Russian Citizens Schengen Visa Application Requirements. The Schengen Area consists of 26 countries, including 22 European Union member states and four other countries in the European Free Trade Association, including Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein, so Russian travelers wishing to visit Finland will need to obtain a Schengen visa first.

Finnish Schengen Visa Application Guideline for Russians

First, a Russian citizen must determine what type of visa they need based on the purpose of their visit to Finland before applying for a Finnish Schengen Visa.

Russian citizens and residents can enter Finland under a Schengen visa for the following purposes of travel:

• tourism,
• business,
• studying,
• working, or
• transiting

Upon determining the type of Schengen visa you need, start collecting the required documents, which you can find below. Upon completing this task, arrange an interview at the embassy/consulate, during which you will hand in your documents and then have your biometrics taken.

Below are the contact details of the Finnish visa application centers in Russia where you can attend this interview.

Required Documents for Finnish Schengen Visa Application

There are a number of documents that every Schengen Area member country requires from travelers that wish to enter that country. Some countries, however, may require less or extra documents. Instead of following a general checklist of what documents are required for a Schengen visa, it is best to always look up what each country requires.

For Russian nationals, the following documents are required for a Finnish Schengen visa:

• If you wish to apply for a Schengen visa, you must complete the application form, which can be found here. The information you provide on this form must correspond with the information in the other required documents, so make sure you complete it honestly and correctly. Print the completed form twice and sign both copies.
• You should include a recent photograph – either in black and white or in color, no older than six months. Do not staple it to the documents, hand it loose instead.
• A passport must have at least one blank page and be valid for at least 90 days beyond the intended stay in Finland. If you wish to apply for a visa, your passport must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the intended stay in Finland. In this article, you will find a list of valid travel documents issued by the Russian Federation.
• If you plan to stay in Finland and the entire Schengen area during your planned stay, you must purchase travel insurance. A Schengen travel insurance policy requires at least 30 thousand euros, covering expenses for sudden illness, accidents, as well as repatriation if the traveler dies.

In addition to the commonly required documents, some embassies require supporting documents while others do not. The best way to gather the required documents is to ask the embassy for a list before you start assembling them. However, many embassies request the following supporting documents:

• A letter of invitation from your friends or relatives in Finland if you will be staying with them or a hotel booking confirmation from the hotel where you will be staying for the duration of your stay in Finland.

In order to prove your means of subsistence, you may submit the following documents depending on your working status:

• An employment contract, a bank statement of the last six months, a leave approval from the employer, and a Certificate of Income Tax deducted at source.
• Applicants who are self-employed must provide a copy of their business license, a bank statement of the company’s last six months, and an income tax return.
• A letter of no objection from the university is required for student applicants.
• The last six months’ pension statement for retired applicants

• The Travel Itinerary is a detailed flight plan from Russia to Finland and then from Finland to Russia. The document must include your name, flight number, arrival date, departure date, and cost of the flight ticket.

Take care to submit these documents as soon as possible or in the given time, in order not to compromise your chances of getting a visa.

List of additional documents required for the most frequent purposes of Finland Visa Application:

Finland Tourist/Visitor Visa

• Letter of invitation with the address and phone number of the family member or sponsor – if applicable
• Last six months’ bank statement
• Passport copies

Finland Visa for Business Purposes

• Invitation letter from the Finnish company you will be visiting with their address and dates of your visit
• You must have a certificate from your employer stating that you are allowed to travel for business
• Proof of previous trade relations between the two companies is required
• Bank statement for the last six months for a business
• Original certified copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association (registered with joint stock companies), Trade Licenses (first issued and current renewals), Proprietorship/Partnership documents
• The letter or invitation must state that the employer or the partner company will cover the applicant’s expenses while in the Schengen zone.

Finland Visa for Medical Purposes

• A local medical report
• An attestation from the hospital or doctor in Finland confirming your appointment date and medical condition
• Payment receipt of medical fees

Finland Visa for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes

• Letter of invitation from the above-mentioned authorities with details about events or activities – purpose of visit, expense coverage
• Applicants’ names (crew members)
• Duration of stay
• Travel itinerary

Finland Visa for Members of Official Delegations

• A copy of the official invitation
• Identity of applicant
• Object of journey (negotiations, meetings, intergovernmental events, consultations)
• Duration of stay
• Place of accommodation 

Finland Visa for Study, Training, Research, or other type of Internship Purposes

• An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses
• Certificate of completion or courses attended
• Financial sustenance 

