GoFinland Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

Finland joined the Schengen Agreement in March 2001. According to the agreement, obtaining an entry visa at any Schengen diplomatic mission in China allows for visa free travel to 25 other Schengen countries.

Although holding a Schengen visa allows for visa free travel to other Schengen countries, one should first apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of the main destination country (i.e. the country with the longest stay abroad). If the length of stay in each Schengen country is the same, one should apply for a visa at the consulate of the first arriving country in China.

Based on the number of visits, Chinese citizens can apply for single entry, double entry, and multiple entry visas at the Finnish Embassy in China. The validity period of single entry and double entry visas is up to 6 months and the maximum stay is 90 days, while the validity period of multiple entry visas is up to 12 months and the maximum stay within 6 months is 90 days.

The validity period of a Schengen visa refers to the period during which the holder can enter the Schengen area, and their stay cannot exceed the validity period of the visa. For example, a Schengen visa is valid from August 1 to November 1, 2017, with multiple entries and a stay of 19 days. This means that the holder can enter between August 1 and October 29 (if they enter between October 30-31, although the visa is still valid, the Finnish border usually refuses entry on the grounds that the visa is about to expire), but they must leave before November 1, and their actual stay is usually less than the number of days allowed by the visa. If Chinese citizens overstay their stay, the Finnish border may impose fines, take photos, leave fingerprints, and record their names in the EU entry management system. They are not allowed to enter the EU for 5 years.

According to the purpose of the visit, Finnish Schengen visas are divided into tourist, business, cultural and sports, visiting relatives and friends, ADS travel group visas, and family reunion visas. Except for ADS travel group visas, which are submitted by travel groups certified by ADS, all other visa applications must be submitted in person at the Finnish Embassy in China or its visa center. There is no visa free agreement between China and Finland. Finnish ports of entry do not handle landing visas.

(Source: Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Visa Related - Application Materials) https://finlandvisa.fi/checklist/CHN/19 ）

For specific matters, please consult the Finnish Embassy in China or refer to the website.

Attention: Chinese citizens entering the country should choose the non EU citizen border inspection window. According to the Finnish Aliens Act, the border department can search the body, unpack and check all the luggage of the person suspected of having illegal immigration tendency or having other problems, or even detain the person concerned. Therefore, when entering the country, it is necessary to truthfully answer border officials' inquiries about issues such as the purpose of coming to Finland, the length of stay, and the reception unit in Finland according to the information provided when applying for a visa, to avoid errors, and not to fabricate information that does not match the application materials, otherwise entry may be denied. According to Finnish law, the border authorities have the right to deport individuals who provide incorrect information back to their home country.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Finnish customs regulations prohibit visitors from carrying drugs and other prohibited items; Do not carry counterfeit or pirated products; Food products are not allowed to carry meat and meat products, as well as milk and dairy products; No pet food is allowed. Inbound and outbound passengers carrying cash exceeding 10000 euros are required to declare to customs, and the limit of tax-free items allowed for each person is: (1) 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 50 cigars or 250 grams of pipe tobacco. Minors under the age of 18 are strictly prohibited from carrying tobacco products; （2） 1 liter of spirits with an alcohol content exceeding 22 degrees or 2 liters of alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content below 22 degrees, such as wine. Individuals aged 18 or above are allowed to carry and possess alcohol beverages with a degree below 22, while individuals aged 20 or above are allowed to carry and possess strong alcohol beverages.

Animal and plant inspection and quarantine: Finland has strict regulations on the entry of animals and plants, and may allow the entry of specific pets under certain conditions. For details, please refer to the website of the Finnish Food Authority: https://www.ruokavirasto.fi/en/animals/travellers/ Bringing plants or seeds into the EU from outside the EU requires a phytosanitary certificate, but individuals usually cannot obtain it, so it is basically impossible to bring plants into Finland.

(Source:

Finnish Customs - What can be brought into the country: https://tulli.fi/rajoitukset  

Finnish Customs - Bringing Plants and Seeds into the Country: https://tulli.fi/rajoitukset/kasvit-ja-siemenet/tuonti-matkalta  

Finnish Customs - Entry of Pets: https://tulli.fi/rajoitukset/lemmikit/lemmikin-ostaminen-ulkomailta

Finnish Customs - Bringing Alcohol into the Country: https://tulli.fi/rajoitukset/alkoholi/tuonti-matkalta  

Finnish Customs - Bringing Tobacco into the Country: https://tulli.fi/rajoitukset/tupakka/tuonti-matkalta ）

Epidemic prevention requirements: Finland has no special regulations on entry quarantine for Chinese citizens.

