Finland Student Visa

Finland Student Visa

Eligible Students

You may not need a residence permit if you’re a citizen of a country that has an agreement with Finland which allows you to study in Finland without first obtaining a residence permit. These countries include:

• European Union member states, San Marino, and the Vatican City State.
• Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Finland Student Visa Application

You need to submit the following documents for Finland student visa application:

• Visa application form. The visa application form can be completed online or downloaded from the website of the Finnish Immigration Service Migri.
• Two passport-sized photos.
• Proof of financial support (for example, a bank statement). You should also show that you have enough funds to cover your return trip home along with the tuition and living expenses required in Finland.

To study in Finland as an international student, you’ll need to prove your proficiency in English by taking either a TOEFL or IELTS exam. You’ll also need to provide proof of health insurance and acceptance at a Finnish university. If you’re over age 17, you may be required to undergo medical examination prior to obtaining your visa.

Application Fee and Payment Method

The visa application processing fee must be paid prior to scheduling an appointment at the Consulate General.

There are two methods of payment:

Payment by Visa or Mastercard credit cards in US$ or Euro.

For more information, click [here.](https://www.vfsglobal.com/finland/usa/student-visa/)

Please note that payments made with a credit card can only be refunded if the visa is denied by Finland! The Finnish VFS Global service centers cannot issue any refunds for payments made with a credit card. If you wish to cancel your appointment, you will need to reapply and re-pay the application processing fee when you reschedule your appointment date.

• The payment must be received by either wire transfer or cashier’s check in U.S.$ drawn on a bank located in the United States, payable to Embassy of Finland at 444 East 78th Street, New York, NY 10075 before your visa interview can be scheduled.(Note! Payments from persons residing outside of the USA should contact their nearest Finnish Embassy or Consulate for further instructions.) At the time of your visa interview you will need to provide a copy of the bank transfer receipt and a personal check for $4 made out to Embassy of Finland for return postage; please note that this is not refundable if your application is denied by Finland!
• Applicants may also choose to pay in Euros (€). Payment may be made using an international money order payable to Embassy of Finland in New York (444 E 78th Street, NY 10075), personal check drawn on a bank located within Europe and denominated in Euros (€) payable to “Embassy of Finland”, cashier’s check denominated in Euro checks drawn on “Wells Fargo Bank” payable to “VFS Service Fee Account”. All payments must indicate applicant’s name and date of birth behind each respective

Duration of the Visa

The duration of the stay in Finland will be determined by the duration of your course. You may apply for an extension to your stay if you wish to remain in Finland to study for a longer period of time.

Extension For Short Term Visa If you are studying a short term course that is less than 90 days, you may apply for an extension of your visa from the Finnish Immigration Service. The application must be filled with relevant supporting documents and submitted at least two months before your present visa expires. The extensions are usually granted only in cases where there has been some exceptional circumstances and delays during your studies which caused the delay in completion of your course within 90 days. Extensions can also be applied on humanitarian grounds like medical emergencies or illness and death within family, etc.

Extension For Residence Permit If you have been granted a residence permit because you are pursuing a long term program that is more than 3 months long, then you may apply for an extension if needed; however, it requires that details regarding how long you intend to live in Finland will have to be provided along with relevant supporting documents at the time of application itself.

Allowable Work Hours while on a Finland Student Visa

You may work full time during holidays. However, you will only be allowed to work part-time as a student during the academic year, with a maximum period of 25 hours per week. Your spouse/ registered partnership can also apply for a residence permit for Finland based on your student status.

Your dependent children can accompany you to Finland but they will not be allowed to work in the country and will need separate permits for that purpose.

Language Requirement

The following language requirements apply:

• If you intend to study in English, you must have sufficient proficiency in the English language.
• If you intend to study in Finnish, you must have sufficient proficiency in the Finnish language.
• If you intend to study in Swedish, you must have sufficient proficiency in the Swedish language.

A list of some countries eligible to apply for a Finland student visa without having to first obtain a residence permit

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