Finnish visa for South African citizens
A visa is REQUIRED for South African passport holders visiting Finland for tourism and business purposes. See detailed requirements below:
Visa requirements:
| Visa type | Purposes | Visa requirements | Allowed stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | For South African citizens to enter Finland for a short-term tourism purpose. | Visa required | N/A |
| Evisa | Finland e-visa for South African citizens | Not Available | |
| Visa on arrival | Finland visa on arrival for South African citizens | Not Available | |
Finland tourist visa requirements:
- Holding South African passport that is valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay in Finland.
- Proof of onward travel (departure) from Finland.
If you are looking for Finland visa information, such as available types of visas, or how to apply from South Africa, we recommend you visit or contact the embassy or consulate of Finland nearest your place of residence.
- Pretoria: The Embassy of Finland in Pretoria, South Africa (Working hours: Close now. Open in 7 hours 27 minutes)
- Cape Town: The Honorary Consulate of Finland in Cape Town, South Africa (Working hours: Close now. Open in 7 hours 27 minutes)
- Durban: The Honorary Consulate of Finland in Durban, South Africa (Working hours: Close now. Open in 7 hours 27 minutes)
Finland visa applications & requirements (For reference purposes only, please visit the nearest Finland diplomatic mission offices to South Africa for guidance)
Tourism Statistics Chart
The line chart shows the number of visitors from South Africa traveling to Finland from 2008 to 2018.
| Year | Number of visitors (South Africa) estimated | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 20,700 | N/A |
| 2009 | 18,426 | -10.99% |
| 2010 | 19,248 | 4.46% |
| 2011 | 21,771 | 13.11% |
| 2012 | 23,057 | 5.91% |
| 2013 | 23,215 | 0.69% |
| 2014 | 22,667 | -2.36% |
| 2015 | 21,763 | -3.99% |
| 2016 | 23,149 | 6.37% |
| 2017 | 26,394 | 14.02% |
| 2018 | 26,759 | 1.38% |
References: UNWTO.org, World Bank and multiple sources. (This data is for informational purposes only. Please see our disclaimer page for more information.)
Finland & South Africa comparison
Finland's area is approximately 303,890 km2 (117,332 sq mi), while the area of South Africa is approximately 1,213,090 km2 (468,376 sq mi). This means South Africa is 3.99 times bigger than Finland.
As of October 2025, Finland's population is ~5.6 million people - 57,522,171 fewer people than the population of South Africa.
We have highlighted Finland & South Africa’s relative positions on world's map for your reference.
| Finland | South Africa | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (est 2025) | 5,582,275 | 63,104,446 | 57.5 million fewer people live in Finland than South Africa |
| Number of diplomatic missions abroad (est) | 85 | 124 | Finland has 39 fewer diplomatic representations abroad compared with South Africa. |
| Travel freedom (2025) | 145 | 67 | Finland passport holders can visit 78 more countries and territories without a visa. |
| Number of foreign missions hosted | 162 | 197 | Finnish hosts 35 fewer foreign missions than South Africa. |
Frequently asked questions, answered
How many visitors from South Africa travel to Finland in one year?
The number of visitors from South Africa visiting Finland in 2018 was approximately 26,759.
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- Eritrea
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- Faroe Islands
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- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
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- Gambia
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- Gibraltar
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| Humidity | 99% | |
| Wind | 6.4 km/h | |
| Sunrise | 10:19 AM | |
Useful Information
- Helsinki to Pretoria: 9252.63 km (5749.32 mi)
- Travel time: 19 hours 16 minutes
This page was last updated on: October 2025