The Embassy of Finland in Beijing announced that it will remain closed on Friday, 14 November due to an internal staff event. All in-person appointments for passports, notarials and residence-permit interviews have been cancelled, and the embassy switchboard will be unmanned.
Finns in need of emergency travel documents, as well as Chinese citizens holding visa interview slots, are being directed to contact the Foreign Ministry’s 24/7 Service Centre in Helsinki. According to the embassy’s notice, routine consular operations will resume on Monday, 17 November.
![Finnish Embassy in Beijing Closed on 14 November—Consular Services Redirected to Helsinki]()
While a single-day closure may seem minor, mobility professionals should note the ripple effects on tight travel timelines. Chinese assignees bound for Finnish winter projects often aim to submit biometrics right after the Singles’ Day holiday week; those applicants must now reschedule through the VFS Global visa centre, pushing decisions into December.
Employers filing fast-track D visas under Finland’s Talent Boost programme are advised to upload supporting documents in Enter Finland and use the e-authorisation feature, which allows Helsinki to finalise permits even if local biometrics are delayed. Travellers already in China who require urgent passport extensions can apply for an emergency document at the Shanghai Consulate, but slots are limited.
The embassy closure also serves as a reminder to maintain up-to-date emergency contacts. During the COVID-19 crisis many firms created China-specific escalation protocols, yet some have since lapsed. Ensuring that relocation vendors and travelling staff know the Helsinki hotline (+358 9 160 55555) remains best practice.
Finns in need of emergency travel documents, as well as Chinese citizens holding visa interview slots, are being directed to contact the Foreign Ministry’s 24/7 Service Centre in Helsinki. According to the embassy’s notice, routine consular operations will resume on Monday, 17 November.
While a single-day closure may seem minor, mobility professionals should note the ripple effects on tight travel timelines. Chinese assignees bound for Finnish winter projects often aim to submit biometrics right after the Singles’ Day holiday week; those applicants must now reschedule through the VFS Global visa centre, pushing decisions into December.
Employers filing fast-track D visas under Finland’s Talent Boost programme are advised to upload supporting documents in Enter Finland and use the e-authorisation feature, which allows Helsinki to finalise permits even if local biometrics are delayed. Travellers already in China who require urgent passport extensions can apply for an emergency document at the Shanghai Consulate, but slots are limited.
The embassy closure also serves as a reminder to maintain up-to-date emergency contacts. During the COVID-19 crisis many firms created China-specific escalation protocols, yet some have since lapsed. Ensuring that relocation vendors and travelling staff know the Helsinki hotline (+358 9 160 55555) remains best practice.
