Finland Student Visa Guide 2026: Requirements, Fees and How to Apply

Students who want to study in Finland need to have a study permit or a student residence permit. If you course duration is less than 90 days. The duration of this residence permit will be for the full length of your course. Also, international students can do part-time work for 30 hours per week.

As mentioned by World Happiness Report 2025. Finland has been happiest country. It has become a popular study destination for international students. Because of it's unique education system, affordable study costs, high standard of living, and availability of great job opportunities.

Finland student visa is required to study in Finland. This visa is also known as the Residence Visa of Finland. It is a legal document that allows Indian students to study in Finland. Students can pursue higher education of their choice. If duration of a course in Finland takes longer than 90 days, then a residence permit is required.

Student can work part time to cover the cost of living. In case the course study is less than 90 days, then a short-term visa is required. In this article, we are going to talk about how to apply for a Finland study visa, including eligibility, fees, and processing time.

What is Finland Student Visa?

Finnish residence Permit is usually given for the entire length of your studies. However, it cannot be valid for longer than your passport’s validity. To apply for this permit, you must:

• Be moving to Finland to study.
• Have been accepted by any of Finnish universities.

Important: You cannot get a residence permit if your course is an online or distance learning program that doesn’t require you to live in Finland.

• If you want to come to Finland for postgraduate studies, you need to apply for a Residence Permit for Scientific Research.

• If you want to complete a higher education degree (like bachelor’s or master’s), you will receive a continuous residence permit.

Finland Student Visa Requirements

If your course duration in Finland is longer than 90 days, you must apply for a Residence Permit for Studies issued by the Finnish Immigration Service. Short-term Schengen visas are not valid for full-time degree programs The residence permit must be approved before travelling to Finland. Students must meet the following requirements to get a residence permit to study in Finland.

Documents Required to Get a Finland Student Residence Permit

In order to get a Finland student visa, one should have the following documents:

How to Apply for a Finland Student Residence Permit?

Check out the step by step process to apply for Finland Student visa.

• Students can apply for a visa online or offline.
• Make sure, you are submitting the application with the correct information.
• Pay student visa fee and keep payment receipt safe.
• Attend verification appointment at Finland Embassy in India.
• After your verification, application will be processed. It may take some time.
• The expected processing time for electronic applications is 1-2 months.

Finland Study Visa Cost

Given below is the application fee to obtain a residence permit in Finland. Processing times for Finland student visas vary depending on the basis of the mode of application.

Types of Finland Visas

Let us first understand the different types of Finland visas.

• Single Entry Visa: It allows the holder to enter Finland once and stay up to 90 days in any 180 days
• Double-Entry Visa: This visa allows entry into Finland twice and may be valid within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• Multiple-entry Visa: This visa is granted for several consecutive visits to the Schengen area. The total duration of the stay may not exceed the number of days specified on the visa sticker, which is 90 days in a 180-day period. This visa is valid for a maximum of 5 years

Can You Travel Before Getting Finland Residence Permit Card?

Finland offers a D Visa option, allowing students to enter Finland once the residence permit decision is approved, even if the physical residence card has not yet arrived. This is especially helpful for students who need to travel close to semester start dates.

What is the D Visa?

The D Visa is a national long stay visa sticker placed in your passport. It allows you to enter Finland as soon as your residence permit application is approved. This "fast-track" option is designed to ensure students do not miss the start of their semester due to postal delays.

• Instant Travel: Fly to Finland the moment you receive a positive decision on your residence permit. Check out students' flight discount for affordable tickets.
• Card Collection: Your physical residence permit card will be sent to a collection point (Matkahuolto) in Finland, where you can pick it up after you arrive.
• Simultaneous Application: You apply for the D Visa at the same time as your study residence permit via the Enter Finland portal.

Part Time Work with a Residence Permit in Finland

Want to work part time in Finland during your higher studies here? Well, You can work up to 30 hours per week during your studies, on your Finnish student visa.

• Students with a residence permit for studies can work without limits. Only if work is part of practical training for their degree.

• Students can work more than 30 hours only. But yearly average must be no more than 30 hours per week. Unlimited hours during Christmas and Summer holidays.

• After studies, students can apply for a residence permit to look for work.

Students need to be very careful when it comes to their study abroad applications.  For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.

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