Visa to Helsinki for Russians in 2021, do you need permission to enter for tourism purposes, filling out an application form and a list of documents

Do Russians need a visa to Helsinki in 2020?

According to the rules of the Schengen Agreement, which includes Finland and 25 other European countries, a Schengen visa must be obtained from the representative offices of the country of primary residence. In the case of a trip to Helsinki, a visa must be issued at the Finnish mission. The Finnish Schengen visa is valid in Finland and allows you to visit the Schengen countries. The period of stay in the country should be no more than 90 days in six months. If permission is required for a longer period, a residence permit must be issued.

Monument to Sibelius, the most famous Finnish composer. Jean Sibelius enjoyed enormous popularity during his lifetime: he became the author of the unofficial anthem of Finland, banned during the reign of Nicholas II. Finns proudly preserve the memory of their famous compatriot, perpetuating his memory in street names, plaques and monuments.

Where to apply for a visa?

You can apply for a visa to Finland through the Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg, the visa department of the Embassy of Finland in Moscow, and the branches of the Consulate General in Murmansk and Petrozavodsk. Official VFS Global visa centers operate in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Veliky Novgorod, Vladivostok, Vologda, Vyborg, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Murmansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Perm, Pskov, Rostov -on-Don, Samara, Ufa.

In 2021, Finnish visa centers opened in the following cities: Vladimir, Tula, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Volgograd, Belgorod, Saransk, Ryazan, Tomsk, Kursk, Tyumen, Surgut, Sochi, Lipetsk, Izhevsk, Ulyanovsk.

The Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg accepts applications from individual tourists.

In some countries, Finland is represented by consulates of other Schengen countries.

In Kazakhstan, you can apply for a visa to Finland at the Lithuanian Embassy in Almaty and the Estonian Embassy in Astana.

There is an Estonian embassy in Belarus.

In Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia and Tajikistan, you can contact the German consulate.

In Kyrgyzstan - to the Swiss consulate.

In Azerbaijan - to the Norwegian Embassy.

There is an Italian embassy in Armenia.

There is a German embassy in Mongolia.

Applying for a visa through the consulate and visa center

Russian citizens can apply for a Finnish visa at the Finnish Embassy in Moscow, at the Consulate General in St. Petersburg and consulates in Murmansk and Petrozavodsk. Visa centers also process visas.

To obtain a Schengen visa, you must provide biometric data. The procedure involves taking fingerprints and taking a biometric photo. Therefore, you must be present in person when submitting documents. This information is then entered into a single database, which is stored for five years, which makes it possible not to carry out the procedure every time you apply for a visa.

There are categories of citizens exempt from it. These include: children under twelve years of age, disabled people who are physically unable to submit fingerprints.

Available at visa centers when a visa center employee goes to the client, takes fingerprints, takes photos and collects documents.

It is worth noting that visa centers do not issue residence permits. Only embassies and consulates are authorized to do this.

Helsinki Central is the main railway junction in the center of the capital. The railway station building in Helsinki is the most famous piece of Finnish architecture in the world. It was built in the Northern Art Nouveau style in 1861.

How to get a visa to Finland: submitting documents

The process itself is simple: fill out the form, download it from the letter, print it and make the necessary copies of documents and a photograph. Decide on the date for submitting documents and sign up (in general, signing up is not an absolute necessity, so you may be late). You buy a policy - taking into account the fact that it should include the date of submission of documents. You come to the consulate or visa center, submit documents, take fingerprints and pay for the visa. You will receive it in two weeks.

The entire process of applying for a Finnish visa is as simplified as possible, and the level of friendliness is as if you had the number of the presidential administration in your phone. In such conditions, there is no point in overpaying travel agents and being afraid that without their help you will be rejected.

Types of visas

Depending on the purpose and duration of the trip, different types of visas are issued. There are short-term and long-term, tourist, work, guest and others.

Tourist visa

This is the most common type of visa. It is issued to citizens planning to travel for the purpose of recreation. A trip with such a visa does not involve any activity other than tourism.

