Talks that the Schengen visas issued by Finland, unclaimed for understandable “coronavirus” reasons, will be extended or replaced free of charge (at least for residents of St. Petersburg and border regions) have not been confirmed. The other day this was reported at the Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg.
They clarified that in visa matters Finland is guided primarily by the visa code of the Schengen countries. It is in accordance with this document that Finland (and specifically the St. Petersburg Consulate General) cannot extend the validity of a visa or otherwise postpone its validity.
The visa fee is also not refundable: the point is, as the consulate says, that this fee covers the costs of processing a visa application – and, accordingly, in the current conditions, a new visa application will be considered anew.
“MK” in St. Petersburg “has written more than once that Petersburgers should not hope for a quick return of the usual practice of travel to Finland, as well as for the revival of tasty and healthy border trade.