Finland is one of the most loyal Schengen countries towards applicants from Russia. She willingly issues long-term multi-entry visas to candidates from the Northwest region, and the rest are quite easy to get long visas for a second or third time.
Necessary
- - printed and signed questionnaire (filled in manually on paper or electronically on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland);
- - one photo of size 3, 5 x 4, 5 on a light background;
- - international passport,
- - copies of pages with personal information and registration from the internal passport;
- - confirmation of the purpose of the trip (invitation, travel voucher, itinerary or hotel reservation);
- - an insurance policy from an organization accredited by the Finnish consulate.
Instructions
Step 1
Finland differs from other Schengen countries in that for its visa, Russian citizens usually need to provide a simplified package of documents. For example, a visa does not require a job certificate or bank statement. The Finns do not ask for tickets to the country. It is often possible to do without even a hotel reservation. Nevertheless, this is a concession that the country makes for Russian citizens, so if the consular officers want you to bring any of these papers, this requirement will need to be fulfilled. If you need an account statement, then the money should be at the rate of 30 euros per person per day.
Step 2
Start obtaining a visa to Finland by filling out an application form. It is best to do this on the website of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since electronic questionnaires are processed much faster. Unfortunately, this option does not work in all visa centers, so you should clarify whether the electronic application form is accepted in your city. Before filling out, you should choose the place of submission of documents, and for Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Omsk, Rostov-on-Don and Vladivostok, you need to indicate Moscow. Fill out the form in English or in Latin letters in Russian.
Step 3
As soon as you finish filling out the questionnaire, a document with a bar code will be generated, in which your personal data is encrypted. You need to print the application form and this document, sign them and take them with you to the consulate or visa center.
Step 4
Prepare all supporting documents. They must be computer generated, handwritten versions will not be accepted. This also applies to certificates from work, and invitations or letters of sponsors.
Step 5
Take a photo. Its size is 35 x 45 mm, the face should occupy about 70% of the entire image area. It is permissible to use photographs that are not more than 6 months old. The image should be clear, the background should be light, but not white. Various ovals, frames or corners are not allowed. In order not to worry about how high-quality the photo is, it is best to contact a salon whose employees are aware of all the requirements.
Step 6
To apply for a visa, you need to make an appointment by calling the call center indicated for the specific place of application. You can also come and submit an application on a first come, first served basis, but this only works for visa centers, an entry is required to apply at the consulate. Documents can be submitted in person, through close relatives (you need to have papers confirming your relationship with you) or by power of attorney. It can also be done by a travel agency.
Step 7
Visa processing usually takes 6-10 working days in the central regions. In other places, the process can take 2 weeks. Usually a decision is made quickly, but there are busy times when there are too many applications, so it is recommended to bring the documents in advance. If you have tickets or hotel reservations, you can make an urgent visa, the processing time is 3 working days.
Step 8
The consular fee is payable upon application. It is 35 euros for residents of the Russian Federation. When submitting documents through the visa center, you also need to pay for the services of the center.
