Visiting Finland (Visa)
If you wish to visit Finland, for example as a tourist, or stay with relatives or friends, or make a business or conference trip, you will generally need a visaLink to an external website, Opens in a new tab. A visa is a permit to enter the country for a short-term or temporary period of residence lasting no more than 90 days. If you intend to reside in Finland for other purposes, you have to apply for a residence permit.
You will not need a visa if you are a citizen of a Nordic country or an EU Member State. Similarly, no visa is required if you are a citizen of a visa-free countryLink to an external website, Opens in a new tab and you have a valid passport or a comparable travel document.
When you wish to stay in Finland for over 90 days, you need to apply for a first residence permit abroad and wait for the decision there before you come to Finland. If you visit Finland while your residence permit application is still pending, you must travel back to your home country when your visa-free period ends or when your visa expires.
Applications for a first residence permit can be submitted in Finland only in certain exceptional situations. Read more about how to apply for a first residence permit.
Do you have questions about travelling? Please see the frequently asked questionsLink to an external website, Opens in a new tab and the instructionsLink to an external website, Opens in a new tab on the website of the Finnish Border Guard.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for visas
You may apply for a visa outside Finland from a Finnish embassyLink to an external website, Opens in a new tab operating under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Finnish embassies also make decisions on the granting of visas.
Information on visa application, period of validity and visa fees can be found on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of FinlandLink to an external website, Opens in a new tab.
Working in Finland
You may also need a residence permit for short-term (less than 90 days) work in Finland. In certain cases, you are allowed to work without a residence permit.
If your seasonal work is going to last for less than three months and you need a visa to come to Finland, apply for a seasonal work visa at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate).