Due to the unique education system & high job income “Finland student visa” is among the top queries for international students.

Finland offers up to 400 degree programs for estimated 20,000 international students in English.
These programs are mostly practice-oriented programs. 

The University of Helsinki in Finland is ranked in the top 100 universities of the world and considered in the top 1% of research universities in the world.

But most International students who are interested to study in Finland face problems while applying for a student visa.

This is why a detailed guide is necessary about the subject.

This guide will provide you detailed information about the Finland study visa process, fee structure, documentation, requirements, etc.

I hope it will not only solve your every visa query about Finland but also prepare you step by step for the possible interview.

Don’t miss the questions answer session at the end.

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Finland Student visa

 

1. Types of Finland student visas for International Students

2. Finland study Visa fee

3. Finland Consulates and Embassies for students

4. Visa process time for Finland student visa

5. Documents Required for Finland Student Visa

6. How to Apply for Finland Student Visa

7. Interview Questions for Finland Student Visa

8. Frequently asked questions

9. Finland Student Visa Success Rate

10. SUMMARY

 

 

 

1. Types of Finland student visas

 

There are two types of Finland study visas for international Non-Eu students. Depends on the duration of time the student wants to spend in Finland.

1.1. Finland Schengen visit visa (Short-term Less than 90 days)

1.2. Finland Residence permit (Long-term More than 90 days)

Let me explain.

 

1.1. Finland Schengen visit visa (short term-Less than 90 days)

 

If the student is applying for a “Short Course” or  “Apprenticeship” or “Seminars”, or “Vocational training” or “Exchange & mobility program”, or “University single course” that only requires them to stay in Finland for up to 90 days then the applicant should apply for a

 “Short-term Schengen Finland visa”.

Check out The application form for a short-term Schengen Finland visa.

International students are also advised to check the specific criteria of Finland embassies in their home countries by following this link.

 

 

1.2. Finland Residence permit (Long-term More than 90 days)

 

If the Student is applying for a course that is taking more than 90 days, then they should apply for a Finland Residence permit. 

In most cases, if the student is applying for a full-time Bachelor’s or Masters or PhD (Or research). Their course will take more than 90 days, so they should apply for a residence permit.

Check out The application form on paper for Finland Residence Permit (Long term study visa)

While if the applicant wishes to apply through E application, then find the link here.

International students are also advised to check the specific criteria of Finland embassies or VFX centers in their home countries by following this link.

 The finish Immigration service will decide for international students which kind of residence permit they need or are eligible for.

The first residence permit for Finland can be granted for a maximum of two years. Depend on the specific case.

 

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1.3. Study programs & Finland Visa table

 

Study Programs	Stay of Duration	Type of Finland student visa
Exchange & mobility program	Less than 90 days	Finland Schengen visit visa
University single course	Less than 90 days	Finland Schengen visit visa
Vocational training	Less than 90 days	Finland Schengen visit visa
Academic short course	Less than 90 days	Finland Schengen visit visa
Apprenticeship	Less than 90 days	Finland Schengen visit visa
Full-time Graduate or post-graduate programs (Bachelor or Masters or PhD or Research)	More than 90 days	Finland Residence permit
Exchange & Mobility program, University single course, Vocational training, Academic short course, Apprenticeship	IF More than 90 days	Finland Residence permit

 

 

 

2. Finland student Visa fee

 

For Finland, Residence permit (Long-term visa of More than 90 days) Students need to pay 350 EUR for the electronic application,
while the paper application fee is 450 EUR. 

For a Finland Schengen visit visa (Short-term/ Less than 90 days) the visa fee is 80 Euros.

Finnish authorities allow a student to pay the fee online, through bank transfer, or at the visa application center.

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3. Finland Consulates and Embassies for students

Finland has a total of 83 Embassies and 386 Consulates that are spread all over the world.

The Finish immigration service is responsible for giving Visas to the students.

Other important sites for students to look up are the Finish foreign affairs website  and the Ministry of Education & Culture Finland.

Applicant can find their desired Finland embassies in their home countries by following Finland Abroad.

