The economy in Finland is highly developed and industrialized. Manufacturing is the key economic sector. The largest industries include machinery, electronics, forest industry, chemicals, and vehicles. It sounds like a good business opportunity. If you want to pay a visit to Finland to develop business ties, you might need a Finland business visa.
In this blog, we will explain if you need a Finland business visa or not, requirements, application, validity, processing time, FAQs, etc.
Table of Contents
ToggleFinland Business Visa
Finland is a country with good business opportunities. You might need a visa to enter the country for business purposes. Finland Business Visa comes under Finland short-stay visas. With this visa, you can enter Finland for up to 90 days, to develop business ties with the Finish companies, sign contracts or MOUs, discuss sales and manufacturing, etc. You also might be exempt and don’t need this visa.
Who Needs and Does not Need a Finland Business Visa
If you are going to visit Finland for business purposes, you might need a Finland business visa. The business visa for Finland is a short-stay visa. If you need it or not depends on your nationality. The nationals of 26 Schengen countries, EU, EEA, are free of Finland short-stay visas. So they are free of Finland business visa.
Please note that when you have this visa, you can only stay in Finland for 90 days. If you need to stay longer, you have to apply for a residence permit or a long-stay visa.
Apart from EU and Schengen states, some other countries and states are also exempt from Finland short-stay visa. If your nationality needs a Finland short-stay visa, then you need a Finland business visa as well. If you don’t need a Short stay visa to Finland, then you won’t need a Finland business visa.
For instance, US, Canada, South Korea, Israel, UEA citizens do not need a short-stay visa to Finland. They can visit the country and stay for up to 90 days with their passport. However, they have to apply for a visa to stay longer than 90 days.
On the other hand, citizens from Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq are not on the list and need a short-stay visa to visit Finland. The duration of their stay doesn’t matter. They have to receive a visa even they need to stay in the country for one day. So these people must apply for a Finland business visa as well.
The Requirements for Finland Business Visa
Once you find out you need a Finland business visa, you should collect the required documents. It is an essential part of the application. They prove you are eligible to receive the visa. The application process will get explained down. You should keep in mind that if there is one mistake with your documents, your visa application could get rejected, or take longer than usual. The requirements for a Finland business visa is as follows:
Application form
You need to download the Finland business visa application form from the Finish embassy you apply at. Please complete it with accurate and true information. Note that what you fill in the application should match with your documents. At the end, print, date, and sign the application form.
Photos
You should provide two photos taken in the past three months. The background must be clear, and your face covers %60-%70 of the photo. Nothing unusual should cover your face:
- Moustache
- Beard
- Sunglasses
- Veil
Passport
Something wrong with the passport is a major cause of visa denial. Your passport must get issued in the past ten years, not older. The validity should also be for at least three months over the date you will leave Finland. It must have at least two blank pages too.
Cover letter
It is an explanation from you to the Finish government stating the purpose of your visit and travel itinerary.
Invitation letter
For a Finland business visa, you have to provide an invitation letter from the Finish company you will visit. It must contain:
- Be in Finish or English.
- Show the business ties between you and the Finish company.
- The purpose of your trip to Finland
- The duration of your stay
Civil status proof
It could be:
- marriage certificate
- birth certificate of the children
- death certificate of spouse
Proof to have previous business relations
Proof to have previous business relations with the Finish company you are visiting (if applicable).
Profile
A short profile of your work and the place you work in.
A letter from your employer
It will state:
- The purpose of your trip
- Your plan in Finland or Schengen states
- Your rank/position in the company
If you are employed and representing your company:
- Permission letter from your employer
- Your company bank statements for the past six months.
- Income tax Return
If you own a company:
- Your company bank statements for the past six months.
- Registration documents or certificate of your company
- A short profile of what your business is and what projects you have completed.
Proof of accommodation
You should state where you will stay during your visit to Finland. You could provide a hotel reservation, rental agreement document. If your host provides somewhere for your stay, he/she should state Its name, address, the type of accommodation, and every detail about it.
Proof to have enough funds
You must show to have enough money to cover your expenses in Finland. You could do it through your bank statements. In case your host covers your expenses, he/she must provide a bank statement and state it in the invitation letter.
Health insurance
You have to purchase travel health insurance valid in Finland and all 26 Schengen states. It must cover your medical expenses for 30.000 EUR.
