Visas

A Schengen visa is a permit to enter the Schengen area for a temporary stay of up to 90 days in a period of 180 days. Visa can be issued for single, double or multiple entries. When the visa validity period expires, the person must exit the Schengen area. Visa holders are not allowed to work in the Schengen area.

The Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

A Schengen visa should always be applied at the consulate or the embassy of the country of the jouney's main destination.

More information from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs website

• Information for a Foreign National Requiring a Visa

How to submit a visa application at the Finland Visa Application Centre

The applicant must always submit the visa application in person and give his or her biometrics (passport photograph and fingerprints).

An appointment for the Visa Application Centre can be booked by in advance either on the website of the VFS Global Visa Application Centre or through the Call Centre. VAC and the Call Centre serve customers in English and in Nepali.

It is advisable to complete the application form online.

Please note that as before, the residence permit applications are submitted at the Embassy, not  at the Visa Application Centre.

How to submit a visa application at the Embassy of Finland in Kathmandu

The Embassy will accept applications on Tuesdays by appointment only. Appointments are booked on the above mentioned website of the VAC  or through the  Call Centre.

The applicant must always submit the application in person and give his or her biometrics (passport photograph and fingerprints).

Photograph guidelines

Documents needed for the application

 Schengen-visa application form completed, dated and signed

For closer information on the additional documents needed, please see below the checklists for each group of applicants. Please note that no other documents are needed, unless the Embassy specifically asks to provide something.

Visiting Family and Friends

Business, Conference and Exhibition

Tourism

Culture and Sports

Short-term exchange studies (max. 90 days stay)

To be taken into account when submitting the application

• originals of the supporting documents and  a copy of them are to be presented when submitting the application
• supporting documents in English, Swedish or Finnish are accepted, documents in other languages must be accompanied by a translation verified by notary
• please note that the Embassy is authorised to require any further documents not mentioned above
• it is advisable to pay the air tickets only when it is clear whether the visa is granted or not.

Visa fees

Service fees

When applying at the Visa Application Centre:

• card payment or cash payment at the VAC on the day of appointment

• in addition to the visa fee the VFS Global collects its own service charge

When applying at the Embassy:

• the visa fee is paid into the Embassy's bank account with a deposit slip given by the Embassy

Please note that the visa processing fee is non-refundable.

The visa fee is waived for children under 6 years of age and for the family members of a citizen of Finland.

Visa processing time

Visa processing time is 15 days, but it might be substantially longer in case any documents are missing.

Visa Decision

The applicant can track online the process of the applications submitted to the Finland Visa Application Centre. When the decision is made, the passport can be collected from the VAC.

The applications submitted at the Embassy of Finland cannot be tracked online. The Embassy will contact the applicant when the visa decision is ready to be picked up.

The information regarding the process of a visa application and decision will be given to the applicant only. By signing a proxy, the applicant can authorize the inviter or someone else to manage his or her visa application process and to receive the same information as the applicant would. A proxy is a free-form document which must indicate the names of the applicant and the person receiving the proxy, and it must be signed and dated by the applicant.

Applicant does not have the right to obtain a visa merely on the basis of having submitted the application even if the applicant in principle would seem to fulfill the basic requirements for obtaining a visa. Visa can be issued according to the requested type and duration, shorter than the requested duration, with single, double or multiple entry, or the visa can be refused.

A refusal to a visa application is always given in writing by using a form outlined by the Schengen regulations.

Arrival to the Schengen area

Although a Schengen visa has been granted, the conditions of entry are re-evaluated upon arrival into the Schengen area. When entering a Schengen country, a visa holder should be able to show to the border control authority a valid travel document, visa, travel insurance and other necessary documents such as the letter of invitation. In addition, a visa holder must have sufficient funds for the duration of the stay and for the return to the country of origin.

Visa Information System (VIS)

All Schengen visa applicants must submit biometric identifiers – fingerprints of all ten fingers and a photograph – when filing an application. A photograph of the applicant can be taken at the Visa Application Centre, but at the Embassy there is no photo service available. Biometric identifiers are stored in a common “Visa Information System” (VIS) database. VIS is an information system that helps Schengen States to share visa application data. More information is available at the European Commission website.

Appealing against a visa decision

The recipient of a decision made by a Finnish mission to refuse, to annul or to revoke a visa (otherwise than at the request of the visa holder), may request rectification of the decision from the mission. Instructions for a rectification request are appended to the decision. The rectification request must be lodged within 30 days of notice of the decision on the visa application. The rectification request must be made in writing in Finnish or Swedish.

A decision of a Finnish diplomatic or consular mission on a rectification request may be appealed to the Helsinki Administrative Court. The right of appeal applies to rectification request decisions that are made on 1 April 2016 or later. Instructions for appeal are appended to the decision on the rectification request. The appeal document must be lodged with the mission that made the decision. The mission submits all the appeal documents to the Helsinki Administrative Court. The appeal must be lodged within 30 days of notice of the decision on the rectification request. The appeal must be made in writing in Finnish or Swedish. The Administrative Court fee of the appellate proceedings is EUR 250.

In visa matters relating to the free movement of EU citizens and their family members, the applicant may appeal to the Administrative Court without a rectification request procedure.