From 1 January 2002, Romanian citizens may travel visa-free to the Schengen area. A stay up to 90 days during a six-month period is allowed without visa or residence permit. Therefore, no visas are required from Romanians travelling to Finland on Short term visits.
The Schengen member states Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland have jointly agreed about the rules concerning the movement of third-country nationals in their territories and decided which countries' citizens are required to present a visa.
Visa requirement in the Schengen area and travel documents accepted by Finland
A visa is an entry permit for a short, temporary stay of less than three months. Using this entry permit as a foreign national requiring a visa you are allowed to enter and stay in the Schengen area once certain other preconditions have been met.
Foreign nationals who need an entry visa are requested to apply it at the nearest Finnish mission. In countries where Finland does not have a mission, another Schengen country can represent Finland in visa matters.
Moldovan citizens need a visa to enter the Schengen area. Although the Embassy of Finland in Bucharest is also accredited to the Republic of Moldova, Hungary represents Finland in Moldova in the matters concerning visas from the 1st of October 2009. The Moldovans permanently living in Moldova and other foreign nationals who need an entry visa to the Schengen area leave their visa applications in the visa centre (CAC, Common Application Centre) led by the Embassy of Hungary in Chisinau. Visa Centre gives further information on e.g. the documents needed for the visa application.
Address: BD. Stefan cel Mare si Sfînt, 131, Chisinau
Tel.: (+373 22) 20 00 78, 22 86 68;
Fax: (373 22) 22 45 13;
E-mail: cac@meganet.md
http://www.cac.md/
Reception of visa applications:
Monday-Thursday: 09.00-13.00
Friday: 09.00-12.00
Handing out of passports:
Monday-Thursday: 15.00-16.00
Friday: 13.00-14.00
It is recommended to contact the visa centre by telephone or e-mail before leaving the application. An appointment can be made over the telephone. The visa centre serves in Romanian, Russian, English German and French.
The visa section of the Embassy of Finland in Bucharest is open Mon-Fri 09:00-12:00 & 13:00-15:00. Telephone enquiries tel. 021 230 7504.
Requirements:
1. One visa application form (.pdf), duly completed and signed. You must sign the form personally.
One recent color photo, size 36 x 47 mm. Requirements for the photograph:
2. Valid passport. The Passport must be valid at least three months after the duration of the Schengen visa.
3. Travel insurance covering the duration of the visa and the Schengen area. The insurance indemnity should be at least EUR 30,000 and should insure you in case of sudden illness or accident (including travel home) and include transportation home in the event of your death.
4. The application form should be accompanied by other documents indicating the purpose, conditions and duration of your visit. These can include tickets, confirmed hotel reservations and a private or official letter of invitation. The invitation may be written in free-form but must include details of the host organisation or individual, and the your date of birth, address, passport number, and purpose and length of visit. If the visit is a private one, it is worth mentioning the relationship between the host and the guest, for example whether she/he is a friend, spouse or relative. Please note that an invitation is not a guarantee that a visa will be issued.
5. You may need to supply further details in addition to those mentioned above, such as the route of your journey, means of transport, details of your return journey, income, property and details of your employment. You must have sufficient funds to cover your stay - at least EUR 40 a day.
6. Underage children require parental consent if they intend to travel unaccompanied by a parent or guardian. The signature(s) should be legalized at the notary office. A copy of the birth certificate of the minor in question should also be submitted.
7. The embassy or consulate may also want to interview you to ask about the purpose of your visit.
8. By signing the application you are responsible for the accuracy of the information you have given. You must sign the form personally. If the form is unsigned or someone else has signed it for you, the application will be denied.
Citizens of EU countries can stay in Finland for a period of three months without applying for a residence permit. If the stay lasts longer, they should register themselves at the local police. Citizens of the European Union may work in Finland without a worker's residence permit.
Other foreigners, who stay in Finland longer than three months, must apply for a residence permit through the embassy of Finland before arrival in Finland. 1st December 2006 Finland started to issue residence permit stickers with photo.
To study in Finland for more than 3 months you must apply for and obtain a residence permit before leaving for Finland.
To apply for a residence permit for study purposes bring the following documents to the Embassy:
1. Completed application form for a residence permit and Appendix: Clarification on studies
2. One passport sized photo. Please consult Passport photo guidelines.
3. Valid passport or other travel document.
4. Original letter of acceptance.
a. For students completing their degree in Finland submit the original letter of acceptance from your Finnish school or university.
b. If accepted as an exchange student to a program, submit original statement from the Exchange Organisation that you have been accepted to. The letter should also clearly state your benefits regarding school fees, food and housing.
5. Written proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay in Finland. Funds required are € 6.000 per year. Proof of funds can be in the form of a letter from your bank. Please note: Proof of funds in form of scholarships will be deducted from this amount.
6. Written proof of any scholarship you have received
A handling fee is charged for the residence permit application.
Embassy may request additional documents, if needed.
The estimated average processing time is one month.
To work in Finland you must usually apply for and obtain a worker's residence permit before reaching Finland. A person engaged in an independent business or profession in Finland must have a residence permit for a self-employed person. However, there are many exceptions to this rule.
To apply for a residence permit and a work permit bring the following documents to the Embassy:
1. Impleted application form for a residence permit. Appendix to residence permit application for workers (TM 054). Application form cannot be faxed, they must be the originals.
2. One passport sized photo. Please consult Passport photo guidelines
3. Valid passport or other travel document.
A handling fee is charged for the residence permit application.
Embassy or the Finnish Immigration Service may request additional documents, if needed.
The estimated average processing time is 2 months.
To apply for a residence permit for immigration purposes bring the originals of the following documents to the Embassy:
1. Completed application form for a residence permit and appendix: Clarification on family ties
2. One passport sized photo. Please consult Passport photo guidelines.
3. Valid passport or other travel document.
4. If you are applying to join your spouse in Finland, a notarized copy of your marriage certificate. If your children are applying with you, notarized copies of their birth certificates and notarized signatures by both custodians.
A handling fee is charged for the residence permit application.
Embassy or the Finnish Immigration Service may request additional documents, if needed.
The estimated average processing time is 4 months.
The personal residence permit sticker with photo is being introduced for under-aged children. As a result, when applying for a residence permit after 1.12.2006 a separate application form must be filled for every under-aged child. If chidlren do not possess their own travel document, the residence permit sticker will be attached to the passport or other travel document of a parent or guardian.
For the residence permit sticker with photo the applicant or his or her representative should send, together with the residence permit application, a photo take according to the police passport photo guidelines.
A handling fee is charged for the residence permit application. Applications for children being added to the passport or travel document of a parent or guardian are also subject to a fee.
Updated 10/23/2009
