Finland might open visa centre in Komi
Finnish consular authorities are considering to open a service point for visa applicants in the Komi Republic.
During his visit to the region this week, General Consul Olli Perheentupa confirmed that Finnish and Komi authorities have agreed to look at the issue. –I believe this will strengthen relations between our Finno-Ugriuc peoples, the diplomat said, a press release from the Komi government reads.
A visa centre in the Komi Republic would significantly facilitate the acquisition of Schengen visas for the regional population. Finland from before has consular units in Petrozavodsk and Murmansk, in addition to Sankt Petersburg and Moscow. As reported by BarentsObserver, the country also recently established a visa centre in the Tatar capital of Kazan.
Finland is the biggest issuer of visas to Russians. In 2010, the country issued about one million visas from its consular stations in Russia.
Read also: Look to Finland
In his meeting with republican leader Vyacheslav Gaizer, General Consul Perheentupa also highlighted the importance of the bilateral Finnish-Komi cooperation agreement, arguing that this kind of regional agreements allow the parts to work more productively than agreements on state level. On the meeting agenda was also issues of timber processing, education, culture and the Belkomur railway project.
