Published: 30.04.2026
Security conditions have temporarily closed some Finnish missions and VFS centres in the Middle East or reduced their services. Applicants are advised to check the relevant centre’s website and notify the Finnish Immigration Service through Enter Finland if they cannot prove their identity within three months of submitting an application.
According to sources, this is a temporary operational disruption: applications and identity verification may be unavailable or delayed in some countries in the region. That can affect the timing of residence-permit processing for applicants who must complete in-person identification after applying online. The issue primarily affects residence-permit applicants, including students, who are located in the Middle East. They should monitor their VFS centre and notify Migri promptly about a new appointment or an inability to complete identity verification.