Current affairs

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.

Consulate General of Finland in New York will bring the portable passport unit to Chicago, IL, on November 15-17th, 2021. 

High technology, including 5G, and green economy were the main topics of the visit of Ambassador Hautala and the Finnish delegation to Washington state in mid-September. Ambassador Hautala discussed these topics also with Governor Inslee and State Senators Marko Liias and Reuven Carlyle.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will visit Washington DC on 24 September. The aim of the visit is to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries and to discuss topical foreign policy themes, focusing on questions relating to Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.

The United States has suspended entry for most non-U.S. citizens coming from China, Brazil, Iran, and several European countries, Finland included, with some exceptions depending on your reason for travel and visa status.

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.

Finnish children’s clothing brand Reima is known for functional, year-round, and high-quality wear for kids. Mr. Todd Starcevich, Head of North America at Reima, tells Consul General Mika Koskinen how they’re conquering the US market with sustainability in focus.

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.

Embassy of Finland in Washington, D.C. and the Consulates General of Finland in New York and Los Angeles will be closed on Labor Day, September 6, 2021.