Finland Wants to Offer Consular Services in Doha

Finland Wants to Offer Consular Services in Doha

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Finnish MFA proposes that the Embassy of Finland in Doha start offering consular services in order to facilitate obtaining documents for Qatari nationals.
  • This change aims to enhance the accessibility of Finnish consular services for residents in Qatar, eliminating the need for them to travel to Abu Dhabi for services such as passport issuance and renewal.
  • Stakeholders have the opportunity to comment on the proposal until March 20, 2024. However, residence permit services will continue to be offered at the Finnish Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

According to a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a proposal has been made that the Decree of the Locations of Finland’s Diplomatic Missions and the Provision of Consular Services be amended, enabling the Doha embassy to begin providing consular services as of June 1, 2024.

The consultation round, during which stakeholders can submit comments regarding the draft until March 20, 2024, excludes the function of residence permit services to be offered at the Qatari capital embassy, which would be provided at the Embassy of Finland in Abu Dhabi.

The proposal would improve the situation of consular service recipients in Qatar, who would be provided with Finnish official services, such as passport issuance and renewal, at the Embassy of Finland in Doha as of 1 June 2024, making travelling to Abu Dhabi for this purpose unnecessary. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

In order to improve accessibility for visa applicants, the Finnish authorities previously announced that a new visa application centre would soon open in the Turkish city of Izmir. The new application centre, which will open on February 20, will make it easier for Turkish residents in Izmir and nearby areas to apply for a Finland Schengen visa, while they currently have to visit Ankara in order to apply for a visa.

As the Embassy of Finland in Ankara has stated, the new visa application centre in Izmir will be managed by VFS Global, which will handle applications. Finnish authorities will continue being responsible for issuing visas.

Finland Visa Application Centre maintained by VFS Global will be opened on February 20, 2024. The new Visa Application Centre will make it easier to apply for a Schengen visa to Finland. 

Embassy of Finland in Ankara

Starting on February 20, Turkish citizens will be able to apply for their visas in Izmir with the required documents, including the completed application form, two passport photos, travel health insurance evidence, proof of having accommodation, and proof of sufficient financial means to support themselves during their stay in the Schengen area.

Schengen Statistics reveal that a total of 4,073 visa applications were submitted to Finnish embassies by Turkish nationals in 2023, with 2,263 or 55.6 per cent of all applications being approved.

Applications for visas to Finland represent only 0.52 per cent of all requests submitted by Turks for the year.

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