Introduction
Are you looking to apply for Finland Schengen Visa in India? You need not worry as we’ve got you covered in this updated article.
Finland At A Glance
Finland is a country that tops charts when it comes to human development. Located on the northern side of Europe, Finland borders Sweden, Norway, and Russia. The country houses 5.5 million people whereas Helsinki is its capital.
Helsinki is home to the 18th-century sea fortress Suomenlinna, the fashionable Design District, and diverse museums. The Northern Lights can be seen from the country’s Arctic Lapland province, a vast wilderness with national parks and ski resorts.
Finland is also part of the Schengen Area, so you’ll need to apply for Finland Schengen Visa if you are planning to visit the country for up to 90 days.
Finland Diplomatic Missions in India
Following are diplomatic missions of Finland in India:
Embassy of Finland in New Delhi, Honorary Consulate of Finland in Bangalore, Honorary Consulate of Finland in Chennai, Honorary Consulate of Finland in Kolkata, and Honorary Consulate of Finland in Mumbai.
Finland Schengen Visa Application Process
Biometric Data: Like all other Schengen countries, if you are going to apply for Finland Schengen Visa, you’ll first visit the nearest visa application center to submit biometric data.
The biometric data comprises a scan of all ten fingerprints and a picture of the face. Once submitted, the biometric data remains valid for a duration of 5 years and can be extracted as many times as the itinerant wishes.
Application Form: You can download the application form for Finland Schengen Visa from the embassy’s website. Read instructions carefully before filling the form and ensure that there’s no discrepancy, whether intentional or unintentional, in the information submitted.
Passport: Whilst applying for Finland Schengen Visa, you should have possession of a valid passport.
Pictures: Two passport-sized pictures must accompany your application form. The rules regarding pictures are also mentioned on the embassy’s page.
Flight Reservation For Visa: Flight Reservation For Visa is one of the most important documents, if not the most important, in your Finland Schengen Visa application.
As you are going to applying for Finland Schengen Visa, you are recommended to attach a roundtrip flight reservation with your visa application. This will cost you a petty sum of cash but will hike the ratio of visa approval by threefold.
Hotel Bookings for Visa Application: Another key supporting document that accompanies your visa application, a verifiable hotel booking document ensures the visa officer that the applicant has sorted out the issue of accommodation in Finland and has made advance payments in this regard.
Travel Health Insurance: To avail a verifiable travel health insurance is a mandatory step whilst applying for Finland Schengen Visa. The availed insurance must provide coverage not less than USD 50000 or EUR 30000 and it must have validity across the Schengen Area.
Also, availed insurance should provide coverage of repatriation in the hapless case of death.
Means of subsistence: As the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland stipulates, any foreigner seeking to get a Finland Visa must attest possession of a minimum of 30€/day to the Finland Embassy or Consulate.
Cover Letter: Most itinerants either do not attach a cover letter with the visa application or give this important document very little attention.
You must attach a well-crafted cover letter with your visa application with your Finland Schengen Visa application.
No-Objection Certificate: Attach a no-objection certificate with your Finland visa application if you are a student or doing a job.
Sponsorship letter: Attach a sponsorship letter with your visa application if your trip is being supported by your relative or friend who is a permanent citizen of Finland.
Interview For Finland Schengen Visa
Appear for an interview at the embassy or consulate at the given time. Answer all questions honestly and don’t get panic if the visa officer poises a few additional questions or asks for more documents.
Collect Your Visa
If everything goes fine, you shall be awarded a Finland Schengen Visa. Usually, embassies or consulates take up to 15 days to process the visa application but due to the prevailing Covid-19 endemic, the diplomatic missions might take another 4 or 5 days to arrive at a decision on your application.
