufficient; if he is financing it, the sponsorship form replaces it. An invitation does not guarantee the issuance of the visa.Sponsorship form (« proof of sponsorship form ») signed before a notary, where the host finances the tripConditions and details
Where the host undertakes to finance the trip, he completes the sponsorship form, signed before a notary who authenticates the signature, and attaches it in place of the invitation letter. Documents to attach: copy of the host's identity card and residence permit if he is not Finnish; copy of his employment contract; his payslips and bank statements for the last three months; copy of the document establishing the right to occupy the accommodation if the applicant stays there; proof of family relationship, or failing that, evidence of previous meetings. The applicant must nevertheless provide information on his own financial situation. The questionnaire does not collect who finances the trip: a condition to be assessed by the applicant.
Official fees
- Schengen Visa 90 €
- Schengen Visa, nationals of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine (facilitation agreements) 35 €
- Schengen Visa, accelerated procedure, nationals of Ukraine and Belarus 70 €
- Schengen Visa, nationals of Cape Verde 67.50 €
Steps
- Check the visa requirement and that the passport is accepted by Finland for your nationality (country list from the ministry).
- Consult on finlandvisa.fi the list of documents specific to the country of submission, choosing the « Tourism » list.
- Fill in the online form on finlandvisa.fi (or the PDF form), finalise it, print it and sign it.
- Make an appointment to submit the application; an application cannot be sent by email or by fax.
- Submit the application in person, with the originals and copies of the documents, and have your biometric data recorded (fingerprints not taken again if they were provided less than 59 months ago).
- Pay the visa fees in full on submission, plus the service fees at the application centre; certain representations accept an advance bank transfer.
- Attend, where applicable, the personal interview requested by the representation.
- Wait for the decision: maximum period of 15 days, longer if an in-depth examination is necessary.
- On arrival, present the visa, the passport, the insurance certificate, the supporting documents and proof of means (EUR 50 per day) for inspection.
Where to apply
- Visa application centre designated by a Finnish representation (external service provider, VFS Global in a number of countries); service fees in addition.
- Finnish representation; in the EU area, only the embassies of Berlin, Dublin, Madrid, Nicosia, Sofia and Stockholm. Honorary consuls do not issue visas.
- Mission of another Schengen State representing Finland, in countries where a representation agreement exists.
- finlandvisa.fi portal: online form and list of documents by country (submission remains in person).
Good to know
When to submitConditions and details
The application may be submitted at the earliest six months before the start of the visit. The ministry advises allowing at least 15 days for processing, delays being possible, and to make an appointment as soon as the travel dates are known.Main destinationConditions and details
The application is addressed to Finland if it is the main destination, that is, the country of the longest stay or of the main purpose. An application submitted to Finland for another main destination is rejected.Online formConditions and details
The finlandvisa.fi form is filled in in English and in the Latin alphabet. Once finalised, it can no longer be modified: a new one must be created. The form is deleted automatically after 120 days and must be submitted, printed and signed within that period.Originals and copiesConditions and details
The originals are presented at the application centre or at the representation, and copies are submitted with the application. The representation may request other documents and an interview. Processing only begins after submission of the signed form, the supporting documents and payment of the fees.List "Tourism" or "Private Visit"Conditions and details
On finlandvisa.fi, after choosing the submission country, the "Tourism" list covers leisure, relaxation or tourist visit trips; a separate list "Private Visit (Family and Friends)" covers visiting relatives or friends legally residing in Finland. Choose the one that matches the main purpose (observed for the submission country India).Additional informationConditions and details
The representation may request information about the itinerary, means of transport, return trip, financial means, assets and employment. Certain Schengen States must be consulted on applications from nationals of certain countries.Multiple-entry visaConditions and details
A C visa may be single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry. For a multiple-entry visa, the total duration of stays may not exceed the number of days indicated on the sticker, i.e. 90 days at most over 180 days; its validity is five years at most.- No work with a visaAs a general rule, the holder of a visa cannot work in Finland or in another Schengen State; settling requires a residence permit.
In case of refusalConditions and details
The refusal and its grounds are notified on a form conforming to the Visa Code. An administrative review may be requested from the ministry within 30 days, in writing in Finnish or Swedish, for EUR 255; the ministry's decision may be contested before the Helsinki Administrative Court within 30 days, with a procedural fee of EUR 310.Extension during the stayConditions and details
The police may extend the validity of the visa if the traveller cannot leave the Schengen area due to force majeure or humanitarian grounds (free of charge), or for serious personal reasons (EUR 30).Entry/Exit System (EES)Conditions and details
Since 12 October 2025, third-country nationals on a short stay are registered in the EES at each crossing of the external borders; in Finland, the competent authority is the border guard.
Nationalities covered
This procedure applies to 104 nationalities.
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Comoros
- Congo
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Official links
- Ulkoministeriö — Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (new tab) um.fi
- FAQ: Visas and residence permits - Ministry for Foreign Affairs (new tab) um.fi
- Finland Visa Application (new tab) finlandvisa.fi
- Visa Application - Application documents - IND (new tab) finlandvisa.fi
- Travel across EU borders - Ministry for Foreign Affairs (new tab) um.fi
- Visa requirement and travel documents accepted by Finland - Ministry for Foreign Affairs (new tab) um.fi
- Finland Visa Application (new tab) finlandvisa.fi
- Service fees in Finnish missions abroad - Ministry for Foreign Affairs (new tab) um.fi
- EUR-Lex - 02016R0399-20251012 - EN - EUR-Lex (new tab) eur-lex.europa.eu
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