Finland Visa For The Wife/Husband of a Finnish citizen

• Proof of Finnish citizenship (ID card or consular card or certification of Finnish nationality or naturalization order)
• Finnish marriage certificate
• Finnish family record book

Finland Airport Transit Visa

• Visa or other type of entry permit in the transit country
• Copy of your valid visa for your final destination 

Finish Schengen Visa for Russian Children

For Russian children applying for a Finnish Schengen visa, there are some specific rules and requirements. To start with, every applicant under the age of 14 must submit the following documents in addition to the usual requirements:

• Birth Certificate

If traveling with one parent:

• A notarized permission from the other parent (applicable only if there is shared custody)
• A custody or guardianship certificate from the court if the parents are not married or divorced
• A death certificate for the second parent if he or she has died
• Notarized permission from parents (those who hold custody of the child) if the child is traveling with a third party who is not his/her legal guardian.
• School principal’s permission (if the leave occurs during school hours)

A child under the age of 12 does not need to provide biometrics, but a child under 17 can be accompanied by their parents during the interview. Children under the age of 6 do not have to pay a visa fee, whereas children aged 6 to 11 have to pay 35 euros.

Russian Travel Documents accepted by Finnish authorities

Listed below are the travel documents that Finland accepts from each country, including Russian travel documents.

• Ordinary passport
• Diplomatic passport
• Service passport / Official duty passport
• Repatriation Certificate
• Travel Document for refugees (1951 Geneva Convention)
• Seaman’s book (on duty)

As a consequence, passports issued by Russian Federal Migration Service offices to residents of Crimea or Sevastopol after 18 March 2014 (which the EU has called an illegal annexation by Russia) cannot be recognized. Citizens who held Russian citizenship before the annexation are exempt from this rule.

According to international law, Abkhazia and South Ossetia belong to Georgia, but Russian passports issued there are not recognized.

Finnish Schengen Visa Fee for Russians

The fee for a Finnish Schengen visa application must be paid in cash at the time of application, in euros or rubles according to the current exchange rate.

Since June 2014, Russian nationals have been charged a visa fee of 60 euros. Children aged 6 to 11 pay a fee of 35 euros.

Exempt from paying the visa fee are the following categories:

• children under 6
• When humanitarian reasons support travel during major disasters or other similar events
• Schoolchildren or adolescents under 18 who have been invited by the event sponsor to participate in cultural or sports events
• The visit will be of considerable importance for Finland-Russia relations for holders of diplomatic or service passports or their families

Your visa fee will not be refunded if your application is rejected.

Finnish Schengen Visa Interview

A visa interview is an important part of any visa application. You can schedule a visa interview at the Finnish embassy or consulate three months before your planned travel at the earliest, and two weeks before at the latest, once you have completed your online application form.

Before the interview, gather the necessary documents and familiarize yourself with the most frequently asked questions.

Be on time for your interview on the day of the appointment, because arriving late might result in cancelation. Prepare all your documents in advance and dress nicely. You will be asked a few questions regarding your purpose of travel in the interview, which should last around 10 minutes.

First time visitors to the Schengen Area will also have their fingerprints scanned.

Where to apply for a Finnish Schengen Visa in Russia?

Finnish Visa application Centers in Russia

Applicants wishing to obtain a Finnish Schengen Visa in Russia can apply at any of the following Finnish Visa Centers:

The Finnish Visa Center in Moscow

Address: 127473, Moscow, 2nd Volkonsky lane, 10
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
Fax: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: sanomat.mos@formin.fi, finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Application Center in St. Petersburg

Address: 191025, St. Petersburg, ul. Stremyannaya, 21/5 (corner of Marata Street, 5)
Phone: +7 (812) 309-4081, + 7 (812) 426-3942
Fax: +7 (812) 309-4081, + 7 (812) 426-3942
E-Mail: finlandvisaled@vfshelpline.com

The Finnish Visa Center in Arkhangelsk

Address: 163069, Arkhangelsk, Lomonosov Ave., 81
Phone: +7 (8152) 65-51-47 and +7 (8152) 65-51-38
E-Mail: finlandvisaled@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Vladivostok

Address: 690091, Vladivostok, Oceansky prospect, 17, of. 601, 6th floor
Phone: +7 (423) 265-25-47
Fax: +7 (423) 265-25-47
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Veliky Novgorod

Address: 173008, Veliky Novgorod, Sy rkovskoe shosse, 2a, office 603
Phone: +7 (812) 309-4081, + 7 (812) 426-3942
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Vologda

