Do Nigerian passport holders with a Gulf (GCC) residence permit need a transit visa in Helsinki?

Documents that exempt you

• A valid Schengen visa exempts you.
• A valid residence permit from an EU or Schengen country exempts you.
• A valid Irish visa exempts you when you fly to Ireland or on to another country, or come back from Ireland after using it.
• A valid US visa exempts you when you fly to the US or on to another country, or come back from the US after using it.
• A valid Canadian visa exempts you when you fly to Canada or on to another country, or come back from Canada after using it.
• A valid Japanese visa exempts you when you fly to Japan or on to another country, or come back from Japan after using it.
• A valid US Green Card (Form I-551) exempts you.
• A valid Canadian permanent resident card or travel document exempts you.
• Holders of diplomatic passports, flight crew, and family members of EU citizens are also exempt.

Only changing planes?

An airport transit visa only covers changing between two flights that are both outside the Schengen area, without leaving the international transit area (for example Lagos to Helsinki to Toronto). If your next flight goes to another Schengen country, or you have to collect bags, change airports or leave the airport, you pass border control at Helsinki and need a Schengen visa instead, unless your passport is visa-free for Schengen.

Sources: Visa Code, Article 3 (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009) · EU-wide list · national lists (European Commission). Checked 30 September 2026.