Finland is one of the best European countries when it comes to education. It witnesses a huge number of international students enrolling in its universities and colleges every year. The turnout is high as some public institutions do charge very low tuition fees to international students. World-class faculty and extraordinary teaching methods in Finnish colleges also attract a large chunk of students. 

To get admission into a Finnish university, you can submit your application and wait for their approval. Once it gets approved, you must get a Finland student visa before moving there. If you don’t know how to get your residence permit to study in Finland, below are the necessary steps to help you. 

Steps for getting Student Visa for Education in Finland  

1. The first step is to fill in your visa application online and submit the necessary documents they ask you for. In case you cannot fill out the online form, visit the Finland embassy and fill out the paper application.

2. Once you have applied, you have to visit the Finland embassy for verification of your documents.

3. You have to pay the application fee at the embassy and submit your fingerprints as well. 

4. The Finland embassy might ask you to sit for an interview to know your personality and why you want to study in Finland. 

5. The Finnish authorities will take about 1-3 months to process your application and let you know if it has been approved. 

What Documents do you Need for a Finland Residence Permit?      

The Embassy of Finland will ask you to show the copies of the following documents: 

• Certificate of acceptance from a Finnish educational institution

• Color passport photo

• Valid passport

• Color copies of the passport’s personal data page and any passport pages that contain notes

• Details of tuition fee payments or any scholarships

• Proof of funds to support yourself

• Previous qualifications

• Proof of health insurance

Eligibility Criteria to get Student Visa for Education in Finland  

An eligible candidate to receive a student visa for education in Finland is the one who: 

• Is enrolled at a university in Finland

• Has no travel bans for the Schengen Area

• Has no criminal charges

• Is not a danger to Finland and its interests 

Extending your Finland Student Visa

The Finland student visa only allows you to stay and study in the country for a maximum of two years. If the duration of your program or course ends before two years, it will be valid for that time period only. If your course will take longer than two years, you can apply for an extension of your Visa. Remember, to get approval for an extension, you must apply at least three months before the current residence permit expires. 

Staying in Finland after Education

There are a few options available for international students who wish to stay in Finland after their study program. 

1. Work Visa: You can apply for a work visa after your graduation if you have acquired a job in Finland. 

2. Job-seekers Visa: If you are not able to find a job in Finland, you can apply for a job-seekers visa. This residence permit allows you to stay in the Nordic country for a year to let you look for a job. 

3. Researcher Visa: Researchers visa is for those students who wish to work on a research project with their professor or at a research center. However, the researcher’s visa will allow you to work in the research field only.  

What if your Finland Visa is Rejected?

Usually, the authority rejects a visa application when a student fails to provide valid documents to prove their financial stability. To avoid rejection, you can contact your nearest consulate to know how to illustrate your documents properly. 

When you receive a negative response from the embassy, you can also file an appeal for reprocessing. You will find the instructions to file an appeal within the rejection letter sent by the authorities. Once you submit the appeal, the Administrative Court will return your case to the Finnish Immigration Service for reprocessing. Your appeal can also be rejected by the court if you do not meet their requirements.  

At last, I would like to say to not panic while applying for study visa in Finland. Work with patience and everything will come to you.