VISA REQUIREMENT

FIG 2017 will take place in Finland and international delegates should be particularly aware of and careful about visa requirements. Please plan your travel well in advance and allow plenty of time to apply for a visa. For more travel information and advice, please see the website here.

Find out if you need a visa?

The Schengen states have jointly agreed which countries' citizens are required to present a visa. Each Schengen state decides which passports and travel documents it accepts from different countries' citizens.

Check if you need a visa to visit Finland and what travel documents are accepted in Finland

Even if you did not need a visa to visit Finland, you need a valid passport or some other travel document accepted by Finland. It must be valid for at least ninety days after your intended date of departure from the Schengen area.

In addition, the passport or other travel document must have been issued no later than ten years ago.

In case you do not need a visa, you can stay in Finland or in the territory of other Schengen state for ninety days in any 180-day period.

Upon arrival in Finland, you must meet the general entry requirements according to which a person must not constitute a danger to public order and security, national health, or Finland’s international relations.

Where and how to apply for a visa?

If your country of destination is Finland, apply for a visa from the nearest Finnish mission or the visa centre that the mission advises to you.  Honorary consuls and consulates cannot grant visas.

It has been agreed with some countries that Finland may be represented by another Schengen state. In such cases, apply for a visa to Finland from the mission of that Schengen state. For contact information, please visit http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?nodeid=49572&culture=fi-FI&contentlan=1

Submit your visa application at a mission or visa centre in person. An application cannot be sent by e-mail or telefax.

Visa application form

To apply for a visa you need the following

  1. The visa application form completed and signed
  2. One photograph
  3. Include a colour photograph from which you are recognizable. Please visit the Police website for guidance.
  4. A passport
    Make sure your passport is valid for at least three (3) months after the end of your intended travel and that it has been issued no later than ten (10) years ago.
  5. Travel insurance
    Your travel insurance must be in force for the period of the validity of the applied visa and cover the entire Schengen area. The minimum coverage of the policy must be EUR 30,000 and the insurance must cover expenses arising from a sudden illness and accident (also the patient's repatriation) and repatriation expenses in case of death.
  6. Supporting documents
    As the required appendices vary by country, contact the mission to make sure which ones you need. The mission may request that you append certain documents to the application to show the purpose, conditions and duration of the visit. Examples of such documents are tickets, a confirmation of hotel reservation, a private invitation letter and an official invitation.

    The invitation is a free-form letter indicating the host organisation’s or private host’s contact details and the invited person's details, such as name, date of birth, address, passport number, and purpose and length of visit.

    In case of a private visit, it is advisable to mention if your host is a friend or your spouse or relative. Please note that an invitation does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.

    In addition to the above, you may be asked to provide information concerning the itinerary, means of transport, return trip, financial means of support and assets and employment.

    You must have proof of sufficient financial means to cover the duration and purpose of your stay and the cost of living in the country.  In Finland a minimum of EUR 30 a day is required.
  7. Parental consent is required for minors
    Unaccompanied minor children need a parental consent for their travel.
  8. Interview
    The mission may also ask you for a personal interview to find out about the purpose of your visit.

Visa support letter

The FIG 2017 Conference Secretariat cannot issue formal invitation letters or actual visas to attend the conference, but can issue a Visa Support Letter to assist with your visa application.

Please send your request to fig@fig.net.

You must include:

  • Your name as it appears on your passport
  • Passport number
  • Your current postal mailing address
  • Your registration confirmation number
  • If you are an author of a paper accepted for the Working Week, please provide the paper ID and the title;

Please note that Visa Support Letters will only be issued upon confirmation of registration and after full payment for registration fees has been received. Visa Support Letters are only issued via email in PDF format and will be sent within approximately one week after your information is received by the FIG Office.

 

Processing time of the application

The application can be submitted at the earliest three months before the intended visit. We recommended that you submit your visa application at a mission of Finland or a visa center no later than 60 days before travel. In case Finland is represented in the country by another Schengen state, the processing time is usually longer.

For more information, please visit http://www.formin.fi/public/default.aspx?nodeid=49459&contentlan=2&culture=en-US