How to Apply for Finland Schengen Visa from Canada in 5 Easy Steps – A Complete Guide

If you think about the Schengen countries, there are many to choose from and Finland is one of the most beautiful. With beautiful fjords, interesting cities, delicious food and friendly locals, you can’t go wrong, so what are you waiting for? Get that visa application in as soon as possible! In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Finland visa at the Consulate General of Switzerland in Canada, Finland visa appointment booking, processing time at the Finland visa application center, flight itinerary for a Finland visa, hotel bookings for a Finland visa, Schengen travel insurance for a Finland visa application, and Finland visa application process at the consulate general.

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/montreal-canada-urban-landscape-4113307/

Finland Schengen Visas

In 2018, there were 769,049 Schengen visa applications received for Finland worldwide. There was no data for the Embassy of Finland in Ottawa.

Applying for a Schengen Visa from Canada  

If you are a non-Canadian citizen but are currently living in Canada permanently, you need to apply for a visa to be able to enter and stay in Finland. You can do this easily, but you must be able to prove that you have a legal right to stay in the country. If not, you must apply for the visa in the country where you were born.

Where to apply for a Finland Schengen visa

The Embassy of Finland in Ottawa does not deal with Schengen visa applications. Instead, Finland is represented by Switzerland in Canada. This means that you may apply for a Finland Schengen visa by submitting your documents to either:

1. Consulate General of Switzerland
   Address: World Trade Center
   790-999 Canada Place
   Vancouver, BC, V6C 3E1
2. Consulate General of Switzerland
   1572 Av. Dr Penfield
   Montréal, QC, H3G 1C4

The office that you submit your application to will depend on where you live in Canada:

1. Provinces of Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador Nunavut territory as well as the Bahamas – Consulate General of Switzerland in Montreal
2. Provinces of British-Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan as well as the Northwest and the Yukon territories – Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver

You have to make sure you apply at the right Finland embassy and consulate.

Types of Schengen visas offered at the Consulate General of Switzerland

There are 3 types of visas you may apply for and the one you choose will depend on the reason and duration of your trip:

1. Schengen visa: If you are traveling for tourism, business, or visiting family or friends for up to 90 days
2. Airport Transit visa: if you are passing through the international transit areas of airports situated on the territory of the Member States
3. National visa: if you are going for longer than 90 days for employment, study, research, family reunification or residence. Please note, if you are applying for this type of visa, you will need a residence permit. Further information on how to apply can be found the Embassy of Finland’s website

How to Apply for a Schengen Visa from the Consulate General of Switzerland

Due to the high demand for visas, it is strongly recommended to arrange the appointment 90 days prior to your departure. Visa appointments are fully booked weeks in advance, so you should take note of this and apply as soon as possible before your trip! You are not allowed to apply any earlier than 90 days ahead.

Here are 5 easy steps to follow to help you apply for your visa:

Step 1: Complete your application form

To complete your application form, go to the website of either the consulate general in Montreal or the one in Vancouver and click on: “Visa and entry to Switzerland” then “Visa – Entry to and residence in Switzerland”:

Scroll down and click on: “Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days”:

Then, click on: “Which documents should I submit with a Schengen visa application?”:

Next, click on: ” Visa application form” and then the link for the online system:

Scroll down and key in the country where you have legal residence:

On the next screen, choose whichever consulate you wish to submit your application to:

Read the instructions and click on: “Online application”:

You’ll need to register before you complete your application:

Once you have completed your application, make sure you print and sign it as it will need to be submitted with the rest of your documents.

Step 2: Make an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, the visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below.

Once you have completed your visa application form, you will gain access to the appointment booking system.

1. Go to the website of either the consulate general in Montreal or the one in Vancouver and click on: “Visa and entry to Switzerland” then “Visa – Entry to and residence in Switzerland”
2. Scroll down and click on: “Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days”
3. Then, click on: “Which documents should I submit with a Schengen visa application?”
4. Next, click on: ” Visa application form” and then the link for the online system
5. Scroll down and key in the country where you have legal residence
6. On the next screen, choose whichever consulate you wish to submit your application to
7. Read the instructions and click on: “Make an appointment”
8. Complete your personal details and continue through the screens until you have made a convenient appointment

Step 3: Prepare your documents

If you do not present all the required documents, your visa application may be rejected or at the very least it will not be processed until you can provide these items. It’s best to check the consulate’s website before you start to prepare your documents.

You should also prepare photocopies as well as providing the original documents, so don’t forget to do that too!

