Due to the prevailing emergency conditions based on the Emergency Powers Act in Finland, Embassy of Finland in Beijing and Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai are suspending visa and residence permit applications for the time being (updated June 15).
The Embassy of Finland in Beijing and the Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai suspend most of the consular and immigration services for the time being.
Finland, in line with other Schengen countries, has suspended the normal reception of visa applications as of March 19, 2020, and the suspension will be in effect for the time being. The Finnish Visa Application Centers in China (VAC) have also stopped receiving applications. Processing of the applications already submitted to visa application centers or Finnish missions will be discontinued and the passports will be returned to their holders via the visa centers. More information available in English on the VAC website at vfsglobal.cn/finland/china(Link to another website.).
The normal reception of residence permit applications has also been suspended for the time being.
All visa and residence permit applicants' identification and interview appointments are canceled and no new appointments can be scheduled until further notice.
Application fees that have already been paid will not be refunded. Exceptions can be considered only under very special circumstances.
Processing of passport applications as well as notarial and legalization services operate at the missions as normal. However, the missions should be contacted by email in advance: [email protected] (Beijing) or [email protected] (Shanghai).
For more information on the government decision (March 19) on the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders, please see the following link (in Finnish):
valtioneuvosto.fi/paatokset/paatos?decisionId=0900908f8068f44f(Link to another website.)
Government decision on extending the temporary restrictions on border traffic (June 11):
https://valtioneuvosto.fi/artikkeli/-/asset_publisher/10616/lahimatkailun-rajoituksia-puretaan-osittain-ulkorajoilla-rajoitukset-pysyvat-ennallaan?_101_INSTANCE_LZ3RQQ4vvWXR_languageId=en_US(Link to another website.)
The Finnish Border Guard together with the Finnish Ministry of the Interior are responsible for the national implementation and application of the decision. Instructions for border traffic issued by the Border Guard in accordance with the Government decision on June 12:
https://www.raja.fi/current_issues/guidelines_for_border_traffic(Link to another website.)
Finnish missions recommend all Finnish citizens in China to submit a travel notice at Matkustusilmoitus.fi(Link to another website.).
For more information:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: um.fi/frontpage(Link to another website.)
Embassy of Finland in Beijing and Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai: finlandabroad.fi/web/chn
Government of Finland: valtioneuvosto.fi/en(Link to another website.)
The Finnish Border Guard: www.raja.fi/en(Link to another website.)
Ministry of the Interior: intermin.fi/en/frontpage(Link to another website.)
Finnish missions in China on Facebook:
Embassy in Beijing: facebook.com/embassyoffinlandinbeijing(Link to another website.)
Consulate General in Shanghai: facebook.com/consulategeneraloffinlandinshanghai(Link to another website.)
Email addresses for immigration and consular services:
Beijing: [email protected]
Shanghai: [email protected] and [email protected]