Finland Visa From Philippines – How to Apply for Finnish Schengen Visa Application Requirements Guide

Finland is a fabulous Schengen country to visit any time of the year, but winter time there is wonderful. With beautiful snowy landscapes, skiing in Lapland, and a chance to see the stunning Northern Lights, you will be amazed at everything there is to see! In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Finland visa from the Philippines, Finland visa appointment booking, processing time at the Finland visa application centre, 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 in the Philippines.

Source: Pikist

Finland Schengen Visas

In 2019, embassies around the world dealt with 895,775 visa applications for Finland and rejected 16,894 (1.9%). The Embassy of Finland in Manila received 831 applications and rejected 209 (25.2%).

Applying for a Finland Schengen Visa from the Philippines

Applying for a Finland Schengen visa from the Philippines is easy. All you need to do is to submit your application to VFS Global in Manila. Your application will then be received by the Embassy of Finland in Manila.

You can submit your application up to 6 months before, but no later than 15 days before your intended departure date. If you apply less than 15 days ahead, there may not be enough time for your application to be processed as this takes at least 15 days.

Types of Schengen visas offered at VFS Global/the Embassy of Finland in Manila

A Schengen visa will allow you to enter and stay in Finland for up to 90 days. You will need this type of visa if you are planning on going to Finland for any of the following reasons:

1. Tourism
2. Business
3. Sports/Cultural events
4. Private visit
5. Seamen
6. Family member of a Finnish citizen
7. Family member of EU, EEA and Swiss citizen

You can find further information about each of these visas on VFS Global’s website.

Schengen visas are issued as:

1. Single-entry visa – allows the holder to enter Finland once and stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
2. Double-entry visa – allows entry into Finland twice and may be valid within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
3. Multiple-entry visa – is granted for several consecutive visits to the Schengen area. The total duration of the stays may not exceed the number of days stated on the visa sticker, that is, up to 90 days in a 180-day period.  A multiple-entry visa is valid for a maximum of five (5) years

If you are planning on catching a connecting flight in the Philippines, you would need to apply for another type of visa:

1. Airport transit visa – allows the visa holder transit via the international zone of the airport during a stopover or change between two flights. Entry in the national zone is prohibited. Citizens of the following countries need a transit visa:
   1. Afghanistan
   2. Bangladesh
   3. Eritrea
   4. Ethiopia
   5. Ghana
   6. Iraq
   7. Iran
   8. Democratic Republic of Congo
   9. Nigeria
   10. Pakistan
   11. Somalia
   12. Sri Lanka

If you wish to go to Finland for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit and you can find out more information on the embassy’s website.

How Can I Apply for a Finland Schengen Visa from VFS Global in the Philippines?

Before you apply, go to VFS Global’s website and find out about Schengen visas. The one you will need to apply for will depend on why you are going to Finland. You must know which visa you need before you submit your application, otherwise, it could be rejected.

Once you have done that, there are 6 steps to follow:

1. Step 1 – Prepare your application and supporting documents
2. Step 2 – Book an appointment to visit the application center
3. Step 3 – Submit your visa application
4. Step 4 – Pay your fees
5. Step 5 – Track your application
6. Step 6 – Collect your passport

Let’s take a look at each step in detail.

Step 1 – Prepare your application and supporting documents

The first thing you need to do is to complete your application form. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on: “Online Application Form”:

Click on the link for the application form:

You will need to create an account:

Then, you will be able to log in and complete your application form:

Once you have completed the form, print and sign it because you need to submit this in person along with your other supporting documents:

Supporting documents

You should look at the document checklists on either VFS Global’s or the embassy’s website. Document requirements are different for each type of visa. If you forget to submit everything, your application could be rejected.

