If you are a citizen of, or if you legally and permanently stay in one of the following countries, you are a customer of the Embassy of Finland in Abuja, Nigeria:
Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) , Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
If you are a citizen of, or if you legally and permanently stay in one of the following countries you may apply for a visa to Finland in the following Embassies, which represent Finland in visa matters:
Benin :
Burkina Faso:
Ghana:
Guinea-Bissau:
The visa applicants living in NIgeria should note, that the visas cannot be applied from the Honorary Consulate of Finland in Lagos. All applicants need to apply from the Embassy of Finland in Abuja.
You can apply for a visa, if the lenght of your stay in Finland is maximum three months. If you plan to stay more than three months, you should apply for a residence permit from Finnish Immigration. A Schengen visa can be granted for maximum of 90 days.
All visa applicants have to schedule an appointment well in advance. All applicants will be interviewed and their fingerprints collected. Send your appointment request in English to: visa.aba@formin.fi
When you come to the Embassy for your interview appointment you must bring with you all the required original documents and one set of clear photocopies of alll your documents, including bio-data page of passport.
The visa fee is non-refundable. Visa is free of charge for spouses, when the marriage is officially registered in Finland, and for the children of EU citizens and for any children under 6 years of age.
Please note that the Embassy does NOT grant visas for attending school entrance exams, job interviews or trial periods in connection with offered job contracts in Finland.
DOCUMENTS TO BE PROVIDED BY ALL SCHENGEN VISA APPLICANTS:
Schengen visa application form that is duly completed, dated and signed by the applicant before coming to the Embassy
An international e-passport which is valid at least three months after the journey
One (1) recent passport size photograph, coloured on white background (coloured backgrounds will not be accepted) taken without headgear. Please, do not staple the photo on the visa application form! See the photo guidelines by the Finnish Police
Previous passports, if any
Copy of flight reservation including return flight. Do not buy tickets before a visa has been granted !
- salary slips, personal bank statements for the last three months, regular incomes generated by property
Original blue bank slip as proof of payment of visa application fee (60EUR / 13 000 Naira)
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO BE PROVIDED BY APPLICANTS TRAVELLING FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOURISM
Proof of accommodation for the whole duration of the intended stay: hotel reservations, rental of holiday homes or proof of private accommodation (invitation) from the host.
Proof of employment
- Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) and Certificate of Business Incorporation paper for businessmen
- Employment letter stating the days of leave for employee
- For scholars (professors, scholarship-holders, lecturers, instructors etc.) and students, letter from school or university
Any proof of ties to Nigeria (original documents such as marriage certificate, childrens' birth certificates, legal proof of real estate or other properties, etc.)
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO BE PROVIDED BY APPLICANTS TRAVELLING FOR THE PURPOSE OF VISITING FAMILY OR FRIENDS
official birth or marriage certificates legally proving the family relationship between the visa applicant and the person to be visited, when visiting family members
emails, correspondence, photos and other applicable material about the relationship with the host in Finland and the visa applicant, when visiting friends
dated and signed invitation letter stating the length of the visit and the nature of the relationship between the host and the visa applicant, in English if the applicant does not understand Finnish
bank statements for the last 3 months from the host or applicant are required depending who is covering the costs for the trip
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO BE PROVIDED BY APPLICANTS TRAVELLING FOR BUSINESS
Invitation letter from the company based in Finland
TCC (Tax Clearance Certificate) and Certificate of Business Incorporation
Proof of commercial activities in Nigeria and recent business contacts, the continuation of the commercial relationship with the company that invites (contracts, invoices, commercial correspondence etc. if applicable)
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO BE PROVIDED BY APPLICANTS TRAVELLING FOR PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCES, FAIRS, SEMINARS, CONGRESSES, ETC.
An invitation from a company or authorised body to attend events connected with trade, industry or work
Proof of registration and entry tickets for events, if applicable
Other documents which show the existence of trade or work relations
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO BE PROVIDED BY APPLICANTS TRAVELLING FOR RESEARCH OR TRAINING
Certificate of enrolment at an educational establishment for the purpose of studying, scientific or practical training (including vocational training) or other events enhancing professional and intellectual skills
Student’s cards or certificates of the courses to be attended
Proof of prepayment of courses or training, if applicable
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO BE PROVIDED BY APPLICANTS TRAVELLING FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES
Verbal note issued by the Nigerian MFA confirming the that the applicant is a member of an official delegation travelling to Finland
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO BE PROVIDED BY APPLICANTS TRAVELLING FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
Letter from the applicant’s physician or the hospital in Nigeria recommending treatment in Finland
An official document of the receiving medical institution in Finland confirming that it can perform the specific medical treatment and the patient will be accepted accordingly
Proof of pre-payment of the treatment or other proof of sufficient financial means to cover the medical treatment and related expenses, such as additional insurance coverage
Any other correspondence between the sending and receiving medical institutions, if available
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORS
Letter of consent from both parents/legal guardians (official proof of guardianship, if applicable)
Original and one copy of birth certificate of the minor, naming mother and father
ID cards/passports of both parents/legal guardians
All applicants should be prepared to provide more information and additional documents if required by the Visa Section.
After the visa has been granted, the following documents must be presented:
Original paid return flight ticket (on paper, no e-ticket by email)
Original certificate of health and travel insurance issued by an accredited Schengen insurance policy company, please refer to: Insurance companies accepted by Schengen countries
- has to be valid in all Schengen countries for the whole duration of stay inside Schengen area
- has to cover expenses caused by illness, accident, medical care and possible repatriation up to the amount of 30.000 Euro
If the visa is not granted the refusal will be sent to the visa applicant's personal email together with the instructions for rectification request.
Updated 4/4/2013
