✈️ Transit through HEL, cruises and ‘a day on shore’ 🛳️

Helsinki-Vantaa is a really important hub, and the lovely capital is often included in cruise itineraries and weekend ferry loops. Let's take a look at the details together: from A visas to 'going ashore for a couple of hours' and the risks of overstaying.

✈️ Do you need a visa to go through Helsinki Airport?

If you're just passing through Helsinki and don't leave the international zone, it depends on your passport. Some people need an airport transit visa, even if they don't leave the airport. But for others, this is not true.

When you leave the transit area and get on a flight within the Schengen area, or when you change terminals on the ground (i.e. go through passport control), the situation changes. In this case, you will need a normal Schengen short-stay visa, as for any entry into the Schengen area.

🌆 Transfer with a stopover in the city, what kind of visa do I need?

You can go into the city during your transfer in several ways. You can take a walk around Helsinki, spend the night in a hotel or simply change terminals outside the transit area. In all cases, this counts as a short-term entry into the Schengen area. If you are from a country that requires a visa, you will need a regular Schengen visa, not a transit visa.

You will need extra time for passport control, travel to and from the city, as well as re-registration and inspection. The more complicated the route, the more time you should allow.

🛳️ The cruise ship stops at Helsinki. Can I get off the ship without a visa?

If you're a visa-exempt traveller visiting Helsinki on a cruise ship, the rules for getting a visa are the same as if you're arriving by plane. If you want to go ashore and explore the city, you'll need a Schengen visa. Cruise companies usually give warnings about this in their memos and route descriptions, but it is still the passenger's responsibility to be aware of this information. If you don't have a visa, you will only be able to see the sea from the deck.

⚓Does travelling on a one-day ferry to Tallinn or Stockholm count as spending the night away?

Yes, a one-day trip on the ferry to Tallinn or Stockholm counts as a day spent in the Schengen area, just like any other. The 90/180 formula doesn't make exceptions for 'beautiful sea trips'. If you leave for one day and return, that day counts.

This is important if you are already close to the limit. One 'innocent' day trip to Estonia or Sweden may turn out to be the extra day that pushes you to the limit of the allowed time.

🕰️ What happens if you stay in the country longer than you are allowed?

If you stay in the Schengen area for more than your visa or visa-free limit allows, it is called an 'overstay'. If you don't follow the rules, you might get into trouble. You could be fined or have a mark on your database. You might also get banned from the site.

Planning your departure day by day is very risky. It's better to keep a few days' worth of food in reserve and count your days in advance, rather than by feel. It is important to understand that if you leave the Schengen area for more than one day, the 90/180 counter does not automatically restart. The system works based on logic, not on what you might think.

📅 Can I extend my visa in Finland?

In the past, it was possible to extend a Schengen visa, but only in very rare cases. These were things like serious natural disasters, humanitarian reasons or very important personal reasons. This is done through the relevant authorities (e.g. the police), and each situation is considered on its own.

It is not a good idea to count on the fact that 'if anything, I will extend it on the spot'. It is much safer to plan your travels based on the existing visa validity period or visa-free regime and not to need urgent extensions.

📬 My visa was denied. Can I appeal?

If your visa application has been refused, it's important not to take it as a final decision. The decision says how long you have to appeal and how to do it, and which official body you need to send it to. You usually have a limited amount of time to get more documents, check and confirm things, and submit an appeal in the way that has been set out.

It is important not to let your emotions influence your decision, but to look at the documents. You need to show that the reason for the refusal has been eliminated or was assessed incorrectly.

🧾 How can you travel with a visa in an expired passport?

This is a common situation: your passport has expired, but the visa in it is still valid. People usually travel with two passports at the same time: the new one is used as the main one, and the old one is used as the 'visa carrier'.

Airlines and border guards usually don't mind this format, but it's better to check the details with the airline and, if necessary, with the consulate in advance. This way, you won't have to make any last-minute decisions at the check-in desk.

Transit and cruises are a breeze! All you need to do is understand the difference between 'airside' and 'landside' and respect the 90/180 rule, and you're all set! If you have any doubts, just count the days and make sure you have all your documents ready.