The customer service at the Finnish Consulate General in St Petersburg will close on September 1, 2023. This follows the Russian government’s announcement on July 6, 2023, that the Consulate General will close on October 1, 2023.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland has released further details of its replacement services at its embassy in Moscow:
- As of September 1, 2023, Finland’s Embassy in Moscow will take on the duties for consular and entry matters previously handled in St Petersburg. Applications for a visa to Finland may be submitted at VFS Global Visa Applications Centres. From the beginning of September, VFS Global Visa Application Centres in St Petersburg and elsewhere in Northwest Russia will only receive visa applications. As of September 1, 2023, applications for a visa will be received five days a week from Monday to Friday. Applicants can book an appointment for submitting an application here.
- From the beginning of September, customers must visit the Embassy in Moscow in all matters concerning residence permits. Applications for a residence permit will be received three days a week from Monday to Wednesday. Applicants can book an appointment for submitting an application here.
- Appointments for submitting a visa application and for supplying biometric information for a residence permit may be booked from September 1, 2023 onwards. However, the number of slots available both for visa application submission and for biometric enrolment for a residence permit application will be significantly reduced from earlier levels due to limited resources.
Erickson Insights and Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.