UAE residents apply for a Finland Schengen visa online at finlandvisa.fi, then hand in the application at VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The visa fee is AED 385, plus a VFS fee of AED 85. Finland expects about €50 per person per day.
Finland is popular for Lapland winter trips and the Northern Lights. December and January bookings fill early, so apply up to 6 months ahead.
Checked on 5 November 2026 against the Embassy of Finland in Abu Dhabi, Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the VFS Global Finland UAE page and Annex 18 of the EU Visa Code Handbook (July 2025). These rules come from your UAE residence. Your passport decides whether you need a visa (Emiratis don’t) and which fee band applies.
Finland at a glance
| Item | Finland from the UAE |
|---|---|
| Online form | finlandvisa.fi (or the PDF form) |
| Where you hand in | VFS Global, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, by appointment only |
| Who decides | Finnish authorities (Embassy of Finland, Abu Dhabi) |
| Visa fee | AED 385 (€90) age 12+; AED 190 (€45) ages 6–11; free under 6 |
| VFS service fee | AED 85 (€20) including tax |
| Funds | About €50 per person per day |
| Passport | Valid 3 months after your stay, 2 blank pages |
| Decision | 15 days, up to 45 in some cases |
| If refused | Review request within 30 days, €255, in Finnish or Swedish |
What your passport changes
| Your passport | Visa fee at VFS (UAE) |
|---|---|
| Most nationalities (Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Sri Lankan and others) | AED 385 adults, AED 190 children 6–11 |
| Visa facilitation countries (for example Georgia, Armenia, Albania) | AED 150 (€35) |
| Cape Verde | AED 290 (€67.50) |
| Emirati passport | No visa needed for up to 90 days in 180 |
Documents you need
The full checklist for your trip type appears in finlandvisa.fi; you can check it without logging in. For a tourist trip it normally includes:
- Application form from finlandvisa.fi, with its appendices
- One photo with a white background
- Passport valid 3 months after your stay, with 2 blank pages
- UAE residence visa and Emirates ID
- Travel insurance of at least €30,000, valid in the whole Schengen area or worldwide, for the whole stay
- Bank statements from the last 3 months
- Employer letter or NOC with your salary and approved leave, or your trade licence
- Flight reservation. Finland advises against buying tickets before the decision.
- Hotel bookings, or an invitation letter from your host
How to apply: step by step
- Confirm that Finland is your main destination. A Lapland trip that flies in through another country still belongs to Finland if most nights are there.
- Fill in the application at finlandvisa.fi and download the checklist for your trip.
- Book a VFS appointment in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. All applications are handed in in person.
- Attend, give fingerprints (unless you gave them in the last 59 months) and pay the visa fee and VFS fee. Fees are not refunded.
- Wait about 15 days. Your passport comes back to the VFS centre, or by courier for an extra fee.
How much money do you need?
Under Finland’s Aliens Act (301/2004, section 11), about €50 per person per day is considered necessary. The figure changes with your accommodation and whether someone is sponsoring you. For a 6-night Lapland trip that is about €300 (roughly AED 1,200), on top of your flights and hotel. Winter trips are expensive, so make sure your balance matches the trip you describe.
If you are refused
- Request a review (rectification) from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs within 30 days of receiving the decision. It must be in writing, in Finnish or Swedish, and the €255 fee must be paid first.
- Appeal to the Helsinki Administrative Court within 30 days of the review decision. The fee is €270, and the appeal must also be in Finnish or Swedish.
Because of the cost and the language rule, most UAE residents fix the problem and reapply instead. See the refusal letter explained.
Questions people ask
Where do I apply for a Finland visa in Dubai?
Fill in the form at finlandvisa.fi, then hand it in at the VFS Global Finland centre in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. VFS takes questions on +971 4 205 5907.
How much is the Finland visa fee from the UAE?
AED 385 for adults and AED 190 for children aged 6–11, plus AED 85 for VFS.
When should I apply for a Lapland trip in December?
As early as allowed: up to 6 months before travel. Aim for at least 6–8 weeks before, because winter appointments go quickly.
Can I appeal a Finnish refusal in English?
No. The review request and any court appeal must be in Finnish or Swedish.
Related guides
- Norway Schengen visa from the UAE
- Sweden Schengen visa from the UAE
- Schengen travel insurance from the UAE
Sources
- Embassy of Finland, Abu Dhabi: Mission and visa contacts
- Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Requesting review of a visa decision
- VFS Global: Finland visa information, UAE
- EU Visa Code Handbook, Annex 18: Reference amounts (31 July 2025)
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.