Process for Indian Students to get a Student Visa to Finland
Finland has over 20,000 international students studying within its borders, with over 400 programs that are taught in English for undergraduates and postgraduates. The Finnish higher education system is appreciated worldwide, and it provides an exciting student life. Numerous international students enrol in degree courses in Finland yearly and enjoy the balanced schedule and interactive courses, but there are some things you should know about the visa in order to proceed.
Prior to applying for a Finnish student visa, it is important to remember that one cannot apply for a visa/residence permit without actually being accepted at a university. Therefore, you will first need to apply, get accepted, and enrol at a university, before anything. As an international student, you can then apply either for a Schengen visa or a long-term student visa.
If you have decided to study abroad in Finland, here’s what you should know in order to prepare to apply for your student visa:
- Get acceptance into a Finnish educational institution
- Pay tuition and other fees to book your seat
- Start the application process online
- Scan all your documents (Certificate of acceptance from a Finnish education institution, proof that you can financially support yourself, valid passport and a passport photo, proof that you paid the processing fee, international student health insurance)
- Complete the residence permit application
- Upload supplementary documents to your application
- Print the Certificate after successful online submission
- Identify convenient VFS Global Finland centre and book an appointment with them
- Attend your appointment and complete the biometric data collection, verification and any fee payments.
- Track your online application
You may be requested by the Embassy of Finland to sit for an interview in case more information is required after application submission. Also, depending on the nature of each individual’s application, you may be asked for more documents or an interview to confirm your information. Please note that all fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, even if your application is rejected. The Finnish Immigration Office evaluates students’ applications as a top priority, so, the processing time will be quick.
Once your application has been approved, the Finnish Immigration Office will send your residence card to the embassy where you can collect it from and start planning your move to Finland.
Get in touch with us today if you have any questions regarding studying abroad in Finland and we’ll be happy to help you through this journey.