Attention: After passing the border inspection, you will be at the customs, with two channels: green and red. The green channel is for non declared items (NOTING TO DECLARE), and the red channel is for declared items (DECLARE). Customs sometimes conduct spot checks on green channel passengers, and if they find that items that need to be declared have not been declared, they will be punished.

Residency and Naturalization

1、 Residence

（1） Non EU nationals preparing to work in Finland need to apply for a residence permit. There are two methods to apply for a residence permit:

1. The applicant's Finnish employer submits written materials (TEM054 form) regarding the basic work terms to the employment agency, and the applicant submits the application materials for the residence permit to the Finnish Embassy in China (with a copy of the materials submitted by the applicant's Finnish employer to the employment agency);

2. The Finnish employer of the applicant can submit the application to the employment agency, which will make a preliminary decision to accept or reject the application based on factors such as the needs of the labor market and the applicant's source of livelihood. The Finnish Immigration Office will consider whether the application meets the requirements based on this. If the preliminary ruling is negative, the Finnish immigration office will reject the application; But if the preliminary ruling is affirmative, it basically eliminates the obstacle for the applicant to enter Finland and obtain a work permit.

（2） Non EU international students admitted by Finnish educational institutions who have studied in Finland for more than 3 months are required to apply for a long-term residence permit. If an applicant needs to take an entrance exam in Finland before being admitted to a Finnish educational institution, they must first apply for a Schengen visa. First time applicants for a long-term residence permit should submit their application at the Finnish Embassy or Consulate in China. After the expiration of the long-term residence permit, an extension can be applied for locally.

Except for the above two situations, only spouses (including cohabiting spouses and same-sex spouses) and minors under the age of 18 whose guardians are already residing in Finland can apply for a long-term residence permit.

2、 Nationality

Since June 1, 2003, Finland has recognized dual citizenship. In recent years, Finland has tightened its control over the naturalization of foreigners and the import of labor services, and intensified its crackdown on illegal immigrants.

3、 Immigration Policy

Foreign citizens holding legal identification documents applying for Finnish citizenship must meet the following conditions:

（1） At least 18 years old;

（2） Living continuously in Finland for more than 8 years; If one spouse is a Finnish citizen, the applicant must have lived continuously in Finland for at least 5 years and cohabited with their spouse for at least 3 years;

（3） No criminal record or court injunction;

（4） Good personal credit and creditworthiness;

（5） Having reliable economic capability, requiring proof of company or proof of income in the past five years;

（6） Passing the Level 3 Finnish language exam and national language test, or completing studies in Finnish or Swedish as a mother tongue or second language at a Finnish comprehensive secondary school;

（7） Minors must submit their applications through their guardians. Applicants under the age of 15 who currently reside in Finland and hold a valid residence permit or other residency rights do not need to provide proof of language proficiency.

（8） For applicants aged 12 to 15, if their current residence is in Finland, the Finnish immigration office may grant them Finnish citizenship as appropriate;

（9） Applicants aged 15 to 17 are required to have lived in Finland for the past 5 years.  

(Source:

Finnish Immigration Office - Applying for Finnish citizenship - Language proficiency: https://migri.fi/kielitaito  

Finnish Immigration Office - Applying for Finnish Citizenship - Residence Time: https://migri.fi/asumisaika  

Finnish Immigration Office - Applying for Finnish Citizenship - Applying for Nationality for Children: https://migri.fi/kansalaisuushakemus-lapselle  

Finnish Immigration Service - Consultation Services: https://migri.fi/neuvontapalvelu ）

Finland's risk level is blue (low risk)

public security

The overall public security situation in Finland is good, the society is stable, and the national quality is relatively high. But for foreign tourists, incidents of customer handbag theft often occur in public places such as airports, train stations, and restaurants (especially during dining). In recent years, there have been frequent cases of theft of property and documents of Chinese citizens who come to Finland for tourism or business trips. Therefore, vigilance should be heightened from the beginning of entry, especially when dining, one should keep their bags with them, avoid chatting with strangers, do not carry large amounts of cash with them, and take good care of valuable items when going out.

natural disaster

There are basically no major natural disasters. Winter may encounter severe cold weather, so it is important to keep warm and prevent slipping. Drowning accidents are prone to occur in summer.