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 – completed and signed
2. Passport photograph x 1
3. Passport – issued within the last 10 years valid for at least three months and has at least 2 free pages
4. Proof of travel insurance – to cover sudden illness and accident and repatriation expenses in the case of death. The insurance must be valid in all the Schengen countries and should cover the entire stay. The minimum coverage is €30,000
5. Proof of legal residence – Alien certificate registration and re-entry permit
6. Travel plan/itinerary
7. Flight reservation
8. Proof of accommodation such as a hotel reservation
9. Letter of employment/studies on official letterhead, stamped and dated; containing contact information (address, email, tel. number) as well as name, position and signature of the countersigning officer. The letter must state the name and position of the applicant, salary, years of employment/studies and approval of absence/position after leave
10. If self-employed – registration of business, income tax return and business financial statement
11. For students – proof of enrolment
12. Proof of sufficient means of subsistence – 6 months bank statements and/or document to confirm proof of ties in your home country
13. Proof of sponsorship or an invitation letter from the host in Finland
14. For minors – Birth certificate/Court decision of custody (notarized) and passport(s) and proof of economic means of parent(s)/guardian(s) and affidavit of support
    
15. Marriage certificate
16. Birth certificate
17. Proof of registration in any type of event (if applicable)

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 2 – Book an appointment to visit the application center

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application centre 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.

1. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on “Schedule an appointment”
2. Click on the link to complete an online appointment
3. Create a new account if you don’t already have one
4. Log in and make an appointment on a day that’s suitable for you

Step 3 – Submit your visa application

On the day of your appointment:

1. Arrive early
2. Remember to take all your paperwork

You will hand over your application and VFS Global will check it. It will then be sent to the embassy for processing.

The embassy may ask you to attend an interview if they need to clarify any of the information you have given. They may ask you questions like:

1. Have you been to Finland before?
2. Do you know anyone there?
3. How much do you earn?
4. Are you going to work in Finland?

All you have to do is to answer the questions honestly. The embassy is not trying to trick you, they are simply ascertaining all the facts to be able to make a fair decision.

Step 4 – Pay your fees

As part of the application process, you will also pay the visa fee at your appointment. Fees are non-refundable and must be paid in cash in Philippine Pesos or by credit/debit card.

Step 5 – Track your application

After you submit your application, you can track its progress. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on: “Track Your Application:

Click on the link:

Enter your reference number and your date of birth and you will see what stage your application is at:

Step 6 – Collect your passport

Once a decision has been made, you can either:

1. Have your passport returned via courier (for an additional fee)
2. Collect your passport from VFS Global. You need to take the original receipt and the copy of the data page of your passport (stapled to the receipt)

The decision will be either:

1. Approved – you will find your visa inside your passport
2. Rejected – this could have been for many reasons

Rejection reasons include:

1. Sponsorship letter not provided – if you are being sponsored in Finland, you must provide a sponsorship letter
2. Passport issued over 10 years ago – if your passport was issued more than 10 years ago, it will be invalid, so you must apply for a new one before applying for your visa
3. You provided false documents – it is not a good idea to attempt this. You will be found out and you may not be able to visit Finland now or in the future. In fact, this could affect your ability to travel anywhere
4. Unable to afford trip – if the embassy thinks you cannot afford your trip, they may reject your application. Provide enough evidence that you can afford it to avoid this outcome

How to contact VFS Global in Manila

To apply for a Finland visa from the Embassy of Finland in Manila, follow these simple steps:

1. Step 1 – Prepare your application and supporting documents
2. Step 2 – Book an appointment to visit the application center
3. Step 3 – Submit your visa application
4. Step 4 – Pay your fees
5. Step 5 – Track your application
6. Step 6 – Collect your passport

And, with visa in hand, it won’t be long until you touch down in Finland!

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

How to Apply for Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Austria Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Belgium Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Czech Republic Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Spain Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Netherlands Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Italy Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for France Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Germany Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Greece Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Denmark Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Norway Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Iceland Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Switzerland Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Portugal Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Sweden Schengen Visa from Philippines