Is there a Canada visa for citizens of Finland?
Yes, there is. In fact, Finnish citizens are eligible for different Canadian visa programs as long as they meet the requirements for such visas.
This article contains all you need to know about applying for a visa to travel to Canada.
Traveling To Canada
Canada has liberalized their visa programs to make it easier for foreign nationals to visit the country at any time of the year. Over the last decade, many citizens of Finland have visited the country for business or pleasure. In fact, there is a thriving Finnish community in Finland. Despite being a cold region, Canada offers several economic and social opportunities that attract visitors from around the world.
Visa applicants planning to travel to Canada may apply for two types of road visas. Visas for short or long stays.
Visa For Long Stay
A long stay visa is a document that allows the holder to remain in the country for more than 180 days. This visa is obtained by applying directly to the Canadian embassy in Helsinki. After submitting your application to the embassy, you will be invited for an interview, after which your online application form will be processed and approved if you meet all the entry requirements.
Long stay visas are valid for 1 or more years and often have residence or/and work permits attached to them for Finland citizens.
Visa For Short Stay
A short-stay visa allows the holder to stay in Canada for up to 180 days. There are different short-stay visas, but the one Finnish citizens qualify for is the electronic travel authorization or ETA. This visa is electronically generated, meaning the applicant doesn’t have to visit the Canadian embassy to obtain one.
They can simply complete the application fee online, attach their documents, pay the application fee and submit it for approval. ETAs have a 5-year validity or expire alongside the passport they are attached to. All you need is a smartphone connected to the internet. Since the entire process is done online, you don’t have to handle the visa physically.
A short-stay visa allows the holder to stay in Canada for up to 180 days. There are different short-stay visas, but the one Finnish citizens qualify for is the electronic travel authorization or ETA. This visa is electronically generated, meaning the applicant doesn’t have to visit the Canadian embassy to obtain one.
Once approved, it will be mailed to the email address you provide. ETAs are electronically linked to the applicant’s passport, and immigration officers will read the passport using biometric machines at the airport once you arrive.
Requirements For ETA Application
All applicants must provide the following basic documents to complete their ETA application.
Valid Passport
All Finnish applicants must have a passport valid for at least 6 months, counting from the arrival date. The passport must also possess some blank pages for stamps. The Canadian authorities accept only passports that are machine readable. Also, ensure that the passport you use for the application is the same passport you bring along for the trip. A different passport presented to immigration at the airport will not be accepted.
Email Address
Applicants must provide a valid email address that they have access to because the ETA will be mailed to them if their application is approved. Consider printing a copy of the visa in case of emergencies.
Means Of Payment
A visa application fee is attached to the ETA payable with a credit or debit card. Find out the exact amount for the fee and make sure the card contains sufficient funds to cover the fee and transaction cost.
Personal Details
You will also be asked to provide the following
Full name as it appears on your passport
Contact address
Nationality
Profession
Travel history
Itinerary
When providing these details, make sure they are accurate and crosscheck your entries before you submit them for approval. Incorrect or fictitious entries may lead to application rejection.
It is also important to note that the electronic travel authorization visa is not a work visa, nor does it grant the holder permission to move to Canada. It is solely issued for short stays. This visa is for
Tourism
Business trips
Transit
Medical care
Living or working in Canada is prohibited with an ETA. Furthermore, you are not permitted to stay beyond the 180 days approved; staying a day more will attract fines. Lastly, minors must not apply for an ETA on their own unless their parents or guardians apply on their behalf. And such parents or guardians must prove with documents that the minor is their ward, child, family member.
The Canada visa for citizens of Finland is easy to apply for. Visit VisaHQ to fill out and submit the application form. The process is fast and easy and can be completed in under 30 minutes.