Usually issued for a period of six months to a year. Limited by the number of days of stay in Finland or in other European countries included in Schengen.

Panoramic view of Helsinki. The capital of Finland is located on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland, in a rocky area. Despite its port status, the city is famous for its unusual architecture, combining Italian, Scandinavian and Russian traditions.

Visitor visa

A visa issued upon receipt of an invitation from a resident of the state to which the trip is planned. In this case, the process of obtaining it is greatly simplified. For example, confirmation of flight and hotel reservations is not required.

University Botanical Garden in Helsinki. The botanical garden belongs to the Finnish Museum of Natural History. It was created in 1678 as a small area for growing medicinal plants and cabbage in the city of Turku. Kaisaniemi now has a mixed landscape with savannah flowers, Mediterranean palms, tropical plants and mountain forests.

Work Visa

This visa is for citizens who plan to go abroad to work. It allows you to officially find employment and stay in the territory of a foreign state for the entire duration of the employment contract. To apply, you will need an invitation from the employing company. And if a place of work is not found, then you must present a letter from the local chamber of commerce, or proof of qualifications and experience that are required in a given state.

Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki. This is one of the most visited museums in Finland, it is located in the city center, on Mannerheim Square. Permanent exhibitions change each other annually. The halls house temporary exhibitions of works by various contemporary artists; the museum's funds contain about 4 thousand exhibits.

Study visa

Provided to students and apprentices for training. It gives the right to stay in the country of study for the entire study period. Issued upon presentation of supporting documents indicating the educational institution’s readiness to accept the student.

Library of the University of Helsinki. The oldest and most important scientific library in Finland. At the same time it serves as a university and national library. The library has a valuable collection of literature on Slavic studies (450,000 volumes), which was collected during the times of Russian tsarism.

Transit visa

Issued if it is necessary to cross the border of a third country, not the country of destination. It is very easy to obtain it, just inform the representative office about the transit, present confirmation of permission to visit the country of destination and tickets. For example, if you are flying to the USA through Helsinki Airport, you will need a transit visa.

Helsinki-Vantaa is the international airport of the capital of Finland. This is Helsinki's only international airport, located 17 kilometers from the center of the capital. The airport has implemented the world's first automatic system that monitors crowds and prevents bottlenecks in terminals. The airport is capable of handling ultra-short transit passengers, with a minimum connection time of 35 minutes.

Get a US visa in Helsinki (Finland)

Effective March 4, 2021, the US Embassy will waive the additional fee for multiple-entry US visas.

How to obtain an American visa in 2021 after the closure of the United States Consulate General in St. Petersburg? You can expect a miracle. Or take an interview in another country. Applying for a US visa in Helsinki is a worthy alternative for citizens and residents of the Russian Federation, especially for residents of the northern capital.

Important note! If your previous US visa was issued in another country, you will need to undergo a new interview to obtain re-entry into the United States. After all, without going through an interview, you can only get the visa that was obtained in your homeland.

Advantages of applying for a US visa in another country

Many people talk about an incredibly long queue for an interview at the Embassy, which is fundamentally at odds with the real situation. There is no recording of the interview as such. You can schedule an interview only in other countries. In 2021, a US visa can be obtained in Finland. The average wait time for an interview is three months. The entire embassy calendar is freely available. There is no need to fish for interviews, as is happening now in Russia.

How to get a US visa in Helsinki?

Questionnaire DS-160

The first step in obtaining a visa in any country is the DS-160 form. An approved form for the Embassy is a mandatory document, and there are not many of them. The application form must be completed in English, regardless of the country of origin. A lot of information is required: personal data, travel plans, family information (parents and spouses), work, education, travel history. After entering all the required information, uploading a photo and checking the profile, the data must be saved. After clicking the “save” button, the DS-160 form is sent to the Embassy and the system provides confirmation of the questionnaire - Confirmation.

