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Visa field guide · FI

Plan your Finland application

Two separate systems: the Ministry's visa route and Migri's Enter FinlandSee the common routes, understand the hand-offs, then confirm every requirement on the official website.

01 / ROUTES

Choose the route that matches your trip

These are starting points—not an eligibility decision. Open the official route before you apply.
  • ↗
    Short-stay Schengen visa

    Visits up to 90 days in any 180-day period when Finland is the main destination, run by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

  • ↗
    Residence permit (Migri)

    Study, work, family or stays over 90 days, applied for through the Finnish Immigration Service's Enter Finland service.

02 / JOURNEY

What the application journey usually looks like

The exact order can vary by visa, nationality and application location. “If asked” steps are conditional.
  1. 01
    Confirm visa or residence permit

    Purpose and duration decide whether the Ministry's visa route or Migri's residence permit route applies.

  2. 02
    Check country instructions on finlandvisa.fi

    finlandvisa.fi lists the country-specific document checklist and submission point.

    GUIDELENS HELPS HERE
  3. 03
    Submit via VFS Global or a Finnish mission

    Most Schengen applications go to a VFS Global centre or Finnish mission, not to Migri.

  4. 04
    Give biometrics at the appointment

    Fingerprints and a photo are captured at the visa appointment unless already on file.

    IF ASKED
  5. 05
    For long stay, apply on Enter Finland instead

    Enter Finland handles residence permits for study, work and family; it cannot process a Schengen visa.

  6. 06
    Track the decision on the matching channel

    Follow the notice from whichever authority processed the application - the Ministry's network or Migri.

03 / BEFORE YOU START

Four things to know before you start

Enter Finland's limit
Migri's Enter Finland e-service explicitly cannot be used to apply for a Schengen visa; only residence permits and related applications.
Country-specific portal
finlandvisa.fi gives the checklist and submission point for each country of application.
Representation happens
Where Finland has no mission, applicants may need to apply through another Schengen state representing Finland locally.
Six-month window
A Schengen visa application can be submitted up to six months before the trip.

04 / PRACTICAL GUIDE

Finland visa details that change the workflow

Finland keeps Schengen visas and residence permits on entirely separate systems, run by different authorities with different online tools.
  1. 01

    Enter Finland is not for Schengen visas

    Migri states directly that a Schengen visa cannot be applied for through Enter Finland; that service is for residence permits and related applications only.

    Finnish Immigration Service · Submit your application in the e-service ↗
  2. 02

    Check finlandvisa.fi before travelling to a centre

    The Ministry for Foreign Affairs publishes country-by-country visa instructions and the correct submission point, whether a Finnish mission, VFS Global centre or representing state.

    Ministry for Foreign Affairs · Visa to visit Finland ↗
  3. 03

    Representation can redirect the application entirely

    Where Finland has no local mission, the application may need to go to the mission of another Schengen state acting on Finland's behalf.

    Ministry for Foreign Affairs · Applying for a visa to Finland ↗
  4. 04

    Keep the Schengen rule in view

    For a multi-country trip, apply to the country that is the main purpose or longest stay. Use the first country only when stays are equal. The 90 days in any 180-day period are counted across the whole Schengen area.

    European Commission · Applying for a Schengen visa ↗

05 / PREPARE

Information worth gathering before you open the form

Not every item applies to every route. Use the official checklist generated for your application.

  • Passport and previous travel-document details

  • Travel dates, itinerary and accommodation

  • Travel medical insurance for the Schengen stay

  • Evidence of funds and the purpose of the trip

  • Employment, study or sponsor information where relevant

  • Translations and route-specific documents requested locally

06 / OFFICIAL

Continue with the official authority

View current requirementsMinistry for Foreign Affairs of Finland · Visa to visit Finland

You remain responsible for reviewing and submitting your application.