Finland has begun outsourcing the reception of residence permit applications in Vietnam to a service centre operated by VFS Global, with applications accepted at its Hanoi centre from 6 October.
The change provides applicants with a dedicated location to submit their applications and complete identity checks, including the collection of biometric data. The Finnish Embassy in Hanoi announced the new arrangement on 24 September.
Applicants must book an appointment and complete their residence permit applications online in advance through Finland’s Enter Finland service. Paper applications are also accepted. A service fee of €20, payable in Vietnamese dong, applies at the centre in addition to the residence permit application fee if the latter has not already been paid online.
The centre is located on the second floor of Ocean Park Building, 1 Dao Duy Anh Street, Hanoi. The Finnish Embassy will continue to handle residence permit appointments that were already scheduled before the change.
The Finnish Immigration Service remains responsible for processing applications and making decisions on residence permits. The new arrangement concerns the reception of applications and identity checks, rather than the assessment of applications themselves.
The service may be relevant to people in Vietnam planning to move to Finland for work, study or family reasons. Applicants should check the latest appointment requirements and fees through the official Finnish and VFS Global websites before submitting their applications.