FDA

Finland has a high level of food hygiene and safety, with well-developed legislation related to food hygiene and safety management and regulation. Finnish stores, including individual stalls, strictly adhere to food safety regulations when selling food. Due to effective food safety management, Finnish food has a good reputation in both domestic and international markets. Especially in the domestic market, domestic brands have a good reputation and their prices are often higher than imported products. The cold water in the tap water pipe is very pure and can be consumed directly.

Urgent Help

All emergency situations: 112.

Emergency and fire alarm: 112.

Emergency contact number for consular protection at the Embassy of Finland 00358 (0) 408677838

air traffic

The route between China and Finland is operated by Finnair and Shanghai Juneyao Airlines. Currently, there are only flights from Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Zhengzhou to Helsinki. The original routes to Beijing, Chongqing, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Jinan, and Chengdu have been temporarily cancelled.

Helsinki Vantaa International Airport is the busiest and most important modern airport in Finland, with approximately 120 international flights arriving daily. It is located 19 kilometers from the center of Helsinki and takes about 30 minutes by car. To travel between the airport and Helsinki city center, you can take the I or P train from the city center station. Taking a taxi from the airport to the city center costs approximately 35 to 40 euros.

land transport

Trains: There are train routes between major cities in Finland, including the Lapland region in the north. The capital region has an excellent local commuter train network.

Public transportation and long-distance buses: Helsinki's public transportation network is convenient, fast, and has a wide coverage area, providing access to various parts of Finland. Meanwhile, long-distance buses from various regions within Finland arrive at the city center bus station (Matkahuolto), with approximately one bus departing per hour to major cities. The central bus station is located in the center of Kamppi.

Passengers can also choose to rent a car for self driving tours (since February 2018, Chinese driver's license holders can legally drive within one year of entering Finland). But it is necessary to carry travel documents with you, familiarize yourself with the local situation, and pay attention to traffic and personal safety. Finland implements right-hand drive for vehicles and strictly prohibits speeding and drunk driving. Regardless of which direction the vehicle is heading, it must follow the instructions of the traffic lights. At pedestrian crossings without traffic lights, be careful to yield to pedestrians. Due to the slippery winter snow, Finland requires the use of winter tires from November to March of the following year. In addition, low beams must be used whenever driving throughout the year.

water communication

There are daily ferries from Helsinki to Estonia, Sweden, and Germany.

Urban transportation

The taxi prices in Helsinki (HELSINKI TAKSI) are as follows: starting from 6:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Saturday is 5.5 euros, and the rest of the time (including Sundays and holidays) is 7.7 euros. If booked in advance, an additional booking fee of 7.3 euros will be charged. The unit price per kilometer may vary depending on the time period and number of passengers. Typically, the cost for 1-4 people is 1.1-1.25 euros per kilometer per minute, while the cost for 5-8 people is 1.9 euros per kilometer per minute. The taxi company can wait for up to 5 minutes at the agreed address, and any additional waiting time will be charged based on the valid taxi fare list. The total cost of taking a taxi consists of the starting fee, kilometer fee, and minute fee.

major city

1、 Helsinki

The capital of Finland, located on the northern half of the islands in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, surrounded by islands with beautiful scenery, is known as the "daughter of the Baltic Sea". Founded in 1550, it became the capital of Finland in 1812. The city has a jurisdiction area of 686 square kilometers, a land area of 185 square kilometers, and 315 islands. The current population is 670000.

2、 Rovaniemi City

A city in northern Finland, a political, economic, cultural, and tourism center. There are 65000 residents, mainly engaged in commercial, transportation, and tourism industries. The annual number of tourists exceeds 500000. There are polar day and polar night phenomena, with the sun hardly setting between June and July each year, and almost no sunlight visible for about 50 days from the end of November to January of the following year. There is a "Santa Claus Village" located 10 kilometers north of the city, situated on the Arctic Circle. The main attractions include Santa Claus Village and Sami reindeer breeding park. For more information, please visit the Rovaniemi City website or Rovaniemi Tourism website.

Rovaniemi City website: https://www.rovaniemi.fi/  

Rovaniemi Tourism Website https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/fi/

Commodity prices

Finnish specialties mainly include handicrafts, jewelry, glassware, ceramics, hand woven carpets, fur, textiles, and furniture.

