Finland is a Nordic gem in Northern Europe, popular for its landscapes, high quality of life, and vibrant cities. Therefore, thousands of Indians, including those from Mumbai, visit this Schengen country for tourism, business, study, or work purposes.
In addition, travelers can have access to the country through the well-connected flights at the capital’s airport, Helsinki. However, this can be done by getting a visa first.
So, the following article provides detailed information on the Finland visa from Mumbai along with the visa types, mandatory documents, and the application process. So, hold on tight and walk through the guide!
Consulate General of Finland in Mumbai
Usually, a foreign country has its diplomatic missions (embassy in the capital and consulates in the major cities of the host country). Likewise, the Republic of Finland has its Embassy in New Delhi and a Consulate General in Mumbai.
Furthermore, the jurisdiction of the Finnish Consulate General expands to the regions of Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, and Telangana.
Location and details
The Consulate General of Finland in Mumbai is located at:
Address: TCG Financial Centre, Unit 901 C-59 Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai 400098, India
Phone number: +91 85 888 136 20
Email address: sanomat.mum@gov.fi
Office hours: Mon-Thu 8 am till 4 pm, Fri 8 am till 2:45 pm
Services offered
The Finnish Consulate General assists the citizens of Finland in India. However, it does not accept and process visa and residence permit applications. Therefore, applicants need to find an alternate method/facility to submit their applications.
Moreover, the consulate also provides:
- Emergency passports for Finnish citizens
- Document legalization for Finnish nationals
- Consular assistance in emergencies such as lost passports or arrests
Note: Visa-related queries should be directed to either the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi or the VFS Global Visa Application Center.
Finland Visa Types for Mumbai Residents
Finland is a part of the Schengen Area, which means that Mumbai folks need a Schengen visa to stay in the country for 90 days. Meanwhile, a National visa requires them to have a residence permit.
Besides, there are almost 29 Schengen Countries, among which Finland is also a member. This area has eliminated the internal border controls, which result in free movement of goods and people.
Nonetheless, mentioned below are two of the major visa types, followed by their subcategories.
Short-stay visa
As the name implies, a short-stay or Type C visa is usually used when traveling to the target country for a limited stay, i.e., 90 days within 180 days. Alternatively, it is known as a Schengen visa.
The following are the common subclasses of a Schengen visa.
- A tourist visa allows you to visit Finland for leisure, sightseeing, and vacationing purposes. Also, note that you cannot extend it and should return to your home country before your visa expires.
- Another short-stay visa category is a business visa that can be used by businessmen or employees to attend business meetings, conferences, or negotiate contracts in Finland.
- Furthermore, you can also visit your friends or family members in Finland with the help of a visitor visa. Appropriate documents should be attached to the visa application.
- Lastly, a transit visa or Type A is usually used for airport transits when traveling to a non-Schengen country en route to Finland. This visa type is required by certain nationalities such as Afghans, Sri Lankans, Pakistanis, Indians, etc. So, make sure to learn the requirements before starting the process.
Long-stay visa
The second major category is a long-stay or Type D visa that you can use to enter and live in Finland. Another name for a long-stay visa is a National visa.
This long-term stay in the destination country requires you to have a residence permit to show your eligibility to reside there for a specific period.
Moreover, you can use any of the following subtypes of a long-stay visa when traveling from Mumbai to Finland.
- A work visa allows you to enter the host country for work purposes. However, it does not entitle you to get employment. This should be done once your potential employer applies for a work permit on your behalf. In addition, you also need a residence permit.
- Secondly, if any of your family members is a permanent resident in Finland, you can reunite with them through a family reunification visa. Besides, this requires you to demonstrate proof of your relationship with the host member.
- Last but not least, a study visa for Finland grants Mumbai students access to the educational institutes of the country. This means that you can either start a training program or continue your course.
Where to Apply for a Finland Visa from Mumbai?
Since the Finnish Consulate General in Mumbai does not handle the visa applications, they are usually processed through the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi or the VFS Global Visa Application Center in Mumbai.
The following section will discuss the step-by-step application process for a Finland visa from Mumbai when applied through VFS Global.
Step-by-Step Application Process for a Finland Visa from Mumbai
Follow the simple steps mentioned below to start the application process for a Finland visa from Mumbai.
Step 1: Visit the website
The first step requires you to visit the official website of the VFS Global. On the home page, you need to select the home and destination countries. When selecting the target country, you will come across two options: ‘Finland and Finland Residence Permit’, as shown below.
Considering the purpose of your trip, you can choose the most appropriate one. The simple ‘Finland’ option is for short-stay visas, whereas the other one is for a National visa.
Then, click on the ‘apply for a visa’ option to move ahead.
After that, you will be directed to a step-by-step application guide.
Step 2: Complete the application form
On the top bar of the page, you will see a tab for ‘online application form’, click it and you will be landed on a new page.
Once done, click on the highlighted button to get to the official site of Finland. On that page, select the option ‘create an account’ to start filling out the online application form.
For a residence permit, you have the option of e-service or paper application; choose wisely.
Step 3: Gather the documents
This is one of the vital steps of the entire application process because submitting the required documents will help the authorities assess your eligibility to travel to the target country.