If you are caught in a wave of cancellations of records at the Embassy and have previously filled out a form in Russia, the form must be filled out again. Each saved profile remains in the Embassy’s system, therefore radically changing the information is contraindicated.

Creating a personal account

Each US visa application is assigned a unique Application ID number - an alphanumeric code, for example AA007H9TFR. This number must be saved; it will also be needed to schedule an interview at the Embassy. You need to enter it into your personal account at CGI, a partner of the United States Consular Section that accepts applications for interviews. In addition to the application number, the applicant indicates the place where the passport will be delivered from the Embassy. There is no self-collection point for documents in Helsinki. You must indicate the address of your intended residence. It is to this address that your passport with the American visa attached will be delivered.

Payment of consular fee

The consular fee is paid by the applicant in one of the following ways: in cash at a bank in Finland or by bank card. The Embassy fee for admission to an interview is the same throughout the world - $160. When paying using a bank card, taking into account conversion rates, the cost will be 13,000 rubles. By contacting Visakhod, you do not need to worry about paying the mandatory fee. Transferring funds to another country to the account of the consular department is included in the cost of services for obtaining a US visa.

Important note! You can pay the fee in cash in Finland only at the bank in which the applicant for an American visa has an account.

Sign up for an interview

Only after paying the fee can you schedule an interview: select one of the available dates in the calendar that opens, select a time (interviews take place only in the morning). The applicant receives an invitation to an interview indicating the date and time - Appointment Confirmation.

Documents for the interview

There are only three required documents for obtaining a US visa:

— a valid foreign passport — confirmation of the completed DS-160 form — Confirmation — invitation to an interview — Appointment Confirmation

Any other certificate is a personal initiative of the applicant. The visa officer will not ask the applicant for any document, because since 2012, the United States Department of State has abolished the required documents. Among the additional documents, someone may need a certificate from work, perhaps a letter of sponsorship, and some questionnaires may support publications in the media. Visakhod employees will tell you what documents you might need for an interview so that a US visa does not cause any difficulties.

Passing an interview at the US Consular Section in Finland

Taking an interview in Helsinki is one of the most convenient options, especially for residents of St. Petersburg. With one exception: the applicant is offered a choice of only two interview languages - English and Finnish. Despite this proximity to Russia, the consular section does not have Russian-speaking visa officers or staff translators. Therefore, only those who perfectly know English or Finnish should apply for a US visa in Helsinki.

But it’s not just the interview language that can serve as a stumbling block. The most common and stupid reasons for refusal cannot be avoided even in such a loyal country towards applicants for an American visa. You need to prepare for an interview based on the mentality of an American official. What for a Russian seems like a bad connection with the homeland, an American considers to be the most important anchor in the Russian Federation. The Visakhod team will create a submission legend for you, present an interview scenario taking into account the individual data in the questionnaire and tell you how to answer the officer’s questions.

How to get a US visa in Helsinki? Option 2.0

You can skip all of the above stages of applying for a visa. It is enough to come to the Visakhod company with a foreign passport. We will professionally fill out the application form, pay all the fees, sign you up for an interview, draw up a list of documents you need, and prepare you for the interview. All you have to do is be at the Embassy on the appointed day and, following our instructions, receive a US visa in Helsinki within 3 working days.

Current interview dates

List of documents for a visa to Helsinki

List of required documents for obtaining a visa to Helsinki in 2020:

Visa application form.
A valid passport with two blank pages. Expiration of the passport more than 3 months after the expiration of the Schengen visa.
Photocopy of the international passport.
Photograph for documents.
A copy of the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.
Certificate from place of employment confirming income.
Receipt confirming payment of fees.
Insurance policy.

These are the documents that are required. Depending on the purpose of the trip, additional information may also be requested, for example, air tickets to Helsinki, a green card and others.

Obtaining a visa to travel to Helsinki is mandatory for Russian citizens. Since Finland is a Schengen country, the procedure for obtaining a visa is similar to the Schengen type. Persons wishing to get a job, in addition to a visa, must obtain a residence permit in Finland.

