✈️Finland's Schengen visa: basic rules, 90/180 and visa types

Finland is the perfect place to start your adventure in Northern Europe, with easy access to the Schengen area. We figured out who needs a visa, how a short-term C visa differs from a D visa (in conjunction with a residence permit), how the notorious 90/180 rule works, and whether the 'first country of entry' affects where to submit documents. It's short and sweet, and it won't leave you in a bureaucratic fog.

🛂 What is a Finnish Schengen visa and who needs it?

A Finnish Schengen visa type C is a classic 'tourist' or 'guest' visa that allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period – which is great, isn't it! If you're planning a trip to Finland, whether it's for tourism, to visit family or friends, for business, to attend a short course or event, you'll most likely need this.

If you're from a country that has a visa regime with Schengen, then you'll need to get this visa. Hey, if you're already enjoying visa-free travel with the EU, you're in luck! The conditions are pretty much the same. You can still spend up to 90 days within each 180-day period, but you won't need a separate sticker in your passport. The lovely people at the Finnish consulate will look at things like why you're going, how long you're going to be there, any previous visas you've had and whether you've met the terms.

🔁 What is the difference between a C visa and a D visa?

It's really easy:

• A C visa is a classic Schengen visa: it allows you to travel for short trips (up to 90 days in a 180-day period), for tourism, business, to visit friends or family.
• A D visa is a 'long-term entry permit' linked to an approved residence permit for Finland.

You need a D visa to enter the country before your plastic residence card is ready. For example, you have been granted permission to work, study or reunite with your family, but the card itself has not yet been issued. With a D visa, you can enter and start living/working/studying, while waiting for the card to be issued.

📅 How to calculate the 90/180 rule and does a day outside the Schengen area reset the counter?

The most important thing to remember is that the 90/180 rule can be flexible. This means that any day, if a border guard or the system wants to, they will check the past 180 days and count how many of those days you have spent in the Schengen area. If the total is no more than 90, everything is fine.

A lot of people think that if you leave for a day, everything is reset. No, it doesn't work like that. Every day, one day of the current 180-day period is used up, and the days that fall outside this period are returned. It can be useful to use the official European Commission calculator instead of counting by hand.

🌍 Can I travel to other Schengen countries on a Finnish visa?

Yes, as long as your visa doesn't have an LTV (limited territory) stamp. With a standard Finnish Schengen visa, you can travel to all countries in the Schengen area, as long as you follow these general rules. You must:

• stay within the 90/180 limit;
• not exceed the number of entries specified on the visa;
• comply with the stated purpose of travel.

With the same visa, you can travel to Iceland and Norway, which are also part of the Schengen area. You don't need to apply for separate visas for these countries.

✈️ What if Finland is the first country of entry, but the destination of the trip is somewhere else?

The main rule is simple: you need to apply to the country you're going to the most.

If you're going to be spending most of your time in Germany or Italy, for example, it's a good idea to submit your documents to their consulate.

In this case, Finland may simply be the first country you enter, a transfer point, or a convenient route — but that does not make it the 'main destination'. Visa rules look at where you will spend most of your time.

🏝️ Do the Åland Islands have separate rules or not?

The Åland Islands are part of Finland, but they have their own rules for visas. Therefore, you do not need a separate visa for the Åland Islands. The same 90/180 rules apply. A regular Finnish Schengen visa is suitable for travelling there.

🚫 Does a visa guarantee automatic entry?

No, and it's important to understand this. A visa just lets you ask for entry. It doesn't mean you will definitely be allowed in. The border service is the final decision maker.

When you arrive, you might be asked to do the following:

• show your hotel reservation or your home address;
• confirm that you have enough money;
• show your insurance policy;
• briefly explain why you are travelling and what your plans are.

If everything is logical and within the scope of your stated purpose, there are usually no problems.

Do I need separate visas for Iceland and Norway?

If you have a valid Finnish Schengen visa that is not restricted by territory (without LTV), then you do not need separate visas for Iceland and Norway. These countries are part of the Schengen area, and trips there count towards the total 90/180 allowance.

The most important thing is to make sure that you have enough 'days in reserve' in your passport and that the number of entries does not exceed the number specified in the visa.

Make sure you know why you're going, where you're going and what kind of visa you need (a C visa or a D+residence permit). This will save you time and stress at the border. And also — the rules about discipline are the same for all Schengen countries.