Finland is a country of dense forest, clear lakes, deep green summers and the northern lights, and over the last few years it has become a destination travellers actively seek out. To visit this part of Scandinavia you need a Finland tourist visa, and this guide sets out the documents, the steps, the fees and the conditions. If you are also considering immigration to Finland, contact the Aval Visa office for advice tailored to your case before you take the first step.
Types of Finland tourist visa
The Finland tourist visa is a Schengen visa, type C, issued for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period and for travel purposes only. It carries no right to work or study, and you must leave when it expires. Because the Schengen states allow travel without internal border checks, a Finland tourist visa lets you travel through the whole Schengen area, provided Finland is your main destination. The visa is issued for a maximum of 90 days, and there is no extension in place: a further trip means a fresh application from the start.
Worth reading: if you are considering moving to Finland, see our guide to the Finland start-up visa.
Requirements for a Finland tourist visa
So what does an applicant actually need? The single most important element is proof of funds. You have to show the visa officer that you can pay for the trip and that you can meet your ordinary living costs after you return.
Beyond that you need travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 of cover, and a clear plan for the days you will be in the country. The plan takes the form of a travel plan or purpose-of-travel letter, accompanied by an invitation letter where you have one. An invitation is not compulsory, but if a friend, an acquaintance or a close family member lives in Finland, an invitation or a financial sponsorship letter from them strengthens the file.
The next condition is ties to your country of residence. Finland assesses visa applications carefully in order to prevent unlawful stay and unfounded claims, and where an applicant cannot satisfy the officer that they will return home at the end of the trip, the visa is refused. Anything that demonstrates a genuine tie to your home country therefore matters. Those ties usually include
- Employment, and a job to return to after your leave
- Study, and a university or school place to return to
- Family circumstances and dependants living with you
and similar evidence.
Steps to a Finland tourist visa
Start by having your documents translated, then book the appointment. Finland tourist visa appointments are not booked with the embassy directly. You complete the online application form and book the appointment through the official VFS Global website. Then attend on the date you are given, on time, and hand in the documents.
A decision on a Finland tourist visa normally arrives within 15 calendar days, and can be extended to 45 days where the case needs further examination or where application volumes peak around the main holiday seasons. For that reason, apply about two months before you plan to travel. The Finnish mission network publishes current guidance.
Finnish missions abroad: https://finlandabroad.fi/
Documents for a Finland tourist visa
If a trip to Finland is on the cards, assemble the following before your appointment:
- A passport valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area, issued within the last ten years, with two blank pages
- A recent biometric photograph on a white background, 35 x 45 mm
- A completed Finland tourist visa application form
- Schengen travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 of cover
- A return flight booking, as evidence that you intend to go home
- A hotel booking or apartment rental agreement, as evidence of where you will stay
- Proof of funds: three months of bank statements in English, stamped by the bank
- Employment evidence such as an employer letter, payslips, social insurance records or a business licence, showing steady income and employment status
- Study evidence such as an enrolment certificate, and anything else showing that you will return to continue your studies
- A marriage certificate for married applicants, together with identity documents
- Children’s birth certificates, or other documents showing your ties to your home country
- An invitation letter, optional, from close friends or first-degree relatives, which strengthens the application
Read more: A full guide to the cost of living in Finland
Cost of a Finland tourist visa
The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for each adult and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11. Children under 6 pay nothing.
If the consular section approves the visa, you can plan your trip under the Schengen rules. Bear in mind that document translation, legal advice, trip planning and similar items also belong in the travel budget. The consular fee is payable in euros, and it is not refunded if the visa is refused.
Why a Finland tourist visa is refused
Finland tourist visas are issued by the consular section of the Finnish mission, and applications are examined strictly in order to prevent unlawful migration and unfounded claims. The most common grounds for refusal are these:
- An incomplete or incorrect set of documents
- Falsified documents, such as fabricated bank statements or invitations
- Weak financial evidence and an inability to cover the cost of the trip
- No firm reason to return, such as no stable job or steady income
- A thin or questionable travel history
- A previous record of breaching visa conditions
- Invalid travel insurance, or insurance that does not meet the Schengen conditions
- Incorrect information, or contradictions between the form and the documents
Travelling to Finland with Aval Visa
A Finland tourist visa opens up a quiet, safe and strikingly green country in the heart of Scandinavia. This guide has covered the documents and conditions, the appointment process and what to expect. If you want further guidance, you can (contact the Aval Visa office).
The Aval Visa team has years of experience with work visas, start-up visas and student visas, and can support you through a Finland application. Leave the administrative work to us: the application form, the appointment booking, assembling and checking the documents, drafting the travel plan letter and the rest of the detail.
Read more: Company registration fees in Finland
Frequently asked questions
- How much money do I need for a Finland tourist visa? You must show you have enough money for your stay and return journey. The reference amount is set by the Finnish authorities and is revised, so check the current figure with the Finnish mission handling your application before you apply.
- How long does a decision take? A decision on a tourist visa normally takes 15 calendar days and can extend to 45 days in more complex cases. Book your VFS appointment for documents and biometrics about two months before you travel.
- What if the visa is refused? The refusal notice sets out the grounds. You can lodge an appeal against the decision within the period stated on the notice, and an appeal usually takes several weeks to decide.
- How do I extend a Finland tourist visa? There is no extension. Apply again from your country of residence, going through the same steps. Applicants with a previous Schengen visa and a clean travel record usually find the second application more straightforward.
