Finland
Country
Schengen
Finland
The official name of the country is the Republic of Finland. Finland is the seventh largest country in the world, it is called the Land of Thousand Lakes, a quarter of the country lies beyond the Arctic Circle. On the southwest coast is the largest European archipelago, which includes the municipality of Åland. Finland is a land of thousands of lakes and islands and beautiful nature. In the south of the country there are beautiful national parks, endless forests, several pleasant cities that are worth a visit (Helsinki, Lahti, Kerimäki, Kuopio). In the capital Helsinki, even from the very center of the metropolis, you can take the ubiquitous cycle paths in a few minutes to city parks, forests and countless bays of the sea and quickly forget that you are in a city with a million inhabitants. The amount of greenery probably has no competition in this city in Europe.
- There are 187,888 lakes and 179,584 islands in Finland.
- At the northern end of Finland, in summer the sun does not set for 73 days and does not rise in 51 days in winter.
- Finnish design and architecture are among the world-famous arts. Finnish design has become a concept created by its strong traditions, originality, style, high-quality materials and erudite craftsmanship.
- The education system is one of the best in the world.
FINNISH CUISINE
Finnish cuisine has many elements in common with the cuisines of the countries to which Finland belonged for some time, ie the cuisines of Sweden and Russia, but it also has a number of its own specifics. Basic foods include meat and fish, potatoes, vegetables (eg cabbage or turnips), mushrooms and a variety of fruits such as cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, blackberries, wild strawberries or sea buckthorn. Homemade juices and jams from these fruits are common. Wholegrain products (rye, barley, oats) are often used, and milk and buttermilk are popular. At breakfast, a good portion of porridge (puuro) is usually served on the tables, served with milk, sugar and butter or kiissel (see below)t, and muesli and cereals are also consumed a lot. Even after Finland‘s accession to the European Union (1995), food in the country is relatively expensive compared to the rest of Europe. Pork, beef, chicken and lamb are the most consumed of meat. About a third of the meat is eaten in the form of sausages (makkara), which are mostly based on pork. Roasting macaques on a fire in nature is one of the national passions, and Finnish mustard (sinappi) is also excellent. Finns also have a long tradition in hunting and fishing, so reindeer meat (even in restaurants), moose (more in households), hares, ducks and grouse also get on their plate. Of course, fish soups are also common. Access to the Baltic Sea and thousands of lakes allow for the widespread use of fish. Prim plays salmon, for example in the form of a cold smoked slice (lox), which is usually placed on a bagel with cream cheese, tomato, onion and capers. Or it is served in the form of raw salmon meat with dill and lemon juice (graavilohi, Swedish gravlax). A common appetizer is smoked or pickled herring. Other fish are also popular in Finland (zander, pike, perch). It is also worth mentioning whitefish and caviar prepared from its eggs, cod, marenas, eels and also crayfish. Finnish bread is the basis of Finnish cuisine, served with almost every meal. It is made from various types of grain such as barley, oats, rye or wheat. But the most popular is clearly ruislepä, a dark sour rye bread with a high fiber content. Finnish rye bread is not as moist as German and is not as sweet as in Sweden. There are also a number of types of flat breads (rieska). Common is näkkileipä, better known in our country under the German name knäckebrot, a thin crispy cracker made of rye flour
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
All EEA citizens and Swiss citizens can travel to Finland under the visa-free regime. Third-country nationals are required to apply for a visa to travel or live in Finland. The visa depends on nationality and purpose.
Passport validity - You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe. The document has to be issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU. Beware that EU members such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area
Schengen Visa - If you do not know if you need a visa to enter Schengen, click here. Download the Schengen Visa Application Form or visit the Finnish Ministry of European and International Affairs to check the current status regarding the visa and the conditions for issuing it here.
Schengen Insurance - Confirmation that you have travel and health insurance for Finland and the whole territory of Schengen, which meets Visa Code (Regulation EC No. 810/2009) conditions for a Schengen visa. Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Finland that fulfil Finnish Visa requirements can be purchased online from schengen.insure and it‘s accepted by Finnish Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
To apply for a visa you need the following
1. The visa application form completed and signed
2. One photograph Include a colour photograph from which you are recognizable.
3. A passport Make sure your passport is valid for at least three (3) months after the end of your intended travel and that it has been issued no later than ten (10) years ago.
4. Travel insurance Your travel insurance must be in force for the period of the validity of the applied visa and cover the entire Schengen area. The minimum coverage of the policy must be EUR 30,000 and the insurance must cover expenses arising from a sudden illness and accident (also the patient‘s repatriation) and repatriation expenses in case of death.
5. Supporting documents As the required appendices vary by country, contact the mission to make sure which ones you need. The mission may request that you append certain documents to the application to show the purpose, conditions and duration of the visit. Examples of such documents are tickets, a confirmation of hotel reservation, a private invitation letter and an official invitation. In addition to the above, you may be asked to provide information concerning the itinerary, means of transport, return trip, financial means of support and assets and employment. The applicant must have proof of sufficient financial means to cover the duration and purpose of the stay and the cost of living in the country. In Finland a minimum of EUR 30 a day is required.
