Finland & Sweden have outsourced visa application services in Cyprus to VFS Global, an independent third party providing outsourcing services for Schengen visa applications in most world countries.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland said in a statement that the upcoming Visa Application Center will simplify the visa application process for Finland and Sweden, offering enhanced services to applicants.
The same also emphasised that in order to ensure a smooth process, applicants are required to submit their applications in person and much earlier, as the processing time lasts 15 calendar days. At the same time, advance booking of an appointment at the Visa Application Center is also mandatory.
Even after the Visa Application Centre has opened, the Embassy of Finland will process the applications and make all the visa decisions. The Embassy will continue handling all notary matters, residence permit and passport applications.
According to the authority, any previously scheduled meeting with the Embassy will remain unchanged. In addition, a dedicated website and helpline for visa applicants will be launched in November of this year.
Citizens of Cyprus who wish to travel to Finland can do so without requiring a visa, as both countries are part of the European Union. However, those residing in Cyprus from countries under the EU visa regime need, might need to apply for a visa.
Cyprus has a current risk level of three out of five. This safety index is determined based on travel advice from independent sources.
Last year, Finnair, the airline, introduced non-stop flights connecting Larnaca and Helsinki, bringing around 4,500 Finnish tourists to Cyprus during the summer season.
In this regard, Minister Yiannis Karousos, responsible for Transport, Communications and Works, expressed his satisfaction with the renewal of the air connection between Finland and Cyprus. He announced that this year there will be five weekly flights from Finland to Larnaca, where two of them will be operated by Finnair.
Furthermore, Minister Karousos emphasised that despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Cyprus managed to secure the 6th position in Europe for the smallest decline in direct connectivity in 2020 and 2021.