Address: 188800, Vologda, Prechistenskaya embankment, 34a
Phone: +7 (812) 309-4081, + 7 (812) 426-3942
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Vyborg

Address: 188800, Vyborg, Moscow Ave, 9, office 8-H
Phone: +7 (812) 309-4081, + 7 (812) 426-3942
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

The Finnish Visa Center in Yekaterinburg

Address: 620026, Ekaterinburg, ul. Kuybysheva, 44, 2 floor
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Irkutsk

Address: 664047, Irkutsk, ul. Sverdlov Str. 10
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Kazan

Address: 420021, Kazan, ul. Of the Paris Commune, 8
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Kaliningrad

Address: 236016, Kaliningrad, ul. 1812 year, house 126
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Application Center in Krasnodar

Address: 350001, Krasnodar, Academician Pavlova, 64
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Application Center in Krasnoyarsk

Address: 660075, Krasnoyarsk, ul. Mayerchak, 16
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Murmansk

Address: 183025, Murmansk, ul. Karla Libknekhta, 13
Phone: +7 (8152) 65-51-47 and +7 (8152) 65-51-38
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

The Finnish Visa Center in Nizhny Novgorod

Address: 603006, Nizhny Novgorod, ul. Shcherbakova, 15
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Novosibirsk

Address: 630132, Novosibirsk, ul. Chelyuskintsev, 15
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Visa Application Center of Finland in Omsk

Address: 644043, Omsk, ul. Frunze 1, p. 4, office 713
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

The Visa Center of Finland in Perm

Address: 61400, Perm, ul. Chernyshevsky 28
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Application Center in Petrozavodsk

Address: 185035, Petrozavodsk, ul. Gogol, 6
Phone: +7 (8142) 59-98-01 and + 7 (8142) 33-08-30
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Pskov

Address: 180016, Pskov, Riga Ave, 60
Phone: +7 (812) 309-4081, + 7 (812) 426-3942
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Visa Application Center of Finland in Rostov-on-Don

Address: 344065, Rostov-on-Don, ul. Trolleybus, d. 24 / 2c, 2nd floor
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Application Center in Samara

Address: 443110, Samara, ul. Michurina, 78 of. 2, 2 floor
Phone: + 7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finland Visa Center in Ufa

Address: 450076 Ufa, ul. Chernyshevsky, 82
Phone: +7 (499) 703-4971, + 7 (499) 704-5592
E-Mail: finlandvisarussia@vfshelpline.com

Finnish Diplomatic Missions in Russia

As of 30 December 1991, Finland has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation, as well as a Finnish General Consulate in Saint Petersburg and two other consulates in Murmansk and Petrozavodsk.

Finnish cultural and educational institutions are present in Russia, just as there are Finnish cultural and educational institutions in Russia, contributing to the relationship between the countries. However, both countries still require visas to enter the other’s country.

Only diplomatic passport holders can enter the Schengen area and Finland visa-free.

Here are the addresses and other contact information for the Finnish Embassy and Consulate in Russia:

Embassy of Finland in Moscow

Address: 119034, Moscow, Kropotkinsky pereulok, 15-17
Tel .: +7 (495) 787-4178 (from 10.00 to 12.00)
Fax: +7 (499) 255-3380
E-Mail: sanomat.mos@formin.fi, visa.mos@formin.fi

Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg

Address: 191028, St. Petersburg, Preobrazhenskaya pl., 4 (metro station “Chernyshevskaya”)
Tel .: +7 (812) 331-7603 (from 10.00 to 12.00),
Fax: +7 (812) 331-7601
E-Mail: sanomat.mos@formin.fi, visa.mos@formin.fi

Petrozavodsk branch of the Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg

Address:  185035, Petrozavodsk, ul. Pushkinskaya, 15
Phone: +7 (8142) 555-025
Fax: +7 (8142) 767-167
E-Mail:visa.pet@formin.fi

Murmansk branch of the Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg

Address: 183025, Murmansk, ul. Karl Marx, 25 a
Phone: +7 (8152) 445-382
Fax: +7 (8152) 448-341
E-Mail:sanomat.msk@formin.fi

Conclusion

Finnish Schengen Visa requirements for Russian citizens is crucial. For various purposes like tourism, business, study, work, or transit, understanding the application process and collecting the necessary documents is essential. Specific guidelines, required documents, and visa fees are outlined, and applicants are directed to Finnish Visa Centers in Russia. The importance of a thorough interview and the significance of diplomatic relations are emphasized, concluding with contact details for Finnish diplomatic missions in Russia.