Current affairs

Are you planning to travel abroad? The Foreign Ministry’s Consular Services want to remind travellers of the importance of a passport. This letter gives tips on what to do if you lose your passport during your journey.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has issued a Decree on the Amendment of Fees for Services Produced by the Foreign Service for 2020–2022. The amendment will enter into force on 1 January 2022 and will remain in force until 31 December 2022.

If you wish to apply for a passport, ID-card or Schengen visa (Finland / Sweden) before Christmas holidays, we recommend that you apply for it as soon as possible.

In its session on 25 November 2021, the Government appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Jukka Salovaara to serve as Permanent State Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs starting on 1 May 2022.

Administrative and Consular Services Coordinator of the Embassy of Finland in Nicosia, Suvi Terävä-Petrikkou is a well-known contact person for many Finns living in Cyprus. Suvi first started working at the Honorary Consulate General of Finland in Nicosia, and since 2004 at the Embassy of Finland, altogether for more than 20 years.

On Thursday 4th November, Cyprus Symphony Orchestra presented "Cyprus meets Finland" (Premiere 2) concert at Pallas Theatre, Nicosia. The remarkable concert, supported by the Embassy of Finland, celebrated a cooperation between Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and two dynamic musicians from Finland: Solo Cellist Petros Gospodinov and Conductor Tomas Djupsjöbacka. Ambassador Harri Mäki-Reinikka welcomed the distinguished guests of the Embassy to a pre-concert cocktail event at Chateau Status, Nicosia.

The three-year term 2022-2024 is Finland’s first full membership in the Human Rights Council. Finland will continue its long-term work to promote universal human rights.

The government proposal on the introduction of a long-term national D visa in Finland promotes labour migration and includes the preparation of a fast track pledge. According to the proposal, the national D visa would first cover specialists, growth or start-up entrepreneurs and their family members.

The Government has appointed Mikko Koivumaa as Director General of Communications at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs starting on 18 October 2021. The term of office will be five years. Koivumaa is currently Director of Communications at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

In future, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will update its travel advice for each country individually. In our advice, we will continue to take into account the recommendations with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, issued by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and the general security situation in the country in question.