6. Parental consent is required for minors Unaccompanied minor children need a parental consent for their travel.
7. Interview The mission may also ask you for a personal interview to find out about the purpose of your visit.
Even if you did not need a visa to visit Finland, you need a valid passport or some other travel document accepted by Finland. It must be valid for at least ninety days after your intended date of departure from the Schengen area. In addition, the passport or other travel document must have been issued no later than ten years ago. In case you do not need a visa, you can stay in Finland or in the territory of other Schengen state for ninety days in any 180-day period. Upon arrival in Finland, you must meet the general entry requirements according to which a person must not constitute a danger to public order and security, national health, or Finland’s international relations.
- There are 187,888 lakes and 179,584 islands in Finland.
- At the northern end of Finland, in summer the sun does not set for 73 days and does not rise in 51 days in winter.
- Finnish design and architecture are among the world-famous arts. Finnish design has become a concept created by its strong traditions, originality, style, high-quality materials and erudite craftsmanship.
- The education system is one of the best in the world.
FINNISH CUISINE
Finnish cuisine has many elements in common with the cuisines of the countries to which Finland belonged for some time, ie the cuisines of Sweden and Russia, but it also has a number of its own specifics. Basic foods include meat and fish, potatoes, vegetables (eg cabbage or turnips), mushrooms and a variety of fruits such as cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, blackberries, wild strawberries or sea buckthorn. Homemade juices and jams from these fruits are common. Wholegrain products (rye, barley, oats) are often used, and milk and buttermilk are popular. At breakfast, a good portion of porridge (puuro) is usually served on the tables, served with milk, sugar and butter or kiissel (see below)t, and muesli and cereals are also consumed a lot. Even after Finland‘s accession to the European Union (1995), food in the country is relatively expensive compared to the rest of Europe. Pork, beef, chicken and lamb are the most consumed of meat. About a third of the meat is eaten in the form of sausages (makkara), which are mostly based on pork. Roasting macaques on a fire in nature is one of the national passions, and Finnish mustard (sinappi) is also excellent. Finns also have a long tradition in hunting and fishing, so reindeer meat (even in restaurants), moose (more in households), hares, ducks and grouse also get on their plate. Of course, fish soups are also common. Access to the Baltic Sea and thousands of lakes allow for the widespread use of fish. Prim plays salmon, for example in the form of a cold smoked slice (lox), which is usually placed on a bagel with cream cheese, tomato, onion and capers. Or it is served in the form of raw salmon meat with dill and lemon juice (graavilohi, Swedish gravlax). A common appetizer is smoked or pickled herring. Other fish are also popular in Finland (zander, pike, perch). It is also worth mentioning whitefish and caviar prepared from its eggs, cod, marenas, eels and also crayfish. Finnish bread is the basis of Finnish cuisine, served with almost every meal. It is made from various types of grain such as barley, oats, rye or wheat. But the most popular is clearly ruislepä, a dark sour rye bread with a high fiber content. Finnish rye bread is not as moist as German and is not as sweet as in Sweden. There are also a number of types of flat breads (rieska). Common is näkkileipä, better known in our country under the German name knäckebrot, a thin crispy cracker made of rye flour
Travel Documents and Entry Requirements for non-EU Nationals
All EEA citizens and Swiss citizens can travel to Finland under the visa-free regime. Third-country nationals are required to apply for a visa to travel or live in Finland. The visa depends on nationality and purpose.
Passport validity - You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe. The document has to be issued within the previous 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU. Beware that EU members such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area
Schengen Visa - If you do not know if you need a visa to enter Schengen, click here. Download the Schengen Visa Application Form or visit the Finnish Ministry of European and International Affairs to check the current status regarding the visa and the conditions for issuing it here.
Schengen Insurance - Confirmation that you have travel and health insurance for Finland and the whole territory of Schengen, which meets Visa Code (Regulation EC No. 810/2009) conditions for a Schengen visa. Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Finland that fulfil Finnish Visa requirements can be purchased online from schengen.insure and it‘s accepted by Finnish Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
To apply for a visa you need the following
1. The visa application form completed and signed
2. One photograph Include a colour photograph from which you are recognizable.
3. A passport Make sure your passport is valid for at least three (3) months after the end of your intended travel and that it has been issued no later than ten (10) years ago.
4. Travel insurance Your travel insurance must be in force for the period of the validity of the applied visa and cover the entire Schengen area. The minimum coverage of the policy must be EUR 30,000 and the insurance must cover expenses arising from a sudden illness and accident (also the patient‘s repatriation) and repatriation expenses in case of death.
5. Supporting documents As the required appendices vary by country, contact the mission to make sure which ones you need. The mission may request that you append certain documents to the application to show the purpose, conditions and duration of the visit. Examples of such documents are tickets, a confirmation of hotel reservation, a private invitation letter and an official invitation. In addition to the above, you may be asked to provide information concerning the itinerary, means of transport, return trip, financial means of support and assets and employment. The applicant must have proof of sufficient financial means to cover the duration and purpose of the stay and the cost of living in the country. In Finland a minimum of EUR 30 a day is required.
6. Parental consent is required for minors Unaccompanied minor children need a parental consent for their travel.
7. Interview The mission may also ask you for a personal interview to find out about the purpose of your visit.
Even if you did not need a visa to visit Finland, you need a valid passport or some other travel document accepted by Finland. It must be valid for at least ninety days after your intended date of departure from the Schengen area. In addition, the passport or other travel document must have been issued no later than ten years ago. In case you do not need a visa, you can stay in Finland or in the territory of other Schengen state for ninety days in any 180-day period. Upon arrival in Finland, you must meet the general entry requirements according to which a person must not constitute a danger to public order and security, national health, or Finland’s international relations.