Finland consulate in Saint Petersburg- 6 Steps to Apply for Schengen Visa
Finland Consulate in Saint Petersburg, Russia is one the busiest embassies processing Schengen Visa. Finland is the heavily forested Nordic nation lies to the east of Norway and Sweden, and has a long border with Russia. Finland is known to be the happiest country in the world. Due to Covid restrictions only certain type of Schengen visa applications are processed for tourists visiting Finland. Finland consulate in Saint Petersburg, Russia giving priority to Schengen Business Visa applications. Finland Consulate in Saint Petersburg outsourced visa processing to Vfs Global. Although the procedure for all Schengen visa applications are almost similar but before applying for visa, it’s better to go through all the information related to that particular consulate. In this blog we are going to discuss that how we can apply for Schengen visa at Finland Consulate in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Schengen visa (2019) stats issued at Finland Consulate In Saint Petersburg, Russia
| Consulate | Total Uniform visas applied for | Multiple entry uniform visas issued | Total LTV Visas issued |
| Finland embassy in Saint Petersburg | 644,858 | 640,820 | 15 |
Where to Apply Schengen Visa from Finland Embassy in Saint Petersburg, Russia
Visa applicants who reside near Saint Petersburg, Russia are eligible to apply for a Schengen visa from Finland Consulate in Saint Petersburg. Travelers with Visit visas are not eligible to apply and they need to apply from their home country.
Finland consulate in Saint Petersburg has now outsourced all visa processing to Vfs Global and they will process visa application for Finland Schengen Business visa.
Address for the Consulate General of Finland, Saint Petersburg
Preobrazhenskaja pl. 4
191028 ST. PETERSBURG D-194
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Contact information
Email:
Phone: +7 812 331 7603
VFS FINLAND VISA APPLICATION CENTER IN ST. PETERSBURG
Address
St. Petersburg,
st. Stremyannaya, 21/5 (at the corner from Marata st., 5)
Email: [email protected]
Hours for visa application: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Schengen Visa Application Fee Structure:
Application fee is collected on behalf of the Embassy of Finland in Russia
Visa Fee | Fee |
Schengen visa (age 12 years and above) | 80 Eur |
Children, ages 6–11 (unless otherwise stated in the Visa Facilitation Agreement) | 40 Eur |
Children, 0 to 5 years old | 0 Eur |
Urgent processing of the application* | 70 Eur |
Service Fee:
The service fee, mandatory for any visa application, is 28,90 Euros (inclusive of VAT) levied per application in addition to the visa fees. All children under 6 years old submit their documents free of service charge.
Who can apply Finland Schengen Visa at Vfs Global Saint Petersburg?
Depending on the state you live Vfs Global at Saint Petersburg accept visa applications. Visa applicants staying close to Saint Petersburg can applying at Vfs Global, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Schengen Visa Types issued by Finland Consulate in Saint Petersburg
Schengen visas are issued for about 90 day or less depending the reasons for applying visa which are explained below. National visa is also issued which has the duration longer than 90 days.
Visa Applicants can choose category depending on below reasons
- Visiting Finland- This visa is issues for tourism/vacation purposes
- Business Visa- This visa is issues for professional/work related purposes
- Schengen cultural visa- This visa for attending events
- Study Visa – This visa is used for training or study purpose
- Airport transit visa- This visa is used for transit
- Family visa- This visa is issues for meeting family
- Sports visa- This visa is issued for sports person
- Medical visa- This visa is issued for receiving medical treatments
SCHENGEN VISA
INSURANCE
Can Schengen Visa be Used for Multiple Entry or Single Entry?
Consulates offer Schengen visa depending on reasons applied for, documents submitted and the fees paid. Below are categories applicants can get
Multiple Entry Visa – Traveler can enter Schengen country any number of times within 90 days
Single Entry Visa – Traveler can enter Schengen country only once within 90 days
Can a third party submit my visa application for me?
Personal appearance is mandatory for all visa applicants, unless you are exempt from biometric data entry.
6 Steps to apply Schengen Visa Application from Finland Consulate in Saint Petersburg
Applying for Schengen business Visa is a simple and quick process if you prepare documentation carefully. If you follow steps below you can apply visa without any worries. You need to apply atleast 2 -3 weeks prior to travel date so that you give enough time for consulate to process your application.
