Respond to the European Commission’s questionnaire on an online visa application process.

The municipal elections in Finland have been postponed to June. The transfer of municipal elections is decided by the Finnish Parliament. The municipal elections will be held on Sunday 13th June 2021. Advance voting will be possible abroad from 2nd to 5th June 2021. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible for the organisation of advance voting abroad. Eligible voters are requested to order the postal voting documents also in the case that they are planning to cast their vote abroad during the actual advance voting period. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible that voting cannot be organised in the advance polling stations as planned because local authorities may impose restrictions or lockdowns at short notice.

In 2020, the Unit for Consular Assistance provided nearly twice as much guidance compared to the previous year. In the spring, during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, personal guidance and advice were given to tens of thousands of travellers stranded abroad. Thousands of travellers were assisted in returning to Finland after air traffic ground to a sudden halt.