Visa Requirements for Finnish Citizens

Visa requirements for citizens of Finland are the rules that govern which type of visa is needed to enter a particular country or territory.

Different countries have different visa requirements for Finnish citizens. The type of visa needed also depends on the length and purpose of the trip.

The Finnish passport is ranked 4th strongest in the world in terms of travel freedom in 2021 by the Henley Passport Index. It allows access to around 190 destinations without having to apply for a visa at an embassy in advance.

A number of countries have an online visa or travel authorization system available to Finnish visitors. Electronic platforms such as these allow citizens of Finland to apply from the comfort of their own homes and are considered the most convenient method of obtaining an entry permit.

Nationals of Finland are able to obtain a visa on arrival for some destinations. This involves filling out an application form at the border, which can be time-consuming.

Several sovereign states and territories require Finnish visitors to apply for a visa in person at an embassy or consulate, even for short-term visits for tourism.

Additionally, citizens of Finland who plan to relocate to another country must generally apply for the relevant visas and permits at an embassy.

There are also a wide variety of destinations that have no visa requirements for Finnish nationals for short stays, meaning that they only need a passport issued by Finland to enter.

See more information about different countries’ visa requirements for Finnish travelers below.

List of Visa Countries for Finnish Passport Holders in 2021

Finnish nationals must comply with the visa requirements of their destination in order to be allowed through border control.

Different types of visa may be available for different purposes. For example, there might be a separate tourist visa, business visa, and transit visa for Finnish citizens. The correct visa must be obtained for the type of trip.

While most long-term visas for Finnish passport holders are obtained from embassies and consulates, visas for short-term visits might be obtained in different ways, depending on the destination.

Various countries have either an electronic visa (eVisa) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) available to citizens of Finland. These generally allow Finnish passport holders to visit for the purposes of tourism and leisure and, in some cases, business.

Other destinations require Finnish nationals to apply in person at an embassy. This usually means going to the diplomatic mission in person and submitting the application and supporting documents.

Certain countries and territories have a visa on arrival scheme available to visitors from Finland for the purposes of tourism and, in some cases, business.

Finnish passport holders enjoy visa exemption for various other destinations.

Consult the map below to find out the visa requirements for Finnish passport holders to visit different countries around the world.

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization for Finnish Nationals

There are online options for obtaining visas and travel authorizations. Finnish nationals can use these electronic platforms for various countries.

Over 30 countries have either an electronic visa (eVisa) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) for travelers from Finland.

An eVisa for Finnish citizens is a visa that can be obtained online by completing a quick form and uploading the supporting documentation.

An eTA for nationals of Finland is a digital visa waiver. By registering online, Finnish visitors can avoid having to apply for a visa at all.

In practice, registering with an eTA and applying for an eVisa for citizens of Finland is a similar process. Both involve entering the individual’s basic personal and passport details online; both feature streamlined application processes; and both avoid having to apply in person at an embassy.

Electronic entry permits are generally valid for short stays. The maximum length of time that a national of Finland can stay in a foreign country or territory with an eVisa or eTA varies from 8 days to 3 months, depending on the region they are visiting.

An eVisa or eTA for Finnish citizens typically allows visits for the purposes of tourism and leisure and many also permit transit through the country. In some cases, business trips and other activities are also allowed with an eVisa or eTA.

Visas that permit long-term stays and other activities are not issued online and must be obtained from an embassy for most destinations.

See below the list of countries for which citizens of Finland can apply for an eVisa or eTA online.

Visa On Arrival for Finnish Citizens

A visa on arrival (VoA) for citizens of Finland can be applied for and obtained at the border of the destination country or territory.

Finnish visitors can get a visa on arrival for around 20 different countries.

Visas on arrival for Finns are usually available at select points of entry to the state or territory in question. These may include major airports, seaports, and/or land border crossings.

Travelers from Finland can generally only use a visa on arrival for short stays. The maximum time permitted ranges from 7 days to 3 months.

VoAs for Finnish nationals are typically valid to enter the country for tourism and leisure. In some cases, other purposes, such as business, are also permitted.

Most visas on arrival allow a single entry to the country or territory.

To apply for a visa on arrival, Finnish citizens must stand in line at border control to fill out an application form. This must be submitted along with the required supporting documents. The process can involve spending a lot of time at immigration before being allowed to enter.

In addition, in the event that the Finnish traveler forgets or loses any of the supporting documents or encounters another problem with the VoA application, they may be denied entry to the country.

For these reasons, it is advisable to apply online in advance if possible. Electronic visas for Finns allow time to resolve any unlikely issues.

Consult the list below to find out which destinations have a visa on arrival available to Finnish visitors.

Bangladesh
Burkina Faso
Comoros
Gabon
Guinea-Bissau
Iran
Lebanon
Malawi
Maldives
Mauritania
Mongolia
Mozambique
Nepal
Pakistan
Rwanda
Somalia
Togo
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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Embassy Visa Required by Travelers from Finland

An embassy or consular visa for Finnish nationals is any type of visa or permit issued by a diplomatic mission.

According to the visa requirements for Finns to visit over 70 different destinations, it is necessary to apply for any type of visa from an embassy or consulate. This includes short-stay tourist visas and business visas.

Embassies and consulates are generally responsible for issuing long-term visas and permits. Citizens of Finland who plan to relocate to and/or work in most foreign countries will need to apply for a long-stay visa, a residence visa/permit, and/or a work visa/permit at an embassy.

Applying for an embassy or consular visa for Finnish citizens usually means going in person to the nearest diplomatic mission. They must submit a completed application form and the required supporting documents.

Embassies are typically located in foreign capital cities, while other major cities may host consulates.

Diplomatic missions generally take longer to process visa applications than their online counterparts, so travelers from Finland are advised to apply in sufficient time before their trip.

See below a list of countries that require Finns to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate for any type or length of visit (including tourist visas).

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Algeria
American Samoa
Anguilla
Antarctica
Aruba
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bonaire
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Burundi
Cameroon
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Congo
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guernsey
Guinea
Iraq
Isle of Man
Jersey
Liberia
Libya
Mali
Martinique
Mayotte
Montserrat
Nauru
New Caledonia
Niger
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Pitcairn Islands
Reunion
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syrian Arab Republic
Tokelau
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen

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Visa Not Required by Finnish Citizens

Citizens of Finland do not require a visa to visit over 115 countries and territories around the world.

This visa exemption for Finnish nationals usually only extends to short stays for the purposes of tourism, leisure, and transit. Some destinations also allow Finns to enter visa-free for short business trips and other purposes.

The maximum length of time that a Finnish passport holder can stay in a country visa-free varies between 14 days and 1 year for the majority of destinations.

For longer stays and/or for visits for other purposes, travelers from Finland are required to apply for the relevant visa at an embassy.

In addition, there are a number of countries that grant Finnish citizens complete freedom of movement, including the right to live and work there visa-free.

Browse the list below to find out which destinations Finns can travel to without requiring a visa.

Albania
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Austria
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Norway
Palau
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Cyprus
Romania
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela

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Freedom of Movement for Finns

As part of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen Area, Finland is part of an agreement that allows free movement.

This means that Finnish citizens can visit, live, and work in any other EU or Schengen member state without having to apply for a visa.

Finns can use either their passport or ID Card to enter the other EU and Schengen countries.

The agreement is reciprocal, meaning that nationals of other EU/Schengen states can also come to Finland without a visa under the terms of the Finnish visa policy.

See below the list of countries for which Finns enjoy freedom of movement.