OREANDA-NEWS. Finland will now, like other EU countries, request from Russians applying for a Schengen visa a complete set of accompanying travel documents. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country. The changes will take effect on September 1.

At the moment, Russians who want to get a Finnish visa need to submit a completed and signed application form, a valid passport, a photo, a copy of their internal passport, a medical insurance policy and a receipt for paying a visa fee. More detailed documents were required only in exceptional cases. According to the Finnish Foreign Ministry, the most significant changes for tourists and other private visitors will concern documents confirming the availability of money and travel plans around the country. In particular, tickets and proof of residence will be required.

As for the confirmation of financial resources, it can be issued in the form of a certificate from the place of work with salary information or an extract from the bank for three months. The applicant may also submit a certificate of ownership of real estate in Russia. These changes will affect applications submitted to the visa department of the consulate or visa centers located throughout the country.

In August, the agency promised to publish updated requirements for supporting documents on the websites of Finland's visa centers in Russia. The rules will be published in Russian and English. What exactly the changes are connected with, the ministry didn't specify.

In early June, the EU Council approved amendments to the visa code, which determine the conditions for obtaining multiple Schengen visas. The innovations, which were supported in the European Parliament in April 2019, should simplify obtaining visas for “bona fide travelers”, as well as strengthen security standards and reduce the risks of irregular migration and simplify the expulsion of illegal migrants.