United Kingdom
Finland
Finland visa for British citizens
Entry requirement
British citizens can visit Finland without a visa for up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at finlandabroad.fi
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Finland: visa decisions in the United Kingdom
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4,316 | 3,859 | 370 | 8.7% | 33.9% |
| 2024 | 4,254 | 3,606 | 628 | 14.8% | 38.3% |
| 2025 | 4,309 | 3,291 | 897 | 21.3% | 34.6% |
In 2025, Finland’s embassy and consulates in the United Kingdom (London) received 4,309 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 3,291. 21.3% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 14.8%: the rate rose by 6.5 points, a sharp increase. The number of applications was almost unchanged (4,254 in 2024).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 10.5% of the applications lodged in the United Kingdom that year, from 1.0% at the consulates of the Netherlands to 32.0% at those of Iceland. Finland’s consulates worldwide refused 13.4%. Finland was the 14th most applied-for Schengen state in the United Kingdom.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in the United Kingdom, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Finnish citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
FinlandUnited Kingdom Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United Kingdom visa for citizens of Finland
Travel advice for Finland
- US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
British citizens planning a trip to Finland can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates Finland at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 12 March 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Finland (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Finland (updated 13 October 2026).
Good to know
How long British citizens can stay in Finland
British citizens may stay in Finland for up to 90 days. Days in Finland count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Finland and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of British citizens in Finland count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Finland’s neighbours for British citizens
Norway and Sweden admit British citizens visa-free. Russia requires British citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Finnish citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
Finnish citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for the United Kingdom, obtained online before travel, for stays of up to 180 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Finland?
British citizens can visit Finland without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can British citizens stay in Finland?
British citizens can stay in Finland for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Finnish citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?
Finnish citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for the United Kingdom, obtained online before travel, for stays of up to 180 days.
Can British citizens enter Finland visa-free?
Yes, British citizens can enter Finland without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.