Finland is a country with high wages, benefits, and taxes, and its overall price level is higher than most other EU member states. In terms of food and daily necessities, prices are equivalent to more than ten to dozens of times that of China. However, the price level of high-end consumer goods such as luxury fashion, watches, cosmetics, etc. in Finland is relatively low compared to the domestic market.

The currency of Finland is the Euro.

The tax rate in Finland is divided into three levels, with the lowest being 10% (mainly for newspapers, magazines, and public broadcasting services), the mid-range being 14% (including food, medicine, books, hotels, cultural and sports services, etc.), and the highest being 25.5% (general services and goods). (Starting from January 1, 2025, the Finnish tax authority will increase the 10% value-added tax on most goods and services to 14%, except for newspapers, magazines, and public broadcasting services.)

The usual business hours of Finnish banks are: Monday to Friday: 10:00-16:30 (subject to changes in working hours); Some offer Saturday appointment services and are closed on Sundays. Foreign exchange and traveler's checks can also be exchanged at several currency exchange points such as Helsinki Vantaa Airport, Helsinki Central Railway Station, and Kamppi, Stockmann department stores (including The Change Group, Forex, and Tavex).

The main banks include OP, Nordea, Danske, Aktia, S-pankki, S ää st ö pankki, Handelsbanken, and POP.

Insurance Medical

Every citizen in Finland has a card with the function of an ID card, called the KELA card, which stands for Social Security Card (KELA is an abbreviation for "Citizen Retirement Home"). Citizens can enjoy basic medical insurance with this card. Finland has a distinction between public and private hospitals. Public hospitals are government funded public utilities, and citizens can seek medical treatment at public hospitals based on their place of residence and pay a very small portion of the fees. Going to a private hospital for treatment may also result in partial compensation for related expenses from KELA. Foreigners cannot enjoy the above preferential treatment when they see a doctor.

Finland has good medical and health conditions, but if one cannot enjoy medical discounts, medical expenses will be very expensive. All hospitals have doctors on duty 24 hours a day, but drugs are only sold in pharmacies. Most pharmacies have longer operating hours, among which the pharmacy located at MANNERHEIINTIE 96 in Helsinki operates 24 hours a day. Telephone: 00358 (0) 20320200

The main hospitals in Helsinki are:

1、 Haartmanin sairaala Hospital (24-hour service), address: Haartmaninkatu 4； Phone: 00358 (0) 9 310 63231 (service), 9 310 5018 (switchboard)

2、 Mehil ä inen T ö ö l ö (private hospital), address: Runeberginkatu 47 A； Phone: 00358 (0) 10 414 00

The hygiene situation in Finland is good, with no widespread epidemics.

According to the regulations of the Finnish Embassy in China, Chinese citizens visiting Finland must obtain medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 30000 euros when applying for a visa, in order to cover any expenses that may occur during their stay in Finland due to illness, distress, or death.

Customs taboos

Finns have a strong sense of national self-esteem and pride, and a strong awareness of gender equality. The main religious beliefs include Christianity, Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy, with few religious and folk taboos. I have a strong sense of time, value personal privacy and space, love nature, and advocate environmental protection. When conversing with others, it is generally not advisable to be too close and avoid asking strangers about their political leanings, family and economic status, marital status, age, religious beliefs, and whereabouts. It is also important to avoid making loud noises or obstructing others in public places. Smoking is strictly prohibited in public places and indoors.

Except for New Year and Christmas, Finland's other holidays mainly include Epiphany, Easter, Good Friday, Ascension Day, International Labor Day, Pentecost, Midsummer Day, All Saints' Day, and Independence Day (December 6th).  

Communications Power

The Internet in Finland is very convenient and fast. Wireless local area networks are installed in public places such as airports, train stations, libraries, large shopping centers, and shopping malls; Most Finnish hotels offer wireless internet access. The mobile network standard in Finland is GSM, which is the same as the mobile network standards of China Telecom and China Mobile.

The equilibrium voltage in Finland is 220-230 volts at 50 hertz. The power plug is a two-phase round head and is compatible with the European continent.

Using international direct dialing to make domestic calls in Finland: 00358+local phone number or mobile phone number (excluding the "0" before the local phone number or mobile phone number); Use international direct dialing to make international calls from within Finland: 00+country code+phone number or mobile phone number. Finnish telecommunications operators include Telia, Elisa, DNA, and Saudalahti, among others, where prepaid SIM cards can be purchased at their operating stores.

contact information