Finland is one of the countries participating in the Schengen Agreement, but it is usually a little easier for Russian citizens to get a visa to it than to other Schengen countries, since fewer documents are required. Finland is especially willing to issue multivisa to those who already have several Schengen visas in their passports, but sometimes residents of border areas also receive the desired multiples the first time (if they have a residence permit).
Necessary
- - passport, valid 90 days after the end of the trip;
- - completed and signed application form;
- - 1 photo 35 x 45 mm;
- - photocopies of the significant pages of the Russian passport;
- - an invitation from a private person (if you are traveling on a private visit);
- - hotel reservation in Finland (optional, only needed for those who travel as a tourist);
- - route (if the goal is shopping, and the trip is very short);
- - registration certificate and Green Card insurance for the car (if you are traveling by your own car);
- - medical insurance.
Instructions
Step 1
Start by preparing all documents. The peculiarity of Finland is that usually, in order to apply for its visa, it is not required to provide tickets to the country, a certificate from work and a bank statement. To make a Schengen visa to other countries, you cannot do without these papers. Nevertheless, the employees of the visa center or consulate have the right to require these documents from you. In this case, make sure that the account has an amount of at least 30 euros for each day of stay (for the first trip).
Step 2
Finland has special requirements for health insurance. Only policies issued by accredited companies are accepted, a full list of them is listed on the website of the Finnish consulate. In addition, the period of validity of insurance must start from the date of submission of documents, and not from the date of the intended entry into the country. The insurance must be valid for the entire planned first trip, but it is not necessary to buy a policy for the entire duration of the requested visa. Then, before going to the country again, you will need to buy a new policy, this can be checked.
Step 3
The easiest way to fill out a visa application is online, on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. The advantage of an electronic questionnaire is that it will be processed much faster than a regular one, which means that you will receive a visa faster. You must submit documents to the consulate or visa center no later than 14 days after filling out the application form on the website. For a multiple-entry visa, you need to indicate in paragraph 25 the total number of days that you are going to spend in Finland (or the Schengen countries), and in paragraph 24 indicate the desired effect of the visa (single, double, multiple). In clause 30, you should indicate the expiry date of the requested visa, and not the first trip, be careful.
Step 4
You can submit documents either directly to the Consulate of Finland (this is possible only by appointment), or to the visa center. There are many visa centers operating in Russia, so this is usually not a problem. In visa centers, documents are accepted both by appointment (not everywhere), and on a first-come, first-served basis. The consular fee for obtaining a visa is collected right there, at the visa center or the Consulate, it is 35 euros. At the visa center, you will have to pay an additional fee for the services of the center itself.
Step 5
The decision to issue a visa is made rather quickly, within 4-10 working days. In recent years, Finland usually issues multivisa valid for 3 or 6 months already at the first application, but it is advisable that you have a local residence permit. If your passport contains other Schengen visas, you can request a "cartoon" for 1 or 2 years. Those who have already run out of a couple of multiple-entry visas can count on a five-year Schengen.
