Visa Information

Overview

All citizens of India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are required to apply for a visa before entering Finland and/or other countries under the Schengen agreement. Before applying, please ensure you understand your particular ‘purpose of visit’. Schengen visas must be applied for at the respective Embassy/Consulate of the country of your main destination. Your main destination will be the Schengen country where your duration of stay exceeds all others. Due to this, when traveling to more than one Schengen country, you should submit your application to the Embassy/Consulate representing the country of your main destination. In case of equal stay, you have to submit your application to the mission of the Schengen country representing your first port of entry.

See more info about Schengen visas at the website of Finnish Embassy in New Delhi.

The Visa Application Centre accepts applications for short stay Schengen visas only (not exceeding 90 days during 180 days period). Applicants (including children of all ages) need to visit the Visa Application Centre in person.

The Visa Application Centres in New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata or Mumbai accepts Schengen visa applications from

• Legal residents of India (India citizens, Indian registration certificate /residential permit /stay visa holders)
• Legal residents of Afghanistan (Afghan citizens, Afghan long stay visa holders) who have entered India legally)
• Legal residents of Sri Lanka (Sri Lankan citizens, Sri Lankan long stay visa holders) who have entered India legally)

Applying for a visa in the neighbouring countries

• Finland is represented by Sweden in visa affairs in Bangladesh. The visa applicants living in Bangladesh are requested to submit their applications at the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka
• Finland is represented by Netherlands in Pakistan, where the applicants may submit their applications at the Dutch Embassy in Islamabad.

Processing terms

The appendices (e.g. invitation letter) shall be presented in English or in the language of the representing country.

Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the start of the planned journey. Seafarers in the performance of their duties are allowed to submit an application as earlier as nine (9) months in advance of their planned trip. The application process begins when the applicant personally submits his or her visa application and other supporting documents to the VAC or the mission.

Please note that all applications are processed individually. The Embassy may request further documentation, information or you may be called for an interview which can prolong the processing time.

The Visa Application Centre takes visa applications with an appointment. Information how to book the appointment can be found here.

Please click here to book an appointment

Please click here to go back to the homepage.

Visa Fees

Methods of payment for visa fees:

• If the applicant submits their visa application at the Finland Visa Application Centre:

  1. Card & UPI payment at the Finland Visa Application Centre on the day of appointment
  2. Cash payment at the Finland Visa Application Centre on the day of appointment

Applicant's exempted from visa fee:

• Applicants under the Directive 2004/38/EC
• Family members of Finnish citizen

• Diplomatic and official passport holders
• School pupils, students, post graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training - TO BE EVALUATED CASE PER CASE
• Researchers travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research - TO BE EVALUATED CASE PER CASE
• Representatives of non-profit organisations, aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events by non-profit organisations – TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE

Service charge applicable when applying at the Finland Visa Application Centre:

Please note that the service fee is inclusive of tax.

Original proof of payment must be received with the visa application. The passport number of the applicant must be clearly stated as reference on the proof of payment.

Click for the price list of additional services

Please Note:

• Special note for all applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre:
• The applicable visa fees in INR depend on the current exchange rate, which can be changed without any notifications
• The visa fees need to be paid via debit / credit card or UPI at the Visa Application Centre or alternatively via cash
• Applicants who are exempted from the visa fees need to pay only the service fee
• The fees are non-refundable and non-transferable

Documents Required

The checklists of required visa application documents are available in the online visa application portal of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent colour photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)
• Please stick the photograph on the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (click here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and applicant will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Travel Medical Insurance

Each applicant (including children) must have a travel medical insurance. Exceptions are applicants under the directive 2004/38/EC and holders of diplomatic and official passports.

Basic requirements for an insurance policy:

• Insurance should cover the entire intended duration of stay in the Schengen area.
• Insurance validity area should cover the whole Schengen area or to be worldwide. No area restrictions are allowed (for example “Finland, Schengen”).
• The insurance coverage limit should not be less than 30.000 euros or equivalent amount in other currency
• The insurance policy should insure your costs in case of sudden illness or accident and assistance on site, including the costs of medical repatriation to the place of permanent residence of the insured person or the repatriation in case of death.

Original or copy insurance policy needs to be presented during submission; applicant can provide a copy to the application (the Mission does not return documents after application has been processed).

Travel medical insurances can be bought from any European insurance company and from companies from the Common list of recognized Travel Medical Insurance Companies in India.

An applicant for multiple-entry visa should provide an insurance policy which covers at least the first trip. The applicant undertakes to purchase an insurance policy for further trips by signing the visa application.

The list of Schengen approved Travel medical insurance companies. Click Here

Processing Time

The estimated processing time is up to 15 working days for individuals and up to 20 working days for groups of more than 15 people.

For Business cases estimated processing time for individuals is 15 working days, 20 working days for groups and in certain cases 30 working days. The processing time does not include week-ends or public holidays (either Finnish or Indian).

In individual cases and during high season the Embassy can extend the processing time to 30 days if needed.