Finland

Q. How long will it take for my funds to be received?
A. Standard international payment time. However, with the right foreign exchange broker, this can be done as fast as the same day.

Q. Who can I send EUR to?
A. Both individuals and businesses can receive funds for countries sending with the Euro.

Q. Is sending EUR expensive?
A. Not if you use the right currency broker, who will be able to offer you bank-beating exchange rates and significantly lower payment charges.

Q. Can you use forward contracts with EUR?
A. Yes. With the right currency broker, you can book a EUR exchange rate forward, protecting you against any adverse currency movements. With these contracts, you will always know exactly what is coming out of your bank account.

Information courtesy of Currencies Direct.

Film Commissions

Åland Film Commission

East Finland Film Commission (EFFC)

Film in Finland

Film Lapland

Film Tampere

South East Finland Film Commission (SEFFC)

North Finland Film Commission (NFFC)

West Finland Film Commission (WFFC)

European Film Commissions Network (a non-profit association, which supports and promotes the European film industry and culture)

Visas & Permits

Visas & Work Permits

Finland is a member of the Schengen area.

UK passport holders can enter Finland visa-free for stays of up to 90 days, over a 180 day period, for some business-related activities (such as attending business meetings). However, for longer stays or other types of work, a visa or permit may be required.

Further information on work visas can be found at the GOV.UK website. Alternatively, please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. There are also specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry, and may be able to assist.

Film Location Permits

Finland has a film friendly and streamlined permitting process. Filming that doesn’t significantly disrupt public use of a location doesn’t generally require a permit.

Permission for filming in Helsinki, with exclusive use of public property, generally takes about a week to process. More complicated shoots, filming in national parks or historic locations usually take two weeks to permit.

Customs

For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Finland is an ATA carnet country.

When to Film

When to Film

Finland has a four season climate.

Winters (December to March) get very cold and snowy. During midwinter, the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon, meaning 24 hours of darkness. Spring (April to May) starts to see warmer weather and longer daylight hours. Snow can remain on the ground until May, making Finland an ideal place to shoot late snow scenery. Summers (June to September) are warm with Finland receiving 24 hours of daylight. Forested areas are plagued by mosquitoes, during the midsummer months, so remember to bring plenty of repellent. Autumn (October to November) brings colourful leaves.

The best time for filming the Aurora Borealis is between September and March.

Finland is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.

Public Holidays

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Finland.

Costs & VAT

Finland is the least expensive of the Scandinavian countries. Location and equipment costs are more or less the same across Scandinavia. However, the main difference lies in labour and overtime costs, which command lower fees.

The standard VAT rate in Finland, at the time of writing, is set at 24%.