Indian film productions denied entry to North Karelia over visa rejections
Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports that multiple Indian film and music video productions have been blocked from filming in North Karelia after their visa applications were repeatedly rejected, threatening Finland’s reputation as a filming location.
Harish Kumar Hans, known professionally as Honey Hans—a director with productions in around 40 countries—told Yle he has never faced such obstacles before. His 13-member crew has been denied visas twice by Finland’s New Delhi embassy, with only a few applications approved. “I am a patient person, but my patience is running out. I don’t know what to do,” Hans said. No clear reasons for the rejections have been provided.
The issue risks damaging Finland’s standing among international filmmakers, warns Perttu Mutka, film commissioner at the Eastern Finland Film Commission. Last year, Finland rejected 14% of Indian visa applications, in line with the EU average. Katja Luopajärvi, head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ entry unit, noted that missing or incorrect documents could explain rejections, though she could not comment on individual cases.
Hans, whose music videos garner millions of views, had planned to shoot in North Karelia’s Koli region after a scouting visit last November. He had also promised to recommend the location to colleagues, sparking interest from other Indian producers. Now, nine productions are on hold, with new inquiries arriving weekly.
Culture Minister Mari-Leena Talvitie acknowledged the problem during a regional tour in Joensuu earlier this month, pledging to find a solution. “It’s important we resolve this quickly. We want to offer Finland as a filming location, so we need to clarify if there have been misunderstandings in the application process,” she said.
Mutka fears prolonged delays could drive productions to rival destinations like Sweden, especially as the EU and India recently finalised a major trade deal. “This is embarrassing. If patience runs out, they’ll look elsewhere,” he said.