Schengen visa to Finland for Russians

Russian citizens require a Schengen visa to visit Finland. The validity period of a visa depends on its type and purpose of travel. The most popular is the tourist Schengen visa type C for travel for up to 90 days for the purpose of tourism, work, study, or visiting friends or relatives.

Types of Schengen visas

Schengen visa type A This is an airport transit visa for traveling through EU airports to third countries.
Schengen visa type B A transit visa that allows you to stay in the European Union only for short periods of up to 5 days.
Schengen visa type C Tourist or business visa. The most common Schengen visa, which allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days every 180 days, is issued for a period of up to 5 years. The visa can be with a restriction on the number of entries, or without restrictions (MULT).
Schengen visa type D National long-term visa. Allows you to stay in the Schengen zone for more than 90 consecutive days.

Consular fee

The consular fee for a Schengen visa type C to Finland is 35 euros. When applying to the visa center, you must also pay a service fee of 27.20 euros. When contacting the Finnish Embassy, only the consular fee is charged.

Registration period

The processing time for a Finnish Schengen visa is 7 working days, but in some cases it can increase to 30 days.

Duration of stay

The period of stay in Finland with a Schengen visa type C is no more than 90 days within 180 days without limiting the number of entries and exits.

Documents for a visa to Finland

The list of documents for obtaining a Finnish Schengen visa complies with the rules of the Schengen Agreement. We recommend reading the instructions for applying for a Schengen visa.

Application form for the Finnish consulate. The form can also be completed online.
A foreign passport of a Russian citizen valid for 3 months after the end of the trip.
Color photograph, size 3.5x4.5 cm, 2 pcs.
Air ticket reservation.
Hotel reservation (hotel, apartment, hostel with confirmation) or tourist voucher. In the case of a short-term trip for the purpose of shopping without an accommodation reservation, you should describe your route in free form on a separate A4 sheet of paper.
Certificate from work indicating salary.
Certificate from the bank confirming financial solvency at the rate of 56 euros per day.
Insurance (insurance policy).
A copy of the Russian passport (pages with marks).
A copy of a foreign passport (all pages).
Consent to the processing of personal data.

Visa to Finland for children

In addition to the standard list of documents for obtaining a Schengen visa to Finland for children, the following documents will be required.

A separately completed application form for the child.
A child over 14 years of age must sign the form along with the signatures of the father and mother.
A copy of the birth certificate.
Copies of the first pages of the internal passports of the father and mother and copies of their Schengen visas.
Consent to travel if the child leaves with one of the parents or with a third party.
Children under 6 years of age are exempt from paying the visa fee.
In the event of the death or disappearance of one of the parents, the relevant documents from the competent authorities must be attached to the minor’s visa application.

Filling out the visa application form

A prerequisite before visiting the Consulate is to fill out an online form.

To do this you need:

go to the website, register;
choose a place to submit documents;
fill out the application in Latin letters, enter passport data, indicate the address and telephone number for contact;
enter the purpose of the trip;
enter information about health insurance and financial guarantees;
The last page is for adding additional information.

After this, you need to print and sign the application. Next, the form must be submitted to the Consulate.

Application form for a visa to Helsinki. The form and procedure for filling out the application can be found on the website of the Finnish Embassy. The application form is filled out in Latin and signed personally by the applicant. A photograph of the applicant is attached to the application form.

