The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed on 30 November that its embassies in Islamabad, Kabul and Yangon will shut during 2026, following a strategic review of Helsinki’s 90-mission network. Officials cited security risks, limited commercial opportunities and the high cost of maintaining full-service posts in volatile markets.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen stressed that Finland is not withdrawing from South and Southeast Asia altogether: smaller commercial offices will replace the missions, focusing on trade promotion rather than consular services. For Finnish citizens, consular assistance and emergency travel documents will instead be handled by embassies in neighbouring countries, such as New Delhi and Bangkok.
![Finland to close embassies in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar, shifting to regional visa centres]()
The biggest impact will be felt by Pakistani, Afghan and Myanmar nationals who need Schengen visas or Finnish residence permits. They will have to travel to third-country visa-application centres, adding cost and time to already lengthy processes. Multinational employers with staff rotations in the region should adjust lead times for Finnish visa filings and update crisis-response plans that rely on local consular help.
The move reflects a wider Nordic trend toward consolidating physical footprints and expanding digital consular services. Companies should expect greater reliance on online applications, biometric “pop-up” roadshows and regional visa weeks, none of which offer the same immediacy as an in-country embassy.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen stressed that Finland is not withdrawing from South and Southeast Asia altogether: smaller commercial offices will replace the missions, focusing on trade promotion rather than consular services. For Finnish citizens, consular assistance and emergency travel documents will instead be handled by embassies in neighbouring countries, such as New Delhi and Bangkok.
The biggest impact will be felt by Pakistani, Afghan and Myanmar nationals who need Schengen visas or Finnish residence permits. They will have to travel to third-country visa-application centres, adding cost and time to already lengthy processes. Multinational employers with staff rotations in the region should adjust lead times for Finnish visa filings and update crisis-response plans that rely on local consular help.
The move reflects a wider Nordic trend toward consolidating physical footprints and expanding digital consular services. Companies should expect greater reliance on online applications, biometric “pop-up” roadshows and regional visa weeks, none of which offer the same immediacy as an in-country embassy.
