Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs has announced the closure of its visa processing centre in the southeastern city of Kouvola, with operations set to move to Helsinki starting from the beginning of 2025.
The decision followed redundancy negotiations that led to 19 of the 40 staff members opting for severance packages, varying from five months to one year's salary based on the duration of their service.
The remaining staff have been offered positions at the new Helsinki location. The negotiations were prompted by a significant decrease in visa applications following Finland's restriction on Russian citizens entering the country in September last year.
The Kouvola centre primarily handles residence permits and visa applications, roles that will now be transferred to Helsinki as part of an effort to centralise operations.
The ministry cited operational reasons for the closure, reflecting broader trends in decreased demand for visa services amidst geopolitical tensions.
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