List of documents for a tourist visa

Finland visa application form
One copy of the application form. The consulate only accepts a printout of the online application form from its website. The form must be filled out on a computer or in block letters by hand. The questionnaire items must be filled out in Russian transliteration, in English, Swedish or Finnish. Signed personally by the applicant or legal representative. Filling out an electronic application on the website of the Finland Visa Application Center.
Photo
One color photograph on a light background, size 36x47 mm. Head height 25-35 mm. The photo was taken no older than 6 months.
international passport
Valid for at least 3 months after the visa expires, with two blank visa pages. If you have a second valid passport, please attach it. Be sure to have a copy of the passport page with personal data.
Old or canceled passport
If the new passport does not contain Finnish visas, but the old one contains visas no older than 3 years.
Original and copy of Russian passport
From the age of 14. You need copies of pages with personal data and registration, keep the original with you. When submitting through a proxy, a copy of the applicant is sufficient.
Insurance
Original and copy of the policy. A printout of the electronic policy will do. For each person, including children. For spouses and minor children of EU citizens, as well as holders of diplomatic or service passports, insurance is not required on a business trip.
The insurance must work in all Schengen countries. No franchise. The limit of the sum insured is from 30,000 euros.
If you are applying for a multiple-entry visa, your insurance must cover all dates of your first trip. However, you are required to have insurance for upcoming trips.
There are travel insurances linked to a credit card. They can be used to obtain a visa, but the consulate will require a certificate stating that the policy is valid without additional conditions.
Consent to the processing of personal data
Signed when submitting an application. Parents sign for children. If the application is submitted by proxy, sign the form in advance or make a power of attorney with the right to sign this document.
The consent form differs depending on the place of submission, it will be issued on the spot.
Consent to the processing of personal data for the Moscow visa center
Consent to the processing of personal data for the visa center in St. Petersburg
Confirmation of the purpose of the trip - tourism
Accommodation. For example, a copy of a hotel reservation, a rental agreement, a letter from an accredited travel agency (tour). If staying with a friend, provide a copy of the property owner's visa or a copy of the purchase and sale agreement, contact information and date of birth of the owner. If there is no proof of residence, write about your travel plans and route on a separate sheet of paper in any form.

If your travel companion already has a visa, provide a copy or number.

Foreign citizens must provide a Russian visa or residence permit, registration in the Russian Federation, a work permit in the Russian Federation or a student card, as well as copies of these documents.

To cross the border by car, the driver must have a passport, driver's license, visa, medical insurance, international car insurance "Green Card", and a vehicle registration certificate.

Instructions for drivers in Finland (PDF).

Information for passengers on the rules of entry and entry into Finland (PDF).

The consulate may require additional documents or call the applicant for an interview.

Be sure to have a copy of all original documents. Documents attached to the visa will not be returned.

Additional documents for children

A child’s own visa is issued, so you need to collect a separate package of documents, insurance, fill out a separate application form and photo. In addition to the standard list of documents, additional ones will be required:

Birth certificate
Copy, keep the original with you.
Consent for a child to travel abroad
Only from parents who are not accompanying the child on the trip. The consent indicates the date of registration, the parent’s data, a list of acceptable countries, periods of entry, and signature. Certified by a notary. The consent must be issued no more than a year ago and cover all Schengen countries. Consent to leave must be valid from the day the visa documents are submitted. In lieu of consent, you may provide a parent's death certificate or other document confirming the parent's absence or unknown location.

Photo requirements for Helsinki visa

The photo must be taken no more than six months ago. Clear, high quality, without processing, glare and unnecessary objects. Neutral background. Photo size 35*45 mm.

A close-up of the face takes up at least 70% of the overall photograph. The facial expression is calm, the oval of the face is not covered by hair or headdresses (with the exception of religious reasons). If the applicant wears glasses, they must be removed.

Photo for a visa to Helsinki. The requirements for photographs are standard: the photo must be in color, the background is gray, the image is clear and recognizable, without retouching, without hats or dark glasses; the statute of limitations must not exceed six months.

Visa cost

The cost of the visa will be affected by the location where it is issued. In order not to overpay for the service, you must contact the consulate directly. Then you will only have to pay the consular fee, which is 35 euros. If you prefer convenience, you can use the services of visa centers, but you will additionally need to pay a service fee of 26.75 euros. Payment is made at the Central Bank exchange rate on the day of payment at the cash desk of the visa center, or at the bank if documents are submitted to the consulate.

If the consulate refuses to issue a visa, fees are not refunded.

