Visa Information

Overview

Before applying, please ensure you understand your particular ‘purpose of visit’. Schengen visas must be applied for at the respective 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 Consulate representing the country of your main destination. In case of equal stay, one has to submit their application to the mission of the Schengen country representing their first port of entry.

Finland Visa Application Centre in US accepts applications for short stay visas only. A passport should be valid for at least three (3) months beyond the intended stay in Finland and there should be at least two (2) empty pages available in the passport.

Applications can be submitted as early as six months before the start of planned journey. In individual cases, the mission can extend the processing time up to a maximum of 45 calendar days.

Click on the other tabs on this page to view more information about the visa application process.

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.

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Visa Fees

Applicants 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 BY CASE
• Researchers travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY 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

• Applicants may choose to pay at the Visa Application Centre using Credit/Debit Card. 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 fee in US Dollar (105USD, 50USD, 40USD, 0 USD, 80USD, 80USD) is as per the current exchange rate. It is subject to change without notice.
• The visa fees need to be paid via debit / credit card at the Visa Application Centre. Personal checks are not accepted.
• Applicants who are exempted from the visa fees need to pay only the service fee
• The fees are non-refundable and non-transferable

Note to applicants submitting applications in Visa Application Centres in Chicago, Washington DC Houston or Miami

If you submit your application in Chicago, Washington DC Houston or Miami, your application will be dispatched same day to the Consulate General of Finland in New York without having to pay any additional courier fee.

If you need your application to be dispatched on the same day of submission (excluding Wednesday), you will be required to pay an additional courier fee of USD 39.

After the Consulate General of Finland in New York has processed the application, your passport will be returned back to the VFS location the following Wednesday. If you need The Consulate to dispatch it on the same day of processing (excluding Wednesday) you will be required to pay an additional fee for the courier of USD 39.

Hence if choosing same day courier service both ways, the additional fees are USD 78.

Note to applicants submitting their application in Visa Application Centre in San Francisco.

If you submit your application in San Francisco, your application will be dispatched every Wednesday to the Consulate General of Finland in Los Angeles without having to pay any additional courier fee. If you need your application to be dispatched on the same day of submission, you will be required to pay an additional courier fee of USD 39.

After the Consulate General of Finland in Los Angeles has processed the application, your passport will be returned to the VFS location the following day.

Documents Required

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here.

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

To see the visa application photo specifications, please, click here.

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 be not less than 30.000 euros or equivalent amount in other currency (for example USD 30.000)
  • 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 US.

  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.

• Please note, that an insurance card is not sufficient proof of coverage. If the insurance company cannot provide a letter covering below mentioned requirements, please find international insurance that does. Insurance is not required from the applicants holding a diplomatic passport. The policy on one page must mention all the details below:

  • Name
  • Validity for the entire duration of the journey
  • Validity area: Schengen / EU / World wide

  • The coverage of amount of approx. USD 30,000 (EUR 30,000)  Must cover the following:

       - Medical expenses

       - Hospitalization

       - Repatriation for medical reasons and death

Processing Time

The processing of the application is approximately 15 calendar days, but can take longer if the application is not complete or when further scrutiny of the application is needed. All applications are processed individually. The Consulate General of Finland in New York or Los Angeles may request further documentation and information or you may be called in for an interview which can extend the processing time.

Please note that as per the Article 23 of regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community code on Visas (Visa Code) the period of consideration of your visa application by the respective Consular authority may be extended up to a maximum of 30 calendar days. Exceptionally, when additional documentation is needed in specific cases, the period of consideration of your visa application by respective Consular authority may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days

An application filled incorrectly and carelessly can cause delay or denial of a visa. Submitting all the required documents when submitting the visa application will speed up the processing time. The applicant may be asked to provide additional details, e.g. a more detailed plan of the trip. If requested documents are not submitted to the Visa Application Centre or the Consulate General of Finland in New York or Los Angeles by the date agreed upon, a decision will be made based on the information provided and the decision may be to the applicant's disadvantage.

Inquiries do not speed up the processing of your application.

Click here to Track your Application

The Consulate General of Finland in New York or Los Angeles will return processed passports to the Visa Application Centre. Applicants may subscribe to pay for an additional Courier Service at the time of application submission or collect the documents from the Visa Application Centre where they applied in when their processed passport is ready for collection. The delivery option you choose does not count towards the average processing time.