The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has issued a rare operational notice confirming that several Finnish embassies and VFS Global centres in the Middle East have suspended or curtailed residence-permit appointments owing to the deteriorating security environment. Published on 30 April, the advisory urges applicants using the Enter Finland e-portal to monitor individual centre websites and, where necessary, to re-book biometrics appointments in alternative jurisdictions. Students holding conditional offers for autumn 2026 intake are advised to contact their universities if identity verification cannot be completed within the statutory three-month window. Consular officials are exploring pop-up service days and remote-capture technology but caution that such measures may not be feasible in all locations. Until further notice, only designated missions listed in the Presidential Decree on Foreign Missions will accept in-person proof-of-identity for D-visas and first-time residence permits. For employers relocating talent out of conflict-affected states, the announcement means longer lead times and potentially higher costs as assignees travel to third-country posts—most commonly Abu Dhabi, Doha or Riyadh—for biometrics. HR teams should budget travel allowances and factor possible delays into project start dates. The ministry reminds applicants that it cannot influence other countries’ visa issuance if a traveller requires entry clearance merely to reach a Finnish mission. Companies are therefore urged to map transit-visa requirements alongside Finnish immigration paperwork.
