student visa in finland - Lomelono Travel Solutions

Student Visa in Finland is a process of applying for either of Schengen visa or National Visa for studying purposes in the country. The nationals of most countries are required to apply for student visa in order to study in any European nation. There are various government institutions and university campuses covered by Student Visa in Finland. Some of them make it mandatory to have a good command of spoken, written and read Finnish or Swedish language.

The Finnish government has recently made the process of applying for a student visa much easier than it once was. This blog will give you a step-by-step guide on how to get your Finnish student visa, as well as some general advice to help you make the right choice between one of the most popular study destinations in Europe.

Finland is one of the most popular destinations for international students. The Finnish authorities are encouraging the influx of international students with new incentives, in a transparent and easy process. You can find everything you need to know about studying in Finland for international students on this website.

If you’re a student in Finland and looking to get an international student visa, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to help you find the information you need about studying in Finland as well as how to apply for your student visa.

Finland is an amazing country that offers a high quality of life at a relatively low cost. It’s easy to see why so many people want to study in Finland—and why they keep coming back!

The first step towards applying for a student visa is getting accepted into a Finnish university or polytechnic. Once you have been accepted, you’ll be able to apply for a residence permit at your local police station. Once your residence permit has been approved, you’ll be ready to apply for your visa!

Finland has a population of 5.5 million people. It is known for its beautiful landscapes and vast forests. Finland has a thriving economy and is one of the world’s most stable economies, with a low unemployment rate. The cost of living in Finland is about average compared to other European countries.

There are several types of student visas available for foreign students who wish to study at one of Finland’s universities or vocational colleges. The most common type of student visa is the 90-day tourist visa, which can be extended for up to 1 year. When you apply for a 90-day tourist visa, you must have proof that you have enough money to pay for your stay in Finland as well as proof that you have enough money left over after paying for tuition and living expenses so that you do not need any financial help from Finnish government sources or other sources like social welfare benefits. Student visas are issued by the Finnish embassies or consulates located outside Finland.

Once you arrive in Finland with your student visa, it’s important to remember that Finnish law strictly prohibits working while studying here without first obtaining permission from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). If you decide to work without Migri permission, they may penalize you by revoking your right to stay in

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Steps to get a Finnish residence permit

In the first instance your residence permit may be issued for one or two years but may need renewing depending on the duration of your university program.

Fill in your application: gather your necessary documents for your application and apply online or by paper. Submit the documents asked for.
Book an appointment: visit a Finnish embassy or consulate. This is to prove your identity for your application.
Pay for your application: you can pay online, or when you go to the service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
Attend the appointment: identify yourself and present the original documents of the ones you uploaded.
Wait for a decision: It takes around 1 – 3 months to process and an application. The Finnish authorities will contact you and let you know if you have been approved.
Receive a residence permit: You may need to collect this when you arrive in Finland.

Finland student visa processing time

Processing times for Finnish visas depend on whether you apply online or in person.

Although you’ll still need to visit your local embassy to verify your identity and provide supporting documents, you can complete an initial application form through the Finnish Immigration Service website.

Online applications usually take between 2-3 months to process, while paper applications generally take 3 months.

The Finnish Immigration Service prioritizes student visa applications, so hopefully, you shouldn’t have to wait too long to hear back.

Visas for a student’s dependents

Your spouse and children can apply for their own residence permit to be able to join you in Finland while you study. Finnish immigration will try to process your applications together. You must be able to show that you not only have funds to support yourself while in Finland but also any dependents that are joining you.

Finland study visa requirements

You’ll need to show originals or copies of documents when applying for your residence permit. These can include:

Valid passport
Color passport photo
Color copies of the passport’s personal data page and any passport pages that contain notes
A certificate of acceptance from a Finnish educational institution
Details of tuition fee payments or any scholarships
Proof of funds to support yourself
Proof of health insurance
Previous qualifications

Working with a Finnish student residence permit

International students with a residence permit in Finland are allowed to work as many hours as they wish if the job is related to the program they are studying. In general, as an international student you can work up to 25 hours a week during term time, and full time during holidays.

What to do if you are rejected for a Finland residence permit

It’s never nice to receive a visa refusal letter, but it doesn’t have to spell the end of your study abroad plans.

Residence permit applications are usually rejected because students fail to provide evidence of sufficient financial resources. If you’re unsure about how to illustrate your funds, contact your nearest Consulate or Embassy to ask for details.

If you receive a negative decision you will also be informed of how to appeal. You’ll find instructions enclosed within the rejection letter.

Once your appeal is submitted, the Administrative Court will either reject it or return your case to the Finnish Immigration Service for reprocessing.

Finland Student Visa Requirements

These are the required documents you need to attach to your visa application:

You must have a valid passport at the time of your application. Your passport is considered valid if it was issued during the last 10 years and it won’t expire for another three months after you depart Finland.
Identity picture. A recent identity picture must be part of the application. Follow the Schengen visa photo rules when you take the picture.
Copy of your passport’s bio page. In recent years Finland now requires applicants for any type of visa to attach a copy of their passport’s bio page.
Proof of enrollment. You need to provide proof that you were accepted for a study program at a university in Finland.
Health insurance. You must also provide international student health insurance that covers all kinds of medical emergencies and is valid during your stay in Finland.
Sufficient financial means. You must have at least €560 in your personal bank account per month that covers everyday expenses during your studies.
Proof of paid tuition fee. You must include a certificate proving that you have paid your tuition fee, if you haven’t done so then you need to provide evidence that you have enough financial means to pay the fee.
Evidence of scholarship. If you are the beneficiary of a scholarship that covers your tuition fee then you need to provide a certificate proving that you will be supported financially by the scholarship.
Civil status documents. This refers to documents such as your birth certificate, marriage license, divorce license, adoption paper, etc.
Previous certificate degrees. These are not required for degree students and exchange students.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for a student visa you must also meet these criteria:

You must be enrolled at a university in Finland, which means you must apply for your study program before you apply for your visa.
You must have no travel bans for the Schengen Area.
You must have no criminal charges.
You must not be a danger to Finland and its interests.

*Please note that the Finnish authorities reserve the right to ask for any extra required documents.

How to Apply for a Finland Student Visa?

This is how you apply for a Finland Student Visa:

Apply for university.
Apply for a student visa.
Go to a local Finnish mission.
Wait for an answer.
Go to Finland.

Apply for university

As a potential future student in Finland, the first thing you need to do is find a university there that suits your study program. As soon as you have a school in mind then you should apply at the university. If you are not accepted, you won’t receive a student visa. Proof of enrollment is obligatory.

Apply for a student visa

Once you receive your acceptance letter then you can apply for a student visa. In this case, you actually need a residence permit on the basis of studying. The application process for the permit starts by creating a user account here. Once you create an account select the application form for a ‘residence permit on the grounds of a study program’ in the e-service.

Fill in the online application with the correct information and submit your application. You must attach scanned copies of the required documents (see above) to your application.

Conclusion

Non EU/EEA students studying in Finland for more than three months will need a residence permit for studies to join their program. An application costs up to €360 euros, and renewal fees also apply. Postgraduate students will need a residence permit for scientific research.

If you are an EU national, you do not need to apply for a residence permit, but you will need to register your right of residence in Finland which will cost €54 euros.