The country Finland is well known as the happiest country in the world based on the comfort it provides to its citizens and visitors. The country has several top-ranking universities making it a highly chosen study-abroad destination. The education system it holds is one of the best in the world. Apart from education, student life is very chill and exciting in the country considering the culture, standards of living, activities apart from studying and a huge career growth market. To study in Finland the students need a student visa to travel and stay in the country. Through this blog, let’s learn about the student visa for Finland from India.
This Blog Includes:
- What Is A Student Visa For Finland?
- Eligibility Requirements For Student Visa For Finland From India
- Documentation Requirements For Student Visa For Finland From India
- Application Process For Student Visa For Finland From India
- Cost Of Student Visa For Finland From India
- Finland Student Visa Validity
- Working with a Finland Student Visa
- Can I Stay After I Graduate?
- Best Universities in Finland
- FAQs
Here is how you can Study Master’s in Finland
What Is A Student Visa For Finland?
The students planning to take up higher education in Finland and foreign nationals need to get a visa as a permit to enter, stay and pursue education in the country.
The students from the Schengen area, the EEA/EU countries and countries that have an agreement with Finland do not have to get a visa to study in Finland if the duration of the course is 30 days. If the program is for more than 30 days, then a temporary resident permit will be required.
Eligibility Requirements For Student Visa For Finland From India
The Indian students who are looking to get a Finland visa need to meet the following requirements for eligibility:
- There must be no travel ban on you for the Schengen area
- You must have been enrolled on an educational program at a university in Finland and have all the documents
- There must not be any supposed danger to the country by you
- There must be no criminal charges against you
- You must be financially capable of sustaining yourself in the country
Know all about the Finland student visa
Documentation Requirements For Student Visa For Finland From India
The following is the list of the documents that are required for the student visa For Finland from India:
- You must have a valid passport with a validity of at least 3 months from the date of departure, have two blank pages and also a copy of the bio page of your passport
- You must have a passport photograph of yourself, taken according to the guidelines of the country
- You need to provide proof of enrolment in the University of Finland as proof of your admission
- You need to provide proof of availability of finances in the form of a bank statement or other documents showing a minimum income of 560 EUR per month.
- You need to submit proof of health insurance that covers any type of medical emergency and is valid for the duration of your stay in the country
- You need to submit proof of paid tuition fee and if the fee is not yet paid then you need to provide evidence stating the availability of sources to be able to pay the tuition fee
- You need to provide documents like birth certificate, marriage certificate, adoption papers, etc as asked
- You need to provide the documents of your previous education qualification
- If you getting a scholarship that covers your tuition fees, then you will need to provide a scholarship certificate.
Application Process For Student Visa For Finland From India
The application process for the student visa for Finland from India is as follows:
- The first step in the application process is to get admission to a university. You need to shortlist universities that you are interested in, apply to them, give interviews or complete formalities as asked, get shortlisted and get an acceptance letter which will be required for the visa application.
- You can apply for the visa online or by an embassy or consulate. If you are applying online, you need to create an account on the official website of the country, find the visa application form, fill out the application form and submit the documents in the scanned format.
- After the application is submitted you need to visit the embassy to get your biometrics registered and submit all the documents. There may or may not be an interview for the visa depending on the situation. You will be required to pay the fee at the embassy.
- Once the interview is done and documents along with the application have been submitted you need to wait for the processing of the visa and decision of acceptance. Once the visa is approved you can travel to Finland.
Here is a guide for you to know the 8 common types of visas
Cost Of Student Visa For Finland From India
The student visa cost varies based on the mode of application. The following is the fee for both types of application types
Mode of application | Application fee |
Online application | 350 EUR |
Paper application | 450 EUR |
Finland Student Visa Validity
Generally, a Finland student visa is valid for 2 years. However, if the duration of your course of study is less than 2 years then the visa can only be valid for course duration. Note: A Finland student visa extension is possible till your studies are completed.
Working with a Finland Student Visa
It is possible to work with a Finaland student visa. However, you will only be able to work for 25 hours per week during the course duration.
Can I Stay After I Graduate?
Yes. It is possible to stay back in the county after graduation. Some of the options available are provided below:
- You can apply for a work visa: A work visa can be applied if you have found a job after graduation.
- Job Seeker visa.: This visa is for those who do not have a job but would like to seek employment in the country. The visa allows you to stay in Finland for a year and seek employment.
- Researcher Visa: Those who want to work at a research centre or on a research project can apply for this visa.
Best Universities in Finland
University | QS Ranking 2024 |
Aalto University | 109 |
University of Helsinki | 115 |
University of Oulu | =313 |
University of Turku | =315 |
Lappeenranta University of Technology | =351 |
University of Tampere | =436 |
University of Jyväskylä | =446 |
University of Eastern Finland | =548 |
Abo Akademi University | 601-610 |
FAQs
The validity of a student visa for Finland from India if of 2 years but if the duration of the program is shorter then the validity of the visa expires at the end of the program.
Yes, if the work is related to your course then the work is permitted on the student visa. However, if you are doing a job not related to your program of study then the permitted work hours are 25 per week.
Yes, after your educational program is over and you have managed to find a job then you can switch from a student visa to a work visa which will be valid for a year and can be extended s many times as you want.
To study in Finland, you need to provide proof of English language proficiency. You don’t necessarily have to clear IELTS for that. You can give any other alternative English language proficiency test scores. For example, TOEFL, Cambridge ESOL’s Certificate of Proficiency in English, or PTE.
We hope you understand everything about student visa for Finland from India. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!
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