Finland
About Finland
One of the Nordic countries in northern Europe, Finland shares land borders with Norway, Sweden and Russia, and has coastlines on the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland. Relatively little of the country is cultivated due to the severity of Finland's winter climate, and the landscape consists mainly of flat plains, low hills and around 188,000 inland lakes. There are nearly 100,000 islands located within these lakes, and 30,000 more offshore islands. Overall, about 10% of the country is under water, and nearly two-thirds is forested.
Finland is an advanced and affluent country with its economy built traditionally on timber and metal manufacturing industries, and now with equally important IT and telecommunications sectors. Finland's economic success has been underpinned by high levels of government investment in education, training and research, and it has a highly educated and skilled labour force. Finland has a fairly high level of unemployment, however, especially in rural areas.
The capital of Helsinki, spreading across several bays, peninsulas and islands in southern Finland, is a pleasant and clean low-rise city of around half a million inhabitants. It is expanding rapidly, largely due to an influx of immigrants in recent years, and now has quite a cosmopolitan feel. The city has a large number of attractive 19th century buildings, in architectural styles that reflect both Russian and Swedish influences, many green open spaces and numerous waterways. It also has a lively arts and entertainment scene, and its many open-air cafes and bustling market square are very popular in the summer months. However, the city is quieter during the severe winters when people opt to hibernate indoors. Finland's other main cities include the old capital of Turku, on the southwest coast, and Tampere which is located inland.
Until recently, Finland has experienced only low levels of immigration and it has a mainly homogenous population of Finns, with a significant Swedish minority. However, immigration has increased steeply in recent years, due to such factors as Finland joining the EU, the relaxation of refugee legislation, and the growing number of international firms based in Finland. Even so, Finland still has a low proportion of immigrants and very few living outside Helsinki and the other main cities.
Eligibility Criteria for Finland Student Visa or Residence Permit
To be eligible for Finland Student Visa or Residence Permit you must fulfill the following conditions:
- You must provide the official letter of acceptance issued by your hosting Finnish university or educational institute or polytechnic
- You must have a valid passport
- Your passport must have a validity that exceeds the duration of the visa or residence permit you are applying for by at least 3 months
- Your passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years
- You must have a copy of your completed and signed application form
- You must provide proof of your financial ability so as to support yourself financially during your entire period of study in Finland and for your return transportation. At present, a student must have a minimum of EUR 560 (INR 43,316.17) per month for staying in Finland. This means the student must have minimum EUR 6720 (INR 519,794.02) per year for his or her expenses in Finland.
- You must provide a recent statement of your financial situation from your bank that shows you have at least EUR 6720 in your bank account. Note that students undertaking degree courses in Finland must have funds for one year at a time. Exchange students must have funds for the entire duration of their stay in Finland. In case you do not have the above mentioned amount in your account, you must provide written evidence of having received a stipend or scholarship or have been selected for benefits to be provided by your educational institute.
- You must provide proof of having obtained valid health and medical insurance that covers the entire duration of your stay in Finland.
- You must be in good physical and mental health and free from any kind of contagious diseases
- You must not have a criminal record
- You must not have been refused entry into Finland previously
- You intend to leave Finland at the end of your authorized stay
- Note that the bank statements of an applicant’s parents or a shared or joint account will not be accepted for Finland student visa or residence permit.
Steps to follow to apply for Finland Student Residence Permit
You have to apply at the Finland Embassy or Consulate for Finland student visa or residence permit.
Once you have received the official letter of acceptance for your intended course of study, you can check your eligibility for obtaining a Finnish student visa or residence permit and then go ahead with the below mentioned procedure.
Remember that you will have to apply for student residence permit before you arrive in Finland.
How to Apply for Finland Student Visa or Student Residence Permit
A student who wants to stay and study in Finland, but is not a citizen of Finland, will require either a student visa or a student residence permit to fulfil this objective. However, the Finland student visa and the residence permit do not refer to the same document.
Finland student visa is a temporary short term permit that is issued to a foreign student who wants to stay and study in Finland for a maximum of 90 days (3 months).
Finland student residence permit is issued to a foreign student to wants to stay and study in Finland for duration of more than 90 days (3 months). Normally, Finland residence permits for students are granted for one year at a time.
A student visa is suitable for those foreign students who plan to take a short term language course in Finland or want to appear in an entrance examination. A student residence permit is suitable for those foreign students who have been accepted in full term degree courses in Finland.
Finland student residence permit is issued to a foreign student to wants to stay and study in Finland for duration of more than 90 days (3 months). Normally, Finland residence permits for students are granted for one year at a time.
A student visa is suitable for those foreign students who plan to take a short term language course in Finland or want to appear in an entrance examination. A student residence permit is suitable for those foreign students who have been accepted in full term degree courses in Finland.
- University of Helsinki
- Aalto University
- University of Tampere
- University of Oulu
- University of Eastern Finland
- University of Turku
- University of Jyväskylä
- Lappeenranta University of Technology
- Tampere University of Technology
- Åbo Akademi University
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