Current affairs

Finns are once again actively travelling abroad. Over the years, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been reminding travellers of things to take into account when travelling abroad to make sure their trip runs as smoothly as possible.

160 people attended the Finnish Independence Day reception on 6 December 2023 in Nicosia. The guests of honor were the Cypriot Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Aleksis Vafeades, and the Minister of Health, Popi Kanari. Kyriakos Kouros, State Secretary of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas, Head of the National Guard, and Colin Stewart, Head of UNFICYP, also graced the occasion with their presence.

Always inform the Digital and Population Data Services Agency in Finland if your address changes.

The opportunity to express condolences on the passing of President Martti Ahtisaari, organized at the residence of the Finnish Ambassador to Cyprus Harri Mäki-Reinikka in Nicosia on 19-20 October 2023, attracted a significant number of distinguished Cypriot guests and diplomats. Mr Ahtisaari is remembered on the island in particular for his international career and work in peacebuilding but also for his childhood background as a Carelian refugee, which deeply touches many Cypriots due to the country's own history.

Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs is planning to launch a tendering process for outsourcing its entry permit application submission services in 2024. As a preparation for the upcoming tendering process, the Ministry will survey the market in autumn 2023.

A total of 23 Honorary Consuls of Finland from ten countries of South-Eastern Europe visited Helsinki on 12-14 September 2023. Honorary Consul General of Finland in Cyprus, Demosthenis Z. Severis and Honorary Vice-Consul Zenon D. Severis attended the meeting from Cyprus.

Some of the prices of services provided by the Finnish missions and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will rise. The new prices will enter into force on 1 September 2023.

Heads of Finland’s missions abroad and foreign policy leaders will meet again at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission in Helsinki on 21–23 August.