Visa information

Do I need a visa?

If you want to attend the EPH Conference in Helsinki, you may need a visa to enter Finland. Find out more about getting a visa to come to Finland here .

Letter of Invitation

To be granted a visa, you need a Letter of Invitation from the EPH Conference organisation. The following rules are very strict; we do not make exceptions.

It is the delegate's responsibility to investigate the visa requirements for Finland and to apply for a visa, if necessary. Delegates who require a visa must allow sufficient time for the application procedure.

Delegates should apply for a short-term Schengen visa at the Visa Application Centre indicated by a Finnish mission, at a Finnish mission or at a Schengen country mission representing Finland. 

Delegates must first register for the EPH Conference, pay in full and submit any required supporting documents (if applicable) before a letter of invitation is issued. EPH Conference Office will issue the letter of invitation, which must be submitted to the embassy/office when applying for a visa.

In case the visa is not granted, the registration fee minus a handling fee will be refunded after the conference. This will only be done if the visa was applied for in time and proof is given that the visa could not be granted even though all requested documents were submitted. Refund requests must be made in writing and sent together with the required proof to the Registration Officer, no later than 15 November 2025. Refund requests received after that date cannot be accepted.

The Letter of Invitation does not financially oblige the EPH Conference Office in any way. All expenses incurred in relation to the conference are the sole responsibility of the delegate. The Letter of Invitation does not guarantee an entry visa to Finland.

Delegate registration details may be shared with the immigration authorities to assist in the visa application process. However, EPH Conference Office will not directly contact embassies/offices on behalf of delegates.

The deadline for requesting a letter of invitation is 15 October 2025.

Request a short-term Schengen visa

A Schengen visa is an entry permit for a short, temporary visit of less than 90 days in any 180-day period. The Schengen visa for short stay allows you to stay in Finland for a maximum period of 90 days. It is usually requested for reasons of tourism, business or family visits.

The visa does not automatically guarantee entry into Finland. At the border or any other control point, additional documentation may be requested to prove that you meet the legal requirements to enter the Schengen area.

To apply for a visa you need to submit the following documents

You will find general guidance on document requirements here. You will find detailed country-specific instructions and document requirements on the finlandvisa.fi website.

Who should apply for a Schengen visa

Any foreigner who is not a national of a Member State of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland can apply for a Schengen visa for short stay.

Where and how to apply for a visa?

You must apply for a visa at the Visa Application Centre indicated by a Finnish mission, at a Finnish mission or at a Schengen country mission representing Finland. 

All visa applications must be submitted in person. Your biometric identifiers will be collected at the same time. Fingerprints are not taken if the fingerprints were given in connection with a previous visa application less than 59 months ago.

Book an appointment for submitting your application. An application cannot be sent by e-mail or telefax. You will find country-specific instructions on the website of the missions.

In the EU area you can apply for a Schengen visa in the following Finnish embassies: Berlin, Dublin, Madrid, Nicosia, Sofia, and Stockholm.

Honorary consuls and consulates cannot grant visas.

In some countries Finland may be represented by another Schengen state. In such cases, apply for a visa to Finland from the mission of that Schengen state.

How much does the Schengen visa cost?

A visa fee will be charged for processing a visa application. When applying for a visa at a Visa Application Centre, an additional service fee will be charged on top of the visa fee.

All fees must be paid in full when a visa application is submitted. Visa fees are available in the price list for services provided by Finnish missions.

For more detailed information about different missions’ practices and ways of payment, please visit the missions’ websites.

What is the deadline to apply for a short-term Schengen visa?

You must submit your application well in advance. You may submit an application no more than six (6) months before the start of the intended visit. The processing time of a visa application is 15 days.

The processing time may be longer if a more detailed examination of the application is required.