Finland is outsourcing the submission of Schengen visa applications and residence permit applications in Nigeria. Finland Application Centre maintained by VFS Global will be opened in Abuja in February-March 2019 (Date will be informed later) according to a report on the Finnish Embassy website.
Prior to this time, applicants would contact the embassy to book appointments for their visa interviews. However, this would eliminate the red tape in submitting schengen visa and residence permit applications.
An appointment at the Application Centre must be booked beforehand. The application must always be submitted in person together with the biometrics submission.
New websites as well as the call centre contact details for visa and residence permit applicants will be launched in February 2019. The new websites will guide applicants to complete applications electronically. Paper application are still accepted also in Application Centre.
The Embassy of Finland in Abuja will still process visa applications even after the Application Centre has opened. The Finnish Immigration Services will process all residence permit applications after the applicant has been interviewed at the Embassy.
The Embassy will continue accepting visa and residence permit applications, but with limited amount of appointment slots available. The confirmed appointments will remain as agreed.
Contributing Editor