Finland visa costs and processing times

The consular fee for Russian citizens is 35 euros. When submitting an application at the Visa Application Center, the fee is paid directly there. If the application is submitted at the visa center of the Embassy, then at the bank branch. The Moscow Visa Application Center also charges an additional service fee of EUR 28.90, payable at the center's ticket office. Applicants for a visa to the visa department at the Embassy in Moscow pay the consular fee at the Nordea Bank branch at 38 Stremyanny per. (Serpukhovskaya/Dobryninskaya metro station) or with Visa and MasterCard cards at the ATMs of this bank (commission - 5%).

Bank branches in St. Petersburg:

DO "Tavrichesky", st. Kirochnaya 12 working hours: Mon – Fri 9.15 – 19.00
Branch "St. Petersburg", st. Promyshlennaya 19 working hours: Mon – Fri 9.30 – 17.00
DO "Lakhtinsky", Torfyanaya doroga 7, shopping center "Gulliver", 2nd floor, above the Ramstore hypermarket, opening hours: Mon - Sun 10.30 - 21.30
DO "Matrix"
DO "Yugo-Zapadny", Leninsky Prospekt, 95, building 1, room. 8-N, lit. A Store "World of Technology" opening hours: Mon - Sun 10.30 - 21.30
DO "Severny", Prosveshcheniya pr. 35, room. 8N, lit. A Store "World of Technology" opening hours: Mon - Fri 10.20 - 20.40 Sat - Sun 10.20 - 20.00

The consular fee is not paid:

children under five years of age who have their own passport;
schoolchildren, higher education students, graduate students and accompanying teachers traveling to Finland to study;
close relatives of citizens of European Union states;
close relatives of Russian citizens legally residing in Finland.

Consular fee for urgent processing of a visa application is 70 euros. The processing time for such an application is 3-10 days.

Regular visa applications are processed within 15 working days.

Deadlines for reviewing documents

Officially, a visa is issued in 10 to 15 days, but in reality it takes about 7 days. However, it happens when the deadlines increase, for example, before the New Year or May holidays.

If you need to obtain a visa urgently, you can pay double the consular fee and obtain it within three working days.

St. Nicholas Cathedral in Helsinki. The cathedral is located on the Senate Square of the capital and is the main Evangelical Lutheran church of the country, and a unique architectural monument. The temple has five domes symbolically representing Christ himself and the four canonical Gospels of Mark, Luke, Matthew and John.

It is better to take care of your visa in advance, at least two weeks before your trip.

Up-to-date information on visa issuance deadlines can be tracked on the visa center website. You can also monitor status information; to do this, you need to use the registration number on the ICR check.

Valid term of a visa

As a rule, visas are issued to tourists for 6 months with the possibility of staying in the country for up to ninety days.

Not long ago, the consulate began issuing visas for longer periods - two and five years. But the condition for the length of stay remains the same - no more than 90 days in six months.

One of the central streets of Helsinki. The city has extraordinarily beautiful architecture that reflects its rich history. It is best to start getting acquainted with the sights of the capital from its cultural and historical center. Here are the building of the State Council (former Senate), the University, as well as the former residences of wealthy merchants of the century before last.

Visa for a child

Minor children can only travel if accompanied. To obtain a visa, a child under the age of 18 must submit a mandatory package of documents, as well as the consent of one parent if the child is traveling with the other. If a minor is traveling with third parties, then the consent of both the father and mother is required. You must also provide a birth certificate and copies of your parents' Schengen visas.

Consent is required when a child visa application is submitted at different times with legal representatives. If for objective reasons it is not possible to provide Consent, then it is necessary to present a certificate of death of one of the parents, Form 25 or a court decision on the status of a single parent.

View of Helsinki. Holidays in Helsinki are not limited to visiting the sights - there is a huge selection of places where you can spend time active and fun. First of all, tourists prefer to travel by water. This can be either access to the open sea or a walk along the coastline on a boat.

Reasons for refusal

Although the percentage of refusals to issue Finnish visas to applicants is quite low, such cases still occur.

