Finland visa requirements for Kenyans

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Kenyans visiting Finland

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Finnish Visa.

  • Passport which has a validity of 3 months after the expiry of your visa. The passport should have two blank pages.
  • Correctly filled visa application form signed by the applicant.
  • One passport-sized photograph taken with a white background that follows the visa application specification.
  • Bank statement for the last three months prior to the period of visa application. This is proof that you can cater for yourself during your time in the country.
  • Travel insurance with a coverage of €30,000 for medical insurance.
  • A copy of the Schengen visa application 
  • Proof of accommodation for the duration of your stay in the country.
  • Return flight ticket.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.

Finland Visa for Kenyans

Facts about Finland

Finland’s plethora of lakes makes it a top summer destination. There are a plethora of lakes which have holiday cabins and host activities such as swimming, fishing, and sailing. The Arctic Lapland province is a top destination for tourist, it is a wilderness that has national parks and ski resorts. The country is well-known for its saunas and iconic designs.

The tourism industry in Finland accounts for about 2.5% of the Finnish GDP. The industry is responsible for providing about 136,700 jobs. In 2017, Finland played host to over 6.7 million foreign tourists.

The possession, usage, and trafficking of drugs are highly prohibited in the country. A huge prison sentence will be dished out to defaulters.

Types of Finland Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Tourist visa 15 days 90 days
Business visa 15 days 90 days
Medical visa 15 days 90 days
Student visa 15 days More than 90 days

General Requirements for Finland Visa

  • Passport which has a validity of 3 months after the expiry of your visa. The passport should have two blank pages.
  • Correctly filled visa application form signed by the applicant.
  • One passport-sized photograph taken with a white background that follows the visa application specification.
  • Bank statement for the last three months prior to the period of visa application. This is proof that you can cater for yourself during your time in the country.
  • Travel insurance with a coverage of €30,000 for medical insurance.
  • A copy of the Schengen visa application 
  • Proof of accommodation for the duration of your stay in the country.
  • Return flight ticket.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.
Finland Tourist visa Finland Business visa Finland Medical visa Finland Student visa

Finland Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This Finland visa type is for those visiting Finland for vacation, recreation, relaxation, and sightseeing.
  • Applicants of this visa may intend to visit their friends and relatives in the country.
  • Kenyans visiting either their friends or relatives are to provide a letter of invitation from their host. This letter should include the home address, telephone number as well as a valid means of identification of the host.
  • Foreigners can attend festivals and events during their time in the country.
  • Finland belongs to a Schengen state and therefore Schengen visa is acceptable.
  • The Finland tourism visa can either be single, double, or multiple entries.
  • Applicants must submit a valid passport that has a validity of 6 months from the proposed date of travel.
  • A letter from your current employer is required. In this letter, your employer should confirm the awareness of your leave and also confirm continuous employment after the duration of the leave.
  • Retirees should provide a document showing proof of pension and other financial support.
  • A copy of the applicants' stay permit is required if the applicant is not a Kenyan citizen.
  • For minors, notarized travel permission from the parent is required. The original copy of the minor’s birth certificate should be provided.
  • Holders of this visa should ensure they have proof of the incentive of returning to their country.
  • Proof of financial sufficiency that covers the applicants duration of stay.
  • Proof of travel itinerary or round trip reservation should be submitted.
  • Proof of hotel reservation or accommodation is required.
  • A travel insurance that has a value of 30,000 euros should also be submitted.
  • Receipt of paid visa application fee is required.
  • This visa prohibits you from working whilst you are in the country.
  • Foreigners in Finland on the tourist visa cannot be enrolled in one of the institutions of learning.
  • During your time in the country, you are not allowed to seek public funds.
  • You are expected to leave the country at the expiry of your visa.

Finland Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Applicants of the business visa do so with the intention of meeting up with business partners in the country for business purposes.
  • During your meeting with your partners, you can sign and negotiate contracts.
  • You can attend trade fairs, conferences, and business summits whilst you are in the country.
  • A letter of invitation from the company in Finland you are meeting with should be provided. In the letter, the company’s address, the purpose of your visit, and the duration of your visit should be provided.
  • If the applicants' expenses will  be covered by the partner company or the employer, it should be stated in the letter of invitation.
  • A letter from your parent country in Kenya stating the awareness of your leave, purpose and duration of stay should be submitted.
  • The letter from your parent company should also contain your job discretion and salary scale.
  • Proof of previous trade relations between the two companies should be provided if any.
  • The original certified copy of Memorandum and Article of Association should be provided.
  • You are not allowed to be gainfully employed while you are in the country.
  • Holders of this visa are not allowed to seek public funds.
  • Non-Kenyans applying for this visa are required to have a copy of their stay permit in Kenya.
  • Proof of paid visa application fee is required.
  • Proof of incentive of returning to your country at the expiration of your visa is required.
  • private business owners are to submit their certificate of business registration.
  • Income Return tax for the past six months should also be submitted.
  • At the expiry of this visa, applicants are expected to leave the country.
  • Minors traveling without their parents should have a letter of consent signed by both parents if they are traveling without their parents. Also, the original copy of the minor’s birth certificate is required.
  • This visa is only extended in exceptional cases.