 

 

 

4. Visa process time for Finland student visa

The online application process for a Finland Residence permit (Long-term study visa- More than 90 days) takes 1-2 months to process if submitted online through E application, while Paper application takes 2-3 months for processing.

The Finland Schengen visit visa (Short-term Less than 90 days) can take up to 10-15 days, strictly depending upon

The Applicant’s Nationality,

Finnish Embassy in that particular region,

The number of applicants

and sometimes specific requirements of the Applicant’s case.

The Finish immigration service gives priority to student visa application.
Hopefully, students will not have to wait too long for processing and completion of the visa process.

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5. Documents Required for Finland Student Visa

 

5.1. Visa Application form

5.2. Passport-size photographs

5.3. Valid Passport

5.4. CNIC

5.5. Academic Documents

5.6. CV

5.7. English Language Proficiency (IELTS) for Finland Student Visa

5.8. Statement of Purpose

5.9. Acceptance Letter for Admission

5.10. Bank statement for Finland Student Visa

5.11. Health (Travel) Insurance

5.12. Medical certificate

5.13. Proof of Legal Fees

5.14. Receipt of Visa Processing Fee

5.15. Copy of Hotel Reservation & Flight Booking

5.16. Family Registration Certificate (FRC)

5.17. No Objection Certificate (Optional)

5.18. Police Clearance Certificate (Optional)

5.19. Certificates of extracurricular achievements

5.20. Corona Vaccination Certificates

5.21. Marriage and Childbirth Certificate

 

 

5.1. Visa Application form

Carefully fill out the Finland visa application form & submit it.

Here are the important links for Finland study visa application forms.

Check out The application form for a short-term Schengen Finland visa.

And The application form on paper for Finland Residence Permit (Long term study visa)

While if the applicant wishes to apply through E application, then find the link here.

Keep in mind that e-service accounts are only for personal use. Applicants can’t send an application for an employee or spouse through their account.

International students are also advised to check the specific criteria of Finland embassies in their home countries by following this link.

 

 

5.2. Passport-size photographs

The general picture format for a Finnish student visa is the following.

A: Two recent (within 6 months) passport-size (35x45mm) photos.

B: White background with neutral facial expressions. (Unedited)

C: Avoid uniforms & the head should be 80% in the photo.

D: The applicant should look at the camera.

E: One photograph should be glued to the visa application
while the other should contain the applicant’s full name on the reverse side, & should be attached with a paper clip to the visa form.

The same rules apply to every Schengen country.

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5.3. Valid Passport

A: A passport must have at least 18 months of validity from the date of visa application.

B: Applicants will also provide visa copies (if they have any).

C: The passport must have at least two blank pages.

D: All the previous passports must also be attached. (If they have any)

 

 

5.4. CNIC

A birth certificate and a National Identity card are mandatory for a Finland student visa.
It depends on case to case.

 

 

 

5.5. Academic Documents 

It includes all academic records & certificates.

A. Certificate & transcript of Bachelor’s (If a student is applying for a master’s program)

B. Certificate & transcript of Master’s (If a student is applying for a Ph.D. program)

C. Transcript (DMCs) of Metric & FSC and certificates (if a student is applying for a bachelor’s degree)

D. Proficiency certificate in English from the university.

E. Course summary which explains current courses & previous courses.

F. Provide two Recommendation Letters from your university along with the referee’s detail.

 

5.5.1. Translated Documents contain:

A. Confirmation from Translation Company/Translator

B. Translation Date

C. Name and Signature of the Translator

D. Translator’s Contact Details

NOTE:

The above-mentioned documents must be attested by respective universities and boards for study visa of Finland.

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5.6. CV

CV is compulsory for the university admission process and optional for embassy interviews.

It should contain all the contact details and academic information.
Students can make a perfect Cv in Europass here in under a few minutes.

 

 

 

5.7.  English Language Proficiency (IELTS) for Finland Student Visa

There are no specific mentions of IELTS for Finland student visas on their immigration website. However, IELTS could be compulsory for certain departments in specific Finnish universities (like Metropolia university require 7 bands for Masters) while others only rely on English proficiency certificate.

