VFS Global Renews Contract to Handle Finnish Visa Services

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has renewed its contract with visa services provider VFS Global to manage visa and residence permit services across 32 countries, including the collection and processing of biometric data like fingerprints and facial images required for digital identity verification. The agreement covers both Schengen short-stay visas and Finnish residence permits, building on a partnership that has processed over 8.5 million applications since its inception in 2010.

The renewed contract encompasses services across major regions including South Asia, the Americas, Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, North Africa, Africa, Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Russia. VFS Global will handle front-end administrative tasks including biometric data collection, document verification, and fee collection, while final visa decisions remain exclusively with Finnish authorities.

According to Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the decision to extend the partnership was based on VFS Global’s technical infrastructure and quality control measures. The company’s biometric enrollment capabilities align with Schengen visa requirements, which mandate collection of fingerprints and facial images from applicants.

The service provider will manage application centers in key markets where demand for Finnish visas has grown significantly. This includes India, where VFS Global operates multiple visa application centers handling both short-term Schengen visas and residence permit applications for students and workers.

Under the agreement, VFS Global will continue implementing its standardized application processing system, which includes security features such as automated document authentication and biometric data verification. The company maintains ISO-certified processes for handling sensitive personal data in compliance with EU privacy regulations.

Sources: ET Travel World, SchengenVisaInfo, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

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October 31, 2024 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team