Travel restrictions are being gradually lifted, but border crossings are still limited. You will find information on travelling and the processing of visa and residence permit applications here.

Q&A ABOUT TRAVELLING

The Finnish Government advises to continue to avoid non-essential travel. However, the Government has decided to lift internal border controls between Finland and certain European countries.

On August 20th 2020 the Finnish Government outlined changes to border traffic restrictions and travel recommendations. Restrictions on internal and external border traffic will be reinstated between Finland and a number of countries based on an epidemiological assessment. Read more from the Ministry’s website.

Travelling for leisure

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland offers a Q&A about travelling and the coronavirus. Read more from the Ministry’s website.

Travelling for work

Internal and external border control evolves according to the epidemiological situation in different countries. Border traffic is possible without restrictions between Finland and some countries. From some countries only return traffic, work-related travel or essential traffic is permitted. The Finnish border guard provide passengers with up to date information on the changes that apply to entry to Finland.

You can also find answers from Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment’s website.

PROCESSING OF ORDINARY VISA AND RESIDENCE PERMIT APPLICATIONS

Finland’s missions abroad keep their own websites and social media channels updated on current information on the impact of the coronavirus situation on the processing of visa and residence permit applications. Find Finland’s embassy in your country.

More general information:

Owing to the coronavirus outbreak, Finland, in line with the rest of the Schengen countries, has suspended the reception of normal visa applications in Finland’s missions with immediate effect from 19 March until further notice. Visa applications in exceptional cases will be accepted at the missions, subject to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. As of 10 August, an established relationship is also considered an essential reason for entry on the basis of which a visa can be applied for.

The reception of ordinary visa applications continues to be suspended but activities relating to residence permit applications were gradually resumed in the missions on 16 June 2020.

Read more from the Ministry’s website:

More information on suspending the reception and processing of ordinary visa applications. (March 19th, 2020)

More information on resumed activities related on residence permit.(June 17th, 2020)

More information on visa applications in exceptional cases. (August 17th, 2020)

Residence permit applications

What you should do if you want to ask whether your Finnish mission is receiving residence permit applications? What you should do if you know that your Finnish mission is receiving residence permit applications?

Answers and more information on Migri’s website.