Application Process for a Finland Business Visa
The application process is as follows:
Step 1. Find if you need a Finland business visa or not
As we mentioned above, first you have to find out whether you need a Finland business visa or not. It is an easy procedure. Just look at the list of the countries whose nationals need a Finland short-stay visa. The link is provided in the above section and you can find the article “Who needs a Finland visa” from the left sidebar.
Step 2. Complete the application form
Find the nearest Finish embassy, consulate, or visa center authorized by the Finish government. You can download the application form from its website and complete it. Please note that what you fill in must be the same as your documents. Then print, date, and sign it. Keep it until you submit it during your appointment.
Step 3. Collect the requirements
When you completed the application, you should collect all the requirements. You can find all of the requirements at the beginning of this article. Please don’t take anything easy. The finish officials are strict with their visa rules. Even one single mistake could lead to a visa denial. In this stage, you should be fussy and focused on small details.
Step 4. Schedule a visa appointment
You can book an appointment with the Finish embassy you apply at through its website or phone. Plan for it because you have to attend it in person. You also need to have gathered all the requirements and bring them to the appointment.
Step 5. Attend the appointment
When the time of the appointment came, attend it in person. It would be wise to wear something a bit formal. Don’t forget to bring the application, your passport, and your requirements. You should submit them to the authorities. Then pay the fee for the processing of your application. The fee is €80.
Step 6. Interview
During your appointment, you have to go through an appointment. The visa officer will ask you a few questions about your background, job or company, the purpose of your visit to Finland, etc. Try to be honest, confident, friendly, and strong.
Step 7. Wait until your application gets processed
When you completed everything at the Finish embassy, you should wait. Wait until your application gets processed. The processing time depends on different factors. But it could take 15, 30, or even 45 days. You could track the processing through the Finish embassy as well. If your application gets approved, the Finish authorities will send the Finland business visa to your address. If it gets denied, they will send you a letter explaining the reason.
How Long Is The Finland Business Visa Valid For?
The Finland business visa is a short-stay visa. So it is only valid for 90 days in six months. The times you can enter Finland depends on the type of visa; the Finish authorities grant you:
- Single entry visa. You can only enter Finland one time, stay up to 90 days, and get out. You could spend part of this 90 days in another Schengen country.
- Double-entry. You have the right to enter Finland twice and leave it.
- Multiple entry visa. You may enter Finland as many times as you want within 90 days.
The type of entry you will get depends on the purpose of your visit and Finish authorities’ decision.
Processing Time for a Finland Business Visa
In the Finland business visa application process, this is one of the most common questions by people. The processing time depends on:
- Your case and nationality.
- The Finish embassy workload. If you apply during peak visiting seasons, it will take longer.
- The political circumstances.
The processing time is often 15 days. But, depending on the factors we mentioned, it could take up to 30 or even 45 days.
Can You Bring your Family Under a Finland Business Visa
Yes, you can bring them, but they have to apply for a Finland tourist/visitor visa. You could submit your application together as a family as well.
Can You Work in Finland Under a Business Visa?
You have no right to work in Finland with a business visa. You can only attend a meeting, sign contracts, visit industries, etc. If you get involved in a paid job, there will be heavy repercussions.
Extending Finland Business Visa
Many people want to know if they can extend the Finland business visa. The answer is YES and NO. Normally you can not extend a Finland business visa. You have to leave the country for up to 90 days. But in particular humanitarian cases or emergencies, you could extend your visa. Please note that your reason to stay must be compelling to convince the Finish authorities.
Can You Apply for Permanent Residence With a Finland Business Visa?
NO. you have no right to apply for a Finland Permanent Residence with a business visa. You should apply for it after living in Finland for some time under another type of long-stay visa and meet the requirements.
Do You Have to Buy Health Insurance for a Finland Business Visa?
YES. You have to buy health insurance for a Finland business visa. It must be valid in Finland and all the other 26 members of Schengen states. Please note the insurance company must cover your medical expenses for 30.000 EUR. Once you buy the insurance, focus on the validity conditions in Finland and Schengen states.
Let’s sum up…
In this blog, we explained all you need to know about Finland business visa.
We covered whether you need a Finland business visa or not, requirements, the application process, validity, FAQs, etc.
You can check the Visa Library to find more information about other countries’ visas.
In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments let the readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences as comments is a great help for applicants.
- Published by
- Support
- August 25, 2020
How useful was this article?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 1
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this article.