Finland is included in the list of countries in the Schengen area, which have their own entry rules. Do citizens of Russia need a visa to Finland? Yes, it's needed. At the same time, new rules for obtaining it have been in force since September 2015. They include the mandatory submission of biometric data. Next, we will consider how a Finnish visa is issued, what documents are submitted and how much a visa to Finland costs.
You can open a visa in 2019 on your own, and the submission of papers requires personal presence. A “pass” is issued at the Consulate or an accredited VFS Global Visa Application Centre.
Citizens of the Russian Federation can obtain short-term, double-entry, multiple-entry and multi-entry visas. The duration of the visa permit depends on the purpose of the trip. Before submitting an application, it is important to decide exactly on the purpose of visiting Helsinki.
- A single-entry tourist visa can be issued exclusively for the duration of the trip or for 6 months with a “corridor” of 90 days.
- A multivisa can be issued to citizens who are engaged in entrepreneurial activities, education or are owners of real estate. It is issued for a period of 6 months to 2 years with a "corridor" of 180 days.
- A multiple-entry visa is issued to Russians whose purpose of travel is family reunification, work, and education. It is issued for a year with an unlimited number of entries.
The decision on the validity period is made by the consulate, based on the documents provided. Russians who go to Helsinki for tourism purposes are issued a short-term Finnish visa with a “corridor” of 3 months. Such a "pass" is called a tourist pass. Next, we will look at the requirements for documents for opening this visa and the subtleties of their submission.
Visa cost
Finnish visa costs 35 euros, urgent - 70. Babies under 5 years old do not pay the fee, and children aged 5-11 years old are paid the same amount. If the papers are processed at the Embassy, only the visa fee is paid.
- VFS Global centers charge a service fee of EUR 26.75.
- An urgent visa will cost 70 euros. Terms of consideration - up to 3 days.
It is worth remembering that in case of refusal, the visa and consular fees are not refundable.
This is how a Schengen visa to Finland looks like
Terms of consideration
Paperwork for the Finnish Schengen must be submitted at least 16 days before entry. Terms of consideration of papers - 15 working days, including the day of submission. In some cases, the terms can be up to 60 days.
Where to issue
A Finnish visa is issued at the Consulate or VFS Global Center. Consulates are open in:
- Moscow: per. Kropotkinsky, 15/17. Documents are submitted from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12:00 pm. Pre-registration is carried out by phone: (499) 703-49-71 or through the website:
- St. Petersburg: pl. Preobrazhenskaya, 4. Registration for submission: (812) 309-28-89. The visa department is open from 9 am to 4:15 pm.
- Petrozavodsk: st. Gogol, 6. Registration is required by phone: (8142) 59-98-01. Documents are accepted from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on weekdays.
- Murmansk: st. Karl Liebknecht, 13. Applications are accepted Mon.-Fri. from 9 am to 5 pm.
You can self-apply through VFS Global. They are located in the capital, Perm, Kazan, Samara and in 11 cities of the Russian Federation. Addresses and work schedules can be found on the website: http://visa.finland.eu/Russia/Moscow/contact_us.html
On the same site, an online appointment for a visa to Finland is conducted. You can make an appointment both at VFS Global and at the Consulate.
List of documents
For residents of the Russian Federation in 2019, a mandatory list of documents has been established, regardless of whether you are entering for tourism, business purposes or visiting relatives. What documents are needed:
- International passport. Valid for 3 months from the Schengen expiration date. There are 2 blank pages.
- Copy of foreign passport (first page).
- Passport photo, 1 pc.
- Insurance policy. The action starts from the first day of filing papers. Covers the entire territory of the Schengen countries. Insurance coverage - 30 thousand euros or 50 thousand dollars. The insurance covers expenses related to emergency hospitalization and repatriation of the applicant. The policy is not issued to children of EU citizens under 21 years of age, spouses of EU residents. The original insurance and a copy are submitted.
- Copy of internal passport. Served page with registration and 1.2 pages.
- Receipt for payment of fees. Attention: since the fee is paid directly at the Consulate or the Center, take your national passport with you.
- Questionnaire. It is filled in by hand or on a computer in Latin letters. .
- Certificate of income and employment.
This is a mandatory package of papers that you submit yourself. A Schengen visa to Finland is opened when the purpose of the visit is leisure, business, education or another purpose. Next, we will consider additional documents that are attached with the main one based on the purpose of the trip.
| Purpose/type of visa | Additional papers |
|---|---|
| Tourism/Tourist |
|
| Business/business visa to Finland |
|
| Cultural event | An invitation or a letter from the Russian side that sends the applicant to the event. |
| Treatment/medical | An invitation from a clinic or a medical certificate from a specialist in Finland indicating the period of treatment. |
| Education/training |
|
| Transit / transit |
|
| Visiting relatives, friends/guest |
|
Do I need a different type of visa to Finland for citizens applying for a long-term residence permit? Yes, it's needed. The difference lies in the form of submission. The price of such a permit will be 425-500 euros. It is obligatory to fill out an online application on the website: https://enterfinland.fi/eServices
On this site, go through the registration procedure, attach documents, fill out the application form and pay the visa fee. Additional papers, depending on the purpose of the trip, will be: a work contract, a letter of admission to study, financial support from the Finnish side.
Filling out the questionnaire
From autumn 2015, it is mandatory to fill out an online application form before coming to the Consulate or VFS Global Center. You can do it yourself. Go to the website: http://visa.finland.eu/Russia/Moscow/Online_Application_Form1.html
- Choose the place of submission of papers - the Consulate or VFS Global.
- Next, go through registration.
- Proceed to fill out the application. All fields are filled in Latin letters as in the passport. Enter your personal data, citizenship.
- Specify passport data.
- Go to the second page. Enter your address and contact number here.
- Then indicate the purpose of the trip, entry / exit, what kind of visa to Finland is needed for Russians.
- Next, specify information about financial security, insurance.
- On the last page, you will see a free field where you can provide additional information.
The procedure for submitting documents
Before submitting paperwork to the Consulate or VFS Global (only for Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Petrozavodsk), choose the day of visit on the VFS Global website:
http://visa.finland.eu/Russia/Moscow/Schedule_an_Appointment1.html
- Choose a city and enter the type of visa. You will be prompted when reception is possible.
- Enter your passport number and personal information.
- Then a window with free dates will appear. Choose the day and time.
The date changes in the personal account. For Russians who submit documents to regional centers, online registration is optional. Papers are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis or by telephone appointment.
On the appointed day, come to the Consulate or VFS Global Center. Take a package of papers and a regular (Russian) passport with you. Get fingerprinted and photographed. Then you pay the visa fee, give the documents to the employee.
You can track the readiness of your passport yourself on the website:
http://visa.finland.eu/Russia/Moscow/track_application.html
If you have been denied a Finnish visa, you can appeal within 2 weeks. Papers are submitted that clarify the information and additional supporting information. Reasons for rejection may vary. Perhaps you violated the visa regime or submitted false data.