Step 1: Choose right visa category and fill online visa application
Applying for a Finland Schengen Visa, your main destination should be Finland. Depending on your reason for trip select the right Schengen visa type for traveling to Finland. Create an account on the Finland-Visas website by entering your personal email address and password.
Choose the type of visa and complete the Finland-Visas online form to obtain the personalized list of supporting documents required according to each situation.
Print the Finland-Visas form and the receipt.
Note that these documents will be requested when submitting your visa application to the VFS Global center.
Step 2: Create a VFS account and make an appointment with the visa center
Create a Vfs account by entering your personal email address and password. Fill the requested personal data. If you are part of a group of people applying for a visa, please also enter the data of those accompanying you and proceed to validate the group. Book an appointment by selecting day and time at your convenience to attend visa interview at Vfs center, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Don’t forget to print your appointment confirmation letter, as it will be required at our reception area.
Step 3: Prepare for supported documents
One of the most critical steps for getting visa is to get all required documents which need to be submitted along with your visa application. Below is the list of documents needed which may be needed depending on visa type.
- Passport size photo
- Schengen Visa application form
- Valid Passport – with at least 6 months validity having 2 blank pages
- Confirmed Trip Itinerary
- Hotel Reservation
- Confirmation of the availability of funds
- Invitation letter
- Medical insurance policy covering Schengen visa requirement
- Address proof
- Student ID card if enrolled with university
- Employer-employee relationship documents
- Marriage/ Birth certificate
Step 4: Attend Visa Interview at Vfs Global in Saint Petersburg
Go through few important and most frequently asked question by visa officer during interview. Below is the list of frequently asked questions
- Purpose of Your Trip?
- Is anyone sponsoring your trip?
- How long do you stay?
- Do you regularly pay your income tax?
- Can you provide your bank statement?
To refer detailed interview questions, check out Schengen visa interview questions
What To Do on the Date of Visa Interview
Go to Vfs Global in Saint Petersburg on the date of interview atleast 30 min before your interview so that you can relax and have an overview of the location to get yourself comfortable. Ensure you got all required documents along with photocopies for your visa application. During the interview process you may be required to give biometrics data depending on consulate requirements. After the biometrics is done you need to pay the required Schengen visa fee & service fee and submit your application.
Step 5: Processing the visa Application
At Vfs global center, you will be taken care of by an agent who will check that all the documents necessary for your application are present in your file. A fact sheet will be given to you. If your file is complete, your application will be forwarded to the Consulate.
If documents are missing or do not meet the requirements of the Consulate General of Finland, you can:
Request the shipment despite everything the application, at the risk of losing the visa application fee and being refused by the Consulate;
Withdraw your application and recover the visa application fee. You will be able to re-file a complete application at a later date.
If you decide to send your file to the Consulate, you will proceed, after payment of the fees, to deposit your biometric data directly with the VFS center.
Step 6: Return of Passport
Once your visa application is decided by the Consulate General of Finland, your passport will be returned to the Vfs visa application Centre. you will be notified to collect your passport either in person or through a representative. In some cases, due to incomplete/insufficient supported documents provided, visa application can be rejected.
Below are some of the reasons of Schengen Visa Rejection
- Inadequate explanation of the traveling purpose
- Lack of financial proof to support trip cost
- Invalid passport or Passport expiring in 2 months
- No travel insurance covering trip
- Did not provide accommodation proof
- Missing documents
If your Schengen Visa is rejected for some reason then you can re-apply Schengen Visa by following the article Fix Schengen Visa Rejection problem
Summary:
Apply Schengen Visa process in Saint Petersburg is easy and you need to work with Vfs Global to submit your application by following this article. Hopefully your visa will be approved and you can enjoy your trip with family, friends & others. Holders of a new Schengen visa, or of a Schengen visa still valid, therefore, are not automatically allowed to enter Finland and Schengen territory and must comply with the travel restrictions in force at Schengen level and at the level of the country of first entry into the Schengen area because of Covid pandemic. It is indeed the responsibility of each traveler to check the travel restrictions in place before departure