Documents include:

1. Visa application form – completed and signed. Please fill in and print your application online at www.swiss-visa.ch
   
2. Passport photographs  Must not be glued to the application form
   
3. Passport  – must be valid for at least three months after the date of departure from the Schengen zone, at least two empty pages and issued no more than 10 years ago
4.  A photocopy of your passport (photo, data and signature pages only)
5. If you are not a Canadian citizen, a photocopy of your proof of residency in Canada (PR card, both sides copied on one sheet OR Canadian work or study permit and visa in your passport) valid for at least three months after the date of re-entry to Canada
6. A valid visa or residency permit for your final destination (if it is not Canada or your home country)
7. Travel itinerary/airline reservation
8. A recent letter signed by your employer, confirming position, salary and continued employment after your return to Canada
9. For students, a confirmation of enrollment and a copy of the student card
10. For self-employed, a registration or incorporation of your business, business license or business notice of articles showing your name
11. If applicable, a copy of your previous Schengen visas
12. Proof of Schengen travel medical insurance – minimum €30,000/50,000 CAD for emergency medical expenses, hospital treatment and repatriation for medical reasons
13. Proof of financial means – A minimum of 130 CAD per day is required (40 CAD for students)
14.  Hotel reservation or other proof of accommodation
15. Letter of invitation if you are being invited by a person or company. A copy of your host’s passport or residence permit must be included in your application
    
16. A detailed itinerary for the whole duration of the trip including the cities you are visiting and means of transport if visiting various countries
17. Declaration of sponsorship
18. Confirmation of participation/registration to a course or seminar including confirmation of payment of any applicable fee
19. A pre-paid self-addressed return envelope with a tracking number (Xpress Post or Courier) if you wish to have your passport returned by mail

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Attend your appointment

On the day of your appointment:

1. Remember all your supporting documents – if you fail to provide these along with your application, you won’t receive your visa
2. Arrive early – if you are late and miss your appointment, not only will you have to reschedule which could cause delays for you, but you would have prevented someone else from getting an appointment for themselves
3. Dress smartly – this is not the place to wear shorts and a t-shirt

The visa officer will examine your paperwork and if he/she needs to clarify anything you may be asked questions like:

1. Where do you work in Canada?
2. Which part of Finland are you traveling to?
3. What are you going to do when you get to Finland?
4. I don’t think you will return to Canada! What do you say to that?
5. How will you pay for this trip?

All you need to do is answer any questions put to you honestly!

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

You will also pay the fee for your visa. You may pay online when prompted after you have registered your visa application or in cash or by money order made out to the competent Swiss Consulate General or Embassy.

Please note, the fee is non-refundable even if your application gets rejected.

If you have applied for a Schengen visa in the last 5 years and it was approved, you may not need to provide a new fingerprint scan and photograph. Otherwise, you will need to provide biometrics as part of this new application.

Step 5: Receive your visa

When a decision about your visa has been reached, you will either:

1. Collect your passport from the consulate
2. Have your passport returned to you by mail. Applications submitted to the consulate in Vancouver are returned by post only

The decision will be either:

1. Approved – your visa will be inside your passport
2. Rejected – this would have been for a specific reason and you can appeal the decision within 30 days

Common rejection reasons include:

1. You did not provide a sponsorship letter – if someone is paying for your trip, this means you are being sponsored, so you will need to provide a sponsorship letter
2. No proof of residence – if you are a non-Canadian citizen and you are applying for a visa from Canada, you must prove that you have a legal right to remain in the country
3. Previous Schengen visas not supplied – if you have had a previous Schengen visa, so must present copies of this to the consulate
4. Spelling errors – you must ensure there are no spelling errors on your application form or other documents, especially your name etc., so check all of your documentation before you get to your appointment

Contact details of the Consulate General of Switzerland in Montreal

Address: 1572 Av. du Docteur-Penfield, Montréal, QC, H3G 1C4

Phone: +1 514 932 71 81

Fax: +1 514 932 90 28

Email: montreal.visa@eda.admin.ch

Hours: Monday to Thursday – 10.00 am – 1.00 pm; Friday – 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

Contact details of the Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver

Address: World Trade Centre, 790-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1

Phone: +1 604 684 2231

Fax: +1 604 684 28 06

Email: vancouver.visa@eda.admin.ch

Hours: Monday to Friday – 9.00 am – 1.00 pm

Conclusion

To apply for a Schengen visa for Finland, follow these simple steps:

1. Complete your application online or download it
2. Make an appointment
3. Prepare your documents
4. Attend your appointment
5. Receive your visa

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.

See Also

Apply for Schengen Visa from Canada

Apply for Austria Schengen Visa from Ottawa, Canada

Apply for Belgium Schengen Visa from Montreal, Canada

Apply for Czech Republic Schengen Visa from Ottawa, Canada

Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa from Ottawa, Canada

Apply for Estonia Schengen Visa from Ottawa, Canada