Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe bordered by Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east; Estonia lies to the south across the Gulf of Finland. Finland is part of the geographic region of Fennoscandia, which also includes Scandinavia and parts of Russia.
In 2013, Finland's population was around 5.5 million, with the majority living in its southern regions. In terms of area, it is the eighth largest country in Europe and the most sparsely populated country in the European Union. Finland is a parliamentary republic with a central government based in the capital Helsinki, local governments in 317 municipalities, and an autonomous region, the Åland Islands. Over 1.4 million people live in the Greater Helsinki metropolitan area, which produces a third of the country's GDP. Other large cities include Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Lahti, and Kuopio.
In 2005, Finnish tourism grossed over €6.7 billion with a 5% increase from the previous year. Much of the sudden growth can be attributed to the globalization and modernization of the country as well as a rise in positive publicity and awareness. There are many attractions in Finland which attracted over 8 million visitors in 2013.
The Finnish landscape is covered with thick pine forests and rolling hills, and complemented with a labyrinth of lakes and inlets. Much of Finland is pristine and virgin as it contains 37 national parks from the Southern shores of the Gulf of Finland to the high fells of Lapland. Finland also has urbanized regions with many cultural events and activities.
Commercial cruises between major coastal and port cities in the Baltic region, including Helsinki, Turku, Tallinn, Stockholm, and Travemünde, play a significant role in the local tourism industry. Finland is locally regarded as the home of Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus, living in the northern Lapland region. Above the Arctic Circle, in midwinter, there is a polar night, a period when the sun does not rise for days or weeks, or even months, and correspondingly, midnight sun in the summer, with no sunset even at midnight. Lapland is so far north that the Aurora Borealis, fluorescence in the high atmosphere due to solar wind, is seen regularly in the fall, winter, and spring.
Outdoor activities range from Nordic skiing, golf, fishing, yachting, lake cruises, hiking, and kayaking, among many others. At Finland's northernmost point, in the heart of summer, the Sun does not completely set for 73 consecutive days. Wildlife is abundant in Finland. Bird-watching is popular for those fond of avifauna, however hunting is also popular. Elk and hare are common game in Finland. Olavinlinna in Savonlinna hosts the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival.
Apply Finland Visa from India
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Tourist Visa Requirements:
Please make sure that Air Ticket, Invitation, Insurance and Covering Letter must have matching dates.
- The Applicant should have a passport (and one photocopy of the same) which must be valid for at least six months beyond the visa expiry date. Passports valid for more than 10 years will not be accepted as the main required travel document. It is mandatory to have two blank pages opposite to each other.
- One visa form carefully completed, dated and signed by the applicant. The form can also be completed electronically and printed out.
- Two recent colour passport size photographs with a light background, not older than six months. The photo must be 47mm high and 36mm wide. The distance between the top of the head without hair and the bottom of the chin must be 32-36mm in the photo. Photograph should not have any stapler or pin marks disfiguring the face or background and must be pasted on the form.
- A covering letter from the company explaining the purpose of the visit.
- Flight reservation (not a paid ticket), paid tickets are needed when the visa is granted.
- An application explaining the purpose of visit.
- If visiting friends/relatives, the original sponsorship/invitation letter explaining the history and the relationship of the persons in question must be enclosed. The time of travel and clarification as to who will pay the costs, attached with his/her bank statements for the past six months is also requirement.
- Passport and ID copies from the Sponsor/Inviter in Finland.
- Certificate of employment in original from the current Employer.
- Travel Insurance of Euros 30,000 for duration of stay in all Schengen states. Insurance to be covered for another 15 days after the applicant has come back to India. This is mandatory now. We provide Travel Medical Insurance for Schengen Visa.
- Hotel booking, matching onward visa.
- Roof of sufficient funds in form of foreign exchange.
- Bank statement for the last six months.
- Income Tax returns for the last three years.
- Visa validity, and stay allowed is at the discretion of the Embassy and according to the air ticket and request of the traveler.
- No applications will be received by the Embassy on Fridays.
Business Visa Requirements:
Please make sure that Air Ticket, Invitation, Insurance and Covering Letter must have matching dates.
- The Applicant should have a passport (and one photocopy of the same) which must be valid for at least six months beyond the visa expiry date. Passports valid for more than 10 years will not be accepted as the main required travel document. It is mandatory to have two blank pages opposite to each other.
- One visa form carefully completed, dated and signed by the applicant. The form can also be completed electronically and printed out.
- Two recent colour passport size photographs with a light background, not older than six months. The photo must be 47mm high and 36mm wide. The distance between the top of the head without hair and the bottom of the chin must be 32-36mm in the photo. Photograph should not have any stapler or pin marks disfiguring the face or background and must be pasted on the form.
- A covering letter from the company explaining the purpose of the visit.
- Flight reservation (not a paid ticket), paid tickets are needed when the visa is granted.
- A letter from the applicant explaining the purpose of the visit.
- A an original free-form invitation letter from a business partner or an organization and a copy of it. The invitation letter states the contact information (name of the contact person, phone number and address), purpose and date of travel. In case the business partner or organization needs to invite the application more than one time, this information has to be given in the invitation letter. The numbers of entries are: one, two or multiple.
- Travel Insurance of Euros 30,000 for duration of stay in all Schengen states. Insurance to be covered for another 15 days after the applicant has come back to India. This is mandatory now. We provide Travel Medical Insurance for Schengen Visa.
- Hotel booking, matching onward visa.
- Photo ID card of the Applicant.
- Proof of sufficient funds in form of foreign exchange.
- Bank statement for the last six months.
- Income Tax returns for the last three years.
- Visa validity, and stay allowed is at the discretion of the Embassy and according to the air ticket and request of the traveler.
- No applications will be received by the Embassy on Fridays.