Thus, this section offers two categories for the documents, one discussing the general paperwork while the other is visa-specific.
General documents
Passport
One of the basic documents that you must have is a passport (government-issued). It is considered a universal travel document needed when crossing borders of an international country. Therefore, make sure that it has a validity period of at least three months ahead of your stay in Finland and two blank pages to stamp the visa.
Pictures
Moreover, two passport-size photographs are also required to be attached to the application form. Meanwhile, they should be according to the Schengen photo guidelines, i.e., dimension of 35*45mm, HD quality, 70-80% of face visibility, etc.
Flight itinerary
In addition, the authorities may want to analyze your travel intentions. So, this can be done by presenting a flight itinerary document taken from RFV Travels at the best price. The document should include information such as your flight number, travel dates, times, departure and arrival airport names, IATA codes, 6-digit PNR, etc.
Hotel booking
Furthermore, another important document that falls in the category of a travel itinerary is a proof of accommodation. This can be in the form of a hotel booking, a rental contract, or an invitation letter from the inviting party. This shows the officials that you have made arrangements for your entire stay in Finland.
Cover letter
The next document we have is a cover letter that you can easily get from coverletterforvisa.com, written by experts. This document can increase the chances of your visa approval because it may include information such as the reason for visiting the country, the stay duration, the planned activities, etc.
Travel health insurance
Besides, your stay in the Schengen Area would be incomplete and risky if you do not have travel health insurance. Thus, it should cover the entire region, including Finland, and must have a coverage amount of 30,000 euros to bear medical and travel expenses. For instance, it could be repatriation, evacuation, luggage loss, etc.
Proof of financial means
Lastly, your trip to Finland requires you to demonstrate that you are capable of bearing the travel expenses. For this purpose, you should submit financial documents such as a bank statement, salary slip, income tax return, etc. Meanwhile, you must have at least 70-100 euros per day for food, accommodation, and transportation.
Visa-based additional documents
Tourist visa
- Detailed travel itinerary
- Tour guide
- Return or onward travel ticket
Business visa
- Salary slip and leave approval letter, if employed
- Business registration certificate and bank statement, if self-employed
- Invitation letter from the Finnish company
Study visa
- Admission letter from the Finnish educational institute
- Proof of tuition fee payment
- Academic transcripts
Work visa
- Work and residence permit
- Employment contract
- Job offer letter
Step 4: Book an appointment
Once all the above steps are completed, you need to schedule an appointment through the VFS Global portal. This requires you to create or log in to an account if you have one and book the available slot.
Step 5: Visit the center
Then, on the day of your appointment, visit the center and submit your documents with the application form. Moreover, you also need to provide your biometric details, such as fingerprints and photos, to the officials.
Step 6: Pay the visa fee
The appointment day comes with another step, which is the payment of the visa fee. Depending on the visa type, you are required to follow the fee structure shown below.
For a Schengen visa
For a Residence permit
Since you are applying for a visa through an application center, you also need to deposit the service charges.
Step 7: Track your application
Completing the steps mentioned above requires you to wait for the processing time, which is 15-30 days in normal circumstances.
In the meantime, you can also track the status of your application through VFS Global by entering the application’s reference number and your last name.
Step 8: Collect your passport
At last, when the processing time is over, you will receive a notification letter via email about the decision of the application. If your visa is approved, you can get your passport from the same center or get it delivered through a courier service at an additional fee.
Conclusion
Getting a Finland visa from Mumbai can be a daunting process if not done right. One of the steps is submitting the documents along with the application form to the VFS Global visa application center and not to the Finnish Consulate.
Moreover, make sure that you have collected the required paperwork and booked an early appointment for a sufficient processing time.
Thus, this guide will help you in understanding all the essential steps that you need to consider when traveling to Finland for tourism, work, or study purposes.
FAQs for Finnish Visa from Mumbai
- Is it possible to apply for a Finnish visa directly at the consulate in Mumbai?
No. The Consulate General of Finland in Mumbai does not offer visa application services to any of the residents of Mumbai and nearby regions. Therefore, you can submit your Finnish visa application to the VFS Global center.
- Do I need to have a Finland visa if I already have another Schengen visa?
No, if you want to travel to Finland for a short duration, i.e., 90 days within 180 days. Having a Schengen visa from another Schengen country allows you to visit Finland as well. However, if you want to travel to the country for long-term purposes, getting a Finnish visa is the only solution.
- Can I apply for an extension to my Schengen visa in Finland?
Usually, applying for an extension is rare. However, in case of medical emergencies, humanitarian reasons, or force majeure, you can apply for an extension to your Schengen visa in Finland.
- Is it possible to apply for a Finland visa from Mumbai online?
The only application step you can complete online is filling out the application form. You can get it from the official website of the Finnish embassy or consulate. However, you need to submit the documents and the form in person to the relevant authorities.
- Can I apply for a Finland visa if I am not a resident of Mumbai?
Yes, you can apply for a Finland visa even if you are not a resident of Mumbai. But, you need to submit your application at the VFS Global center covering your residential area.
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