This English proficiency certificate will prove that your course of medium throughout your previous studies was English.
Having a strong band in IELTS certainly increases your chances of getting a Finland student visa.

For Bachelor’s an overall 6 bands while for a Master’s 6.5 bands is good.

Therefore, Students from NONEU countries is advised to do IELTS (Or TOFEL or DUOLINGO) to avoid any hassle.

 

 

 

5.8. Statement of Purpose/Letter of Motivation/Cover letter

This document comprises the following information about the student

A. Previous academic documents and studies

B. Employment Status

C. Relationship with your home country

D. Immigration History

E. Economic conditions of the applicant

A statement of purpose (SOP) & letter of motivation (LOM) are almost the same thing & could be interchangeable.

In this letter, you are asked to write about your personal and professional reasons why are you applying for a course or the scholarship and what is your intention of traveling to Finland.

The maximum length of this letter is three pages, But it is advised to make it short & concise to one page.

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5.9. Acceptance Letter for admission

It is an acceptable proof of study, internship, and training program at a higher institution in Finland.
 
This acceptance letter should mention:

That the applicant is accepted to a study program at a  Finland university.

It also includes accommodation proof and details of the organization supporting the student, plus the duration of studies.

It may also be acceptable for an unpaid internship program.

 

 

5.10. Bank statement for Finland Student Visa 

Proof of Financial stability is extremely important for international students who are applying for a Finland student visa.
According to the calculation of Finland’s immigration service, an international student must have at least 560 euros per month to pay the expenses of accommodation and food.
This means a total amount of 6720 Euros per annum is needed.
 
So it is advised to show the bank statement of at least 10,000 euros for the Finland study visa to prove that they can cover this amount for the stay period during the residence permit. 

The bank account must be in the name of the student.

Bank Statement should show a statement of the last six months that is signed and stamped by the bank officer.

If a student is awarded a scholarship or grant for covering living expenses, then the student must add the scholarship to the application.
The money equivalent to this scholarship will be counted in the income requirement.

If an educational institution is providing free accommodation, then the student needs to have EUR 280 per month in a bank account.

If an educational institution is providing free accommodation and free food, then the student needs to show at least EUR 195 per month in the bank account.

 

5.10.1 SPONSORSHIP

In the case of sponsorship, the applicant should make an Affidavit of the sponsor, in which they will state their relationship.

The sponsor is also required to show the tax return for the last two years.
Property Details & other Income sources of the sponsor are also required.

 

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5.11. Health (Travel) Insurance for Finland study visa

The health insurance of the student must be valid for the period of the stay mentioned in the visa. Health insurance must cover the whole of the Schengen area.

Students must submit a travel insurance plan which will cover the costs of any medical & Pharmaceutical assistance in Finland during their entire stay.

Technically the required amount of insurance depends on the applicant’s duration of stay,

If it’s less than 2 years, then insurance must cover Medical expenses up to 120,000 €, and if it’s more than 2 years then it should cover up to 40,000€.

Students can apply for insurance in their home country (before applying for a visa) or can also contact international insurance companies.

A list of insurance companies that fulfill the requirements of a study residence permit in Finland is mentioned below, according to the Finland immigration service website.

the following insurance companies offer students insurance contracts for studies:

1. The French company Assurances Courtages et Services (ACS)

2. Aon Student Insurance, whose parent company is the US company Aon Corporation

3. The Swiss insurance company Swisscare – ESI Finland plan 

4. SIP Integral

 

 

5.12. Medical certificate

Students must do a medical examination and show previous medical history about medication and illness.

They must provide test proof of Tuberculosis and Hepatitis A and B.

Students make sure to regularly contact the embassy in case of any queries.

 

 

5.13. Proof of university Legal Fees

It is a receipt or proof of the application fee from the university.
Depends from university to university. It may be the first-semester fee or the fee for the whole year.

 

 

5.14. Receipt of Visa Processing Fee

The student will pay a non-refundable fee and fill out the form. A fee receipt of the Finland student visa application is necessary to show at the time of the interview.

