As part of new visa rules effective January 1, 2024, Finland has increased the minimum daily spending requirement for Schengen visa applicants to €50, up 66% from the previous €30.
Applicants will also now need to provide proof of sponsorship from a Finnish resident or citizen.
The changes come as the Nordic country looks to keep pace with rising costs of living.
“The financial requirement applies to visits of no more than 90 days,” said Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “It has been lagging behind as the cost of living has increased.”
Hefty Price Tag for Short Stays
Under the new rules, travelers to Finland for under 90 days must prove they have €50 available per day, versus the old €30.
The tougher requirement makes Finland one of the priciest European destinations for short-term visitors.
Neighboring Sweden, by comparison, asks for about €45 a day, while Estonia requires around €35.
Finland follows other countries in ramping up daily minimums.
Belgium upped its amount to €95 for visitors staying in hotels.
Post-Brexit, Britain saw queues at Spanish borders over that nation’s suddenly strict subsistence rules.
New Burden of Proof for Sponsored Visitors
In tandem with the steeper daily requirement, Finland will newly mandate proof of accommodation and sponsorship forms for hosted travelers.
Visa applicants “will now need to provide a proof of sponsorship and/or accommodation form filled in by the inviting party,” the ministry said.
The change means visitors relying on Finnish hosts to cover costs must submit the sponsor’s pledge alongside their visa application.
Sponsors themselves must be permanent Finnish residents or citizens.
Tighter Rules Ahead for Long-Stayers
The new financial requirements mainly target short holiday travelers.
However, longer-term visitors like students and digital nomads could eventually face tighter scrutiny too.
Finland’s visa moves come amid rising anti-immigration sentiment across Europe.
Far-right parties point to overstays and alleged benefits abuse by new arrivals.
Not long ago, the EU approved its ETIAS scheme, requiring security checks and fees for visa-free travelers starting in May 2025.
Once in place, experts believe that the system may expand to screen and limit legal immigration.
For now, Finland insists that its new rules are not aimed at lawful migrants or families relocating from inside the EU.
However, the climate suggests that Europe’s open-border era may be ending.
Schengen Under Pressure to Reform
At just €50 per day, Finland’s requirements remain modest by EU standards.
However, its new proof-of-sponsorship rule reveals trans-European strains.
The change directly stems from an EU directive to unify and strengthen Schengen visa policies.
Countries like Germany have pushed hard to implement such measures bloc-wide.
Still, the EU faces criticism for overextending Schengen rules.
Skeptics argue that the system was meant to ease leisure travel, not regulate immigration.
As member states increasingly “Schengenize” their broader immigration policies, many fear the vision of open internal EU borders is fading.
If so, the ETIAS scheme coming in 2025 may cement a new era of friction.
Tough Love for Travelers
For many tourists and business visitors, the new Finnish visa rules mean tougher scrutiny and higher bars to clear.
However, officials say that the changes help ensure visitors do not overstay or strain public resources.
As Finland’s costs go up, it is joining neighbors in taking a harder line on travel to the Nordic bloc.
Lithuania, Norway, and Denmark have also tightened visa and border policies in the last two years.
While the new demands may pinch, experts say that Finland remains a top global destination with visas still well within reach.
However, the days of breezing through Schengen borders may be over.