Student Visa For Finland
Applying for a visa to study in Finland is not the easiest thing to do, but it can be done and if you look at the benefits and the costs with common sense you will find that it’s all worth it. There are many reasons why Finland is becoming an attractive country for international students and we want to share them with you in this guide to student visas for Finland.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Finland is the ministry responsible to administer the relations of Finland with foreign countries. In Finland, there are two types of visas – one is a short term visa, which allows you to stay in Finland during your recreation or tourist trip and long term visa which can be given to you if you want to stay in Finland for job or study purposes. Any further queries regarding this information are welcomed. You can send an email at [email protected]
Student Visa For Finland
The Finnish government has a separate procedure and criteria for issuing student residence permits. If you do not have a permanent residence permit from a Schengen country, you need to apply for a student residence permit in order to study in Finland. Your host institution can apply for a student residence permit for you — unless you have already obtained a student visa from the Finnish Embassy of your country.
Do you want to study abroad for fun and adventure? If yes, then Finland is the country that you should plan to study in. Here few facts about the country will help you decide whether it’s good choice to make.
Tips on applying for the Finnish residence permit
As a starting point, you can apply for a residence permit at the embassy or representative office in your country. You can also apply online, using the official Finnish Immigration Service.
But you will still need to visit the local embassy to verify your identity and submit copies of other documents you might need during the application process.
An online application for the Finnish residence permit comes with other benefits:
- the processing for the electronic application takes 2-3 months, while the processing for the paper application takes around 3 months
- the electronic application fee is 350 EUR, while the paper application fee is 450 EUR
The documents required for the student visa application
These are some of the general documents that apply to all non-EU/EEA citizens:
- Completed application form
- Certificate of acceptance from a Finnish higher education institution
- Proof that you can financially support yourself during your studies. The minimum amount you need to have at your disposal is 560 EUR/month (6,720 EUR/year).
- A valid passport and a passport photo
- If the attached documents are not in English, Finnish, or Swedish, you will also need official translations
- Proof that you paid the processing fee of 450 EUR (paper application)/350 EUR (electronic application)
- International student health insurance
After applying for the Finnish student visa
After applying, you need to make a new visit to the local embassy or consulate, to present originals and copies of the requested documents and to prove your identity.
You will have your fingerprints taken. This is also a part of the registration process, that will happen after you arrive in Finland, regardless of your country of origin.