For Finland, Residence permit (Long-term visa of More than 90 days) Students need to pay 350 EUR for the electronic application,
while for paper application fee is 450 EUR. 

For a Finland Schengen visit visa (Short-term/ Less than 90 days) the visa fee is 80 Euros.

Some students might pay additional fees based on the country of their origin & if they are applying through a third party like VFX global etc.

 

 

 

5.15. Copy of Hotel Reservation & Flight Booking

The booking confirms the arrival date in a particular country. The hotel reservation shows that a student researched the process.

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5.16. Family Registration Certificate (FRC)

A family registration certificate (FRC) is a document that tells that the family record of the student is complete in the database of the home country.

This document contains details of the name and information of the parents and siblings.
This document is very much important in case of extending a residence permit or in case of permanent settling in Finland.

International students can get it from their local ministries & authorities.

Pakistani students can get FRC through NADRA offices in Pakistan. They can also apply for it online.

 

 

5.17. No Objection Certificate (Optional)

It also varies from country to country. It is compulsory for some countries and known as NOC.
This letter will include that the student is applying for a student visa of Finland.
Students will return to the country after completing their education.

NOC must be written by the Dean or HOD of the university.

 

 

5.18. PCC (Police Clearance Certificate) for Finland student Visa

International students who want to apply for a Finland residence permit (Long term student visa of more than 90 days) must submit a document showing a history of a criminal record.

This document must be issued by the country of your residence within five months of starting the visa application.

Generally, PCC can be issued by your local security police station or many international students can also make it online.

Indian students can make it through Passport seva, and Pakistani students can make it in “Police Khidmat Markaz” or the ICTP app or ICTP website.

International Students normally don’t need PCC for short-term Finland student visas, however, it’s better to cross-check the requirement with your local Finnish consulate.

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5.19. Certificates of extracurricular achievements

These certificates could include internship certificates and experience letters.
The embassy gives extra value to these certificates.

 

 

5.20. Corona Vaccination Certificates

Students must complete the COVID-19 vaccination before the interview appointment at the embassy.
The administered vaccines are listed by the WHO (World Health Organization).

 

 

5.21. Marriage and Childbirth Certificate (Optional)

The embassy may ask about Childbirth Certificates and marriage certificates. It is better to bring both childbirth and marriage certificates along with you for a student visa to Finland. (If Applicable)

If You have any questions related to your Finland study visa or any other study visa, you can also contact us for a live one-on-one session.

Whatsapp Contact: +393512735708   

 

 

 

6. How to Apply for Finland Student Visa

 

Students can apply for a Finland study visa in 4 easy steps.

 

6.1.  Get an admission letter

First, find your desired courses in Finnish universities & get an admission letter. International students can use this link to find Universities in Finland.

 

6.2. Prepare the documents

The next step is to prepare the list of 21 documents we discussed above in detail.

 

 

6.3. Fill out the visa application form

The third step is to Carefully fill out the Finland visa application form according to your need & submit it.

Check out The application form for a short-term Schengen Finland visa.

And The application form on paper for Finland Residence Permit (Long term study visa)

While if the applicant wishes to apply through E application, then find the link here.

International students are also advised to check the specific criteria of Finland embassies in their home countries by following this link.

 

 

6.4. Appointment & Interview

The last step is to book an appointment at the Finnish mission or VFX global application center in your area for identification and submitting your biometric identifiers (signature, photograph, fingerprints).

Appear for the interview on the appointment date with all the documents which we discussed above in detail.

After the interview, wait for the result.

The result could take up to 1-2 months for a Finland Residence permit (Long-term study visa- More than 90 days) if submitted online through E application, while Paper application takes 2-3 months for processing.

Below you can find the possible Finnish study visa interview questions.

 

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7. Interview Questions for Finland Student Visa 

 

There are common questions students face during their visa interviews.
These questions vary from profile to profile and are below:

What is the name of the student?

Tell us about your previous educational qualification.

Explain your purpose for going to Finland?

Did you already search for opportunities in your home country?

