Visa Information

All citizens of Thailand are required to apply for a visa before entering Finland and/or other countries under the Schengen agreement. Before applying, please ensure you understand your particular ‘purpose of visit’. Schengen visas must be applied for at the respective Embassy of the country of your main destination. Your main destination is the Schengen country where your duration of stay exceeds all others. Due to this, when traveling to more than one Schengen country, you should submit your application to the Embassy representing the country of your main destination. In case of equal stay, you have to submit your application to the Embassy of the Schengen country representing your first country of entry.

See more info about Schengen visas at the website of Finnish Embassy in Bangkok.

The Visa Application Centre accepts applications only for short stay Schengen visas (not exceeding 90 days during 180 days period). Applicants need to visit the Visa Application Centre in person. All applicants applying for a Schengen visa must submit biometric data - ten fingerprints and a photo. The biometric data will be stored in the Visa Information System (VIS), which is an IT system that allows data exchange between the Schengen States.

Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the start of the planned journey. Seafarers in the performance of their duties are allowed to submit an application as earlier as nine (9) months in advance of their planned trip. The application process begins when the applicant personally submits his or her visa application and other supporting documents to the VAC or the mission.

Who can submit a visa application in Bangkok

The Visa Application Centre of Finland in Bangkok accepts Schengen visa applications from applicants residing legally in Thailand. Foreign nationals (other than Thai) need to submit a copy of valid residence or work permit for Thailand. Every applicant has to apply for a visa in person.

The German Embassy represents Finland in visa affairs in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Citizens of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar can submit their visa application at the German Embassy at the respective countries. Document requirements can be found at the German Embassy's website(in Cambodia (website of the German Embassy in Phnom Penh), in Lao PDR (website of the German Embassy in Vientiane) and in Myanmar (website of the German Embassy in Yangon).

Applicants travelling to Estonia

Finland represents Estonia in visa affairs in Thailand. Applicants travelling to Estonia submit their documents at the Visa Centre of Finland in Bangkok. Document requirements are the same as for those travelling to Finland.

Methods of payment for visa fees:

• If the applicant submits their visa application at the Finland Visa Application Centre:

  a. Card payment at the Finland Visa Application Centre on the day of appointment

  b. Cash payment at the Finland Visa Application Centre on the day of appointment

  c. QR code payment at the Finland Visa Application Centre on the day of appointment

Applicants exempted from visa fee:

• Applicants under the Directive 2004/38/EC
• Family members of Finnish citizen
• Diplomatic and official passport holders
• School pupils, students, post graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE
• Researchers travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE
• Representatives of non-profit organisations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events by non-profit organisations – TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE

Service charge applicable when applying at the Finland Visa Application Centre:

Service charge:

*Please note that the service fee is inclusive of tax

Applicants may choose to pay at the Visa Application Centre using Credit/Debit Card/QR Code or make the payment by cash. Original proof of payment must be received with the visa application. The passport number of the applicant must be clearly stated as reference on the proof of payment.

Click for the price list of additional services

Please Note:

• Special note for all applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre:
• The applicable visa fees in THB depend on the current exchange rate, which can be changed without any notifications
• The visa fees need to be paid via debit / credit card / QR code at the Visa Application Centre or alternatively via cash
• Applicants who are exempted from the visa fees need to pay only the service fee
• The fees are non-refundable and non-transferable

The checklists of required visa application documents are available in the online visa application portal of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

To see the visa application photo specifications, please, click here.

Each applicant (including children) must have a travel medical insurance

Basic requirements for an insurance policy:

• Insurance should cover the entire validity period of the visa and all of the planned days of stay.
• Insurance validity area should cover the whole Schengen area or to be worldwide. No areal restrictions are allowed (for example “Finland, Schengen”).
• The minimum requirement for insurance coverage is 30.000 euros or the equivalent amount in other currency (for example 50.000 US dollars)
• The insurance policy should insure your costs in case of sudden illness or accident and assistance on site, including the costs of medical repatriation to the place of permanent residence of the insured person or the repatriation in case of death.

Original insurance policy needs to be presented during submission; applicant can provide a copy to the application (Embassy does not return documents after application has been processed).

Travel medical insurances can be bought from any European insurance company and from companies from the Common list of recognized Travel Medical Insurance Companies in Thailand. To see the list of accepted insurance companies in Thailand click here.

The estimated processing time for visa applications depends on the purpose of the travel:

Processing time is up to 15 calendar days:

• Visiting family and friends
• Tourist visit
• Study, cultural and sport

Seasonal workers are asked to submit their visa application 3 months prior the departure.

In individual cases and during high season the Embassy can extend the processing time to 45 days if needed.

(Processing time for applications submitted at the Embassy is always 15 calendar days or more if needed.)