Current affairs

Finland's Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia, will be responsible for all consular matters relating to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DCR), including consular assistance and crises, reception of residence permits, and legalisation of documents.

The EU is revising its Visa Code in order to facilitate visa procedures for travellers and to respond more effectively to the challenges posed by illegal migration. Finland will start applying the new Visa Code on 2 February 2020 together with other Schengen countries.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will phase in a new visa system during February and March 2020. After its introduction, visa applications can be processed efficiently, fast and reliably.

In recent years, African countries have increased their visibility in the eyes of the international community. This trend can be seen also in the priorities of the European Commission’s external relations and Finland’s foreign policy. In the fifth part of the “Sustainable Foreign Policy” series, Maria Kurikkala who leads the Africa Policy Team sheds light on the reasons underlying the current interest.

All Finnish missions abroad and organisations issuing visas, including the Border Guard, Finnish Customs and the Police, started to use the new EU visa sticker on 11 November 2019

This strategic ‘Evaluation of Agriculture, Rural Development and Forest Sector Programmes in Africa’ supports the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in identifying relevant and effective approaches and instruments to support implementation of current programmes and planning of future cooperation in these sectors.

The new Ambassador of Finland to Zambia Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury presented her credentials to President Edgar Chagwa Lungu on 21 January 2019.

A possibility to vote by post will be introduced in the parliamentary elections of spring 2019. This means that eligible voters who reside abroad permanently (expatriate Finns) and eligible voters who reside in Finland but are abroad at the time of the elections may vote by post. Advance voting will be arranged at Finnish diplomatic and consular missions abroad in the same manner as before.

Helsinki’s new central library, Oodi, is the place to go if you want to read a book, meet up with your friends, borrow a cello or cut metal with lasers.