Where is the university located in Finland?

What is your course structure or Course summary?

Which course will you start at the university?

Why did you choose this university and subject?

How will this course shape your career?

How did you find this university?

What are your plans after the completion of the course?

When will your course start?

Why did you choose Finland and not another country?

Where will you stay in Finland?

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8. Frequently asked questions about Finland student visa

 

 

If students have a Finland residence permit sticker on their passport and the passport is about to expire. What should they do?

 

Students can easily apply for a new passport in their home country’s embassy in Finland.
If a student has refugee travel issued by Finland, then the student must submit a re-application at the Finnish Immigration Service point.

Remember, It is not possible that the residence permit sticker to be transferred to the new passport.
The student must apply for a residence permit card at the Finnish Immigration Service.
The residence permit card will provide proof of the right to reside in Finland.

 

 

IF A student has resided in Finland for ten years. Is it necessary to prove language skills to apply for Finland citizenship?

Yes. Language skills requirement is a must to prove before applying for citizenship.

 

 

Does a student need a fingerprint for submitting a residence permit application?

YES. No matter how uneconomic or long-distance an excuse you have while applying for a Finland residence permit, all applicants over the age of 6 must need to give fingerprints for applying.

 

 

What should a student do if the residence permit is about to expire?

 

The student should apply for extending residence permit in entering Finland which is the online service of the Finnish Immigration Service.
That must be done before expiring of residence permit.

If a student doesn’t apply to expire a previous residence permit, the possibility to work right may be interrupted.

 

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How to cover the age gap while applying for a Finland study visa?

Mostly Post-graduate applicants face age gap problems while applying for Finland study visas, it can be justified by giving authentic proof of relevant research or job experience.

It tells the authority that the applicant wasn’t idle during those study gaps but seeking work experience for future studies.

 

Is IELTS necessary for a Finland student visa?

 

It depends. There are no specific mentions of IELTS for Finland student visa on their immigration website. However, IELTS could be compulsory for certain departments in specific Finnish universities (like Metropolia university require 7 bands for Masters) while others only rely on English proficiency certificate.

This English proficiency certificate will prove that your course of medium throughout your previous studies was English.
Having a strong band in IELTS certainly increases your chances of getting a Finland student visa.

For Bachelor’s an overall 6 bands while for a Master’s 6.5 bands is good.

Therefore, Students from NONEU countries are advised to do IELTS (Or TOFEL or DUOLINGO) to avoid any hassle.

 

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How many hours a student can do a Job on Finland study visa?

According to the Finnish Immigration Service, international students can work for a maximum of 30 hours per week. The number of hours could be increased per day but remember the average per week shouldn’t exceed 30 hours.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration has the authority to see working times.

 

Q: what to do, If the Finland study visa is rejected?

Technically, students can appeal for a reconsideration of the visa if they are not satisfied with their study visa decision. Students can appeal to the Helsinki Administrative Court against the decision. Also, check Finnish Immigration Service.

It can be done only in the case when the applicant really thinks that he/she fulfills all the criteria & faced unjustified rejection.

Finnish Study visa refusal mostly happens in case of submitting false documents or showing insufficient financial means or having any criminal record.

 

 

9. Finland Student Visa Success Rate

In the year 2022, the number of international students moved to Finland has increased. By the end of 2022, a residence permit was granted to 7,060 applicants from outside of the EU.

While at the end of 2021, study-based residence permits were granted to 4,595 students. This increased by up to 54% as compared to 2021.

As far as residence permit acceptance is concerned, about 95% of the students get a positive response to the decision of residence permit.

 

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10. Finland student visa (SUMMARY)

 

1. Take a visa appointment at a Finland embassy & choose the correct category of visa.

2. Pay the visa fee & provide financial resources and bank statement details.

3. Prepare the list of documents discussed above in detail.

4. Appear at the visa interview & wait for the result. It will take up some time.

 

We cover everything in detail, but if you still have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments.

 

If You have any questions related to your Finland study visa or any other study visa, you can also contact us for a live one-on-one session.

Whatsapp Contact: +393512735708