How to apply for a visa?
Visa applications must be submitted in person to Finland's Visa Application Centre in Ankara, Istanbul or Antalya. An appointment at the Visa Application Centre must be booked in advance. The Visa Application Centre accepts applicants also without an appointment. The appointment can be booked and the visa application completed electronically on VFS`s website(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window) . The printed visa application form with relevant enclosures and with a valid passport shall be delivered to the Visa Application Centre of Finland. By paying an extra fee the applicant can request that the passport is returned to the desired address in Turkey.
Please note that the Visa Application Centre is only receiving visa applications. The process itself and the final decision will be done by the Embassy of Finland.
Application forms sent to the Embassy by e-mail or by fax will not be processed. An application for a visa must be filed well in advance. Normally, the processing time for a visa application is max. 15 days in some exceptional cases it may take several weeks. Applications are processed in their order of arrival, and no information is given half-way through the processing. Passports/issued visas can be collected from the Visa Application Centre.
VFS Global charges a fee per application (over and above the visa fee) for their services.
Visa Applicant has to submit biometric data (fingerprints, photo) after VIS was introduced to Turkey. More information on the website of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window).
Non-Turkish citizens
The Visa Centre accepts applications from non-Turkish citizens only in case they possess a valid residence permit issued by the Authorities of the Republic of Turkey.