The main reasons for refusal include:

Offenses in previous trips (for example, there are unpaid fines for traffic violations).
Violation of the visa regime on a previously issued visa. For example, on a Finnish visa, the main place of stay was another country, and the visit to Finland was transit.
The form was filled out incorrectly and false information was provided.
Medical insurance does not meet the requirements - does not cover the entire period of the trip, the insurer is not included in the agreed list.
The applicant raises doubts among representatives of the Finnish consulate.

Temppeliaukio is a Lutheran church with modern architecture.
The underground temple is carved inside a massive block of natural granite. This unusual underground temple, with a copper wire ceiling, is not only a church, but also a popular concert venue due to its excellent acoustics. Widely known by its English name - Rock Church - church in the rock. Based on the above reasons, you can make a list of recommendations that will help you avoid refusals:

Apply for a visa for the country where you plan to spend most of your trip.
If the travel route is long enough and it is difficult to decide on the main country of stay, then documents should be submitted to the representative office of the country that will be crossed first. These details must be provided when submitting your application.

No later than two weeks after receiving the refusal, you can file an appeal.

Oceanarium in Helsinki You can get acquainted with underwater inhabitants without leaving the mainland - at the Sea Life Aquarium. It has more than 50 aquariums, and under the largest of them, where sharks are kept, there is a glass tunnel. The oceanarium presents visitors with more than 10 species of sharks, rays, jellyfish, seahorses and thousands of other fish.

Customs regulations

There are certain rules for clearing customs that tourists must follow.

The main rules in force in 2021 include:

Alcohol is allowed to be brought into Finland by persons over 22 years of age and only if the stay is longer than 3 days.
It is prohibited to import pure alcohol; other drinks are allowed in limited quantities.
You can carry cigarettes, but not more than 200 pieces.
You are allowed to import no more than 10 liters of fuel.
When traveling to Finland by car, you must obtain a green card.
It is prohibited to transport: seedlings, meat, dairy products and seafood unless there are permits. The import of any pyrotechnics, stun guns, gas cartridges, etc. is also prohibited.
Pets are allowed to be transported if they have the appropriate veterinary certificates.
Medicines can be imported with a doctor's prescription.
All commercial goods must be declared.

There are inspection systems in place at the border and sanctions are applied to violators.

Assumption Cathedral in the city of Helsinki. This is one of the largest Orthodox churches in Western and Northern Europe. The building is built of red brick and topped with thirteen domes with gilded domes. The thirteen chapters are symbols of Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles.

Visa and insurance (what you need to travel to Finland)

The first thing we do when planning to go to Finland (or any other European city) is prepare documents: passport, visa and insurance. If the travel company does not offer assistance in obtaining a visa, or you are flying “savages”, then you need to take care of Schengen on your own. The form can be filled out on the official website of the visa service center. There you will also have the opportunity to become familiar with a number of restrictions on the import and export of cash, items for personal use, purchased alcohol, souvenirs, etc.

Finland is considered a country where crime is a very small percentage, but travel is still calmer when you are insured against unpleasant situations. There are a lot of health insurance companies. I advise you to choose basic options: 24-hour hotline support, insurance against bruises and fractures (if you plan to ski) and other cases that you think might happen to you.

Read: 57 interesting facts about Finland

Medical insurance policy

To obtain a Finnish visa, you will need a health insurance policy. It must be valid from the first day of submission of papers and throughout the territory of the Schengen countries. The insurance must cover expenses in the amount of 30,000 euros or 50,000 dollars.

Observation deck at the Helsinki Zoo. This is one of the oldest zoos in Europe, located on the island of Korkeasaari, east of the center of the capital of Finland. The symbol of the zoo is the snow leopard. The area of the zoo is more than 22 hectares. Its collection includes rare and endangered species of animals.

To travel to Helsinki you will need a Finnish visa. You can choose a method that is convenient for you - contact the consulate directly or act through a visa center. If you follow all the rules for submitting documents, the receipt procedure will take a little time and effort, and the trip will go smoothly and leave only positive memories.