Finland Medical Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Applicants of this visa intend to receive medical treatment from hospitals in Finland.
  • A medical report from your local doctor should be provided. The report should include your diagnosis and the reason for the referral to Finland.
  • A letter from the medical institution in Finland stating their awareness and acceptance to treat the applicant.
  • The date of your appointment and your medical situation should be stated in the attestation from the hospital in Finland.
  • A letter of invitation from your employer in Kenya confirming awareness and allowance of your leave is required.
  • For retirees, a document showing pension statement and other forms of financial support should be provided.
  • Receipt of paid medical fees is required.
  • Proof of incentive of returning to Kenya at the expiration of your visa is required.
  • Proof of financial sufficiency that covers the applicant's medical bill.
  • Minors must ensure they possess the original copy of their birth certificate. If they are traveling alone or with one of their parents, a document of consent which is signed by both parents of the minor should be provided.
  • You are not allowed to work while you are in the country.
  • At the end of your treatment, you are expected to leave the country.
  • Holders are not allowed to take up permanent residence in the country.
  • Proof of paid visa application fee is required.
  • This visa can be extended only on special occasions.

Finland Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Finland's visa for students allows foreigners to study in one of the institutions in Finland.
  • Applicants should ensure they confirm they have been admitted into the institution of their choice before applying for this visa.
  • A letter of invitation from the institution you have been accepted to should be provided. The course you have enrolled for and the duration of the study should be stated in the letter.
  • Applicant's international passport that has a  minimum validity of six months from the date of departure is required.
  • The validity of the student's visa is at the discretion of the embassy but is always more than 90 days.
  • The Passport biometric data is required.
  • Certificates and transcripts from previously attended schools should be provided.
  • A copy of your stay permit in Kenya should be provided for non-citizens of Kenya.
  • Students are allowed to work for a period of time as long as it does not interfere with their studies.
  • Proof of accommodation in for of receipt for rent or dormitory reservations should be submitted.
  • This visa may be extended to cover the period of your study.
  • If you are a minor traveling without your parents, a letter of consent signed by both your parents should be provided. Also, an unabridged original copy of your birth certificate is required.
  • Proof of full or part payment of tuition fees should be submitted.
  • Applicants are to provide proof of financial sufficiency in form of bank statement that covers the applicant duration of stay.
  • Bearers of this visa are allowed to work as long as it does not interfere with their studies.
  • You are not allowed to seek public funds while you are in the country.
  • Proof of payment of visa application form is required.

Finland Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Tourist visa

60.00 (EUR)

Business visa

60.00 (EUR)

Medical visa

60.00 (EUR)

Student visa

60.00 (EUR)

Finland Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Kenya

Location

Address

Nairobi

Eden Square, Block 3 6th Floor, Greenway Lane (Off Westlands Road), Nairobi, Kenya.

https://www.finland.or.ke

sanomat.nai@formin.fi

+254 20 375 0721

Nairobi

5th Floor, Park Field Building, Muthangari Drive, Off Waiyaki Way, Opposite Safaricom House, Westlands, Nairobi.

http://www.vfsglobal.com/finland/kenya

info.finlandkenya@vfshelpline.com

+254 20 514 7909

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you have to live in Finland to become a citizen?

A foreigner may be granted Finnish citizenship after living in Finland continuously for five years.

Can you live in Finland without knowing Finnish?
Foreigners can survive with English; however, it is impossible to integrate into the society without knowing Finnish.
Is Finland visa difficult to get?

   It depends mostly where you from, and what your intentions to visit Finland are. 

Can I extend my Schengen Visa?
You can apply for the Schengen visa extension if you have a single-entry short-stay visa.



Is tap water in Finland safe to drink?
Finland’s tap water is among the highest quality in the world and is not only completely safe but a pleasure to drink.
how populated is Finland?

Finland population is estimated at 5.9 million and has an average population density of 19 inhabitants per square kilometer. This makes it the third most sparsely populated country in Europe, after Iceland and Norway