# Finland Student Visa Rejection Rate for Indians: What Drives Approval > Migri's 2025 and 2026 decision counts for Indian students, the separate Schengen refusal rate, and the admission, funds and insurance rules that decide a Finnish study permit. _Published: 2026-10-30 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1086_ ## TL;DR For degree study, Finland issues a residence permit, not a visa. Migri data shows 19.8% of first study permit decisions for Indian nationals were negative in January-September 2026, against 26.7% in 2025. Short Schengen trips have their own figure: a 13.9% refusal rate at Finnish consulates in India in 2025. ## Key takeaways - Migri, first residence permits for studies, Indian nationals: 19.8% of decisions negative in January-September 2026 and 26.7% in 2025. - European Commission, Schengen applications at Finnish consulates in India: 13.9% refusal rate in 2025 and 20.0% in 2024, covering all travel purposes. - Migri's official funds minimum for students is EUR 800 per month (EUR 9,600 per year). - You apply for the study permit only after admission, online in Enter Finland, then prove your identity at a Finnish mission. - VFS Finland centres in India accept short-stay Schengen applications only. **According to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), 19.8% of decisions on first residence permits for studies for Indian nationals were negative in January–September 2026 (226 negative of 1,140 decisions), down from 26.7% in 2025. Short Schengen visits, study trips included, are counted separately: a 13.9% refusal rate for all applications at Finnish consulates in India in 2025 (European Commission).** ## Article The figures and rules below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15: Migri's statistics service, Study in Finland (the Finnish National Agency for Education) and the European Commission. For tourist and business visas, see our Finland visa guide for Indians. ### Which Finnish 'student visa' do you mean? Finland has two different documents, decided by different authorities and measured by different statistics. - Residence permit for studies. For degree students. You apply to Migri online in the Enter Finland portal after admission, then attend a Finnish embassy or consulate to verify your identity. The permit can cover the full length of your studies. - Schengen visa for study trips. For short programmes of up to 90 days under the 'Culture, sports and study' purpose. You apply at a VFS Global centre in India. The fee is EUR 90 / INR 10000, with case-by-case exemptions for students and teachers on study trips. If you are joining a bachelor's or master's programme, the Migri figures are the ones that apply to you. ### How many Indian student permit decisions are negative? Migri's statistics service publishes decision counts on first residence permits for studies by nationality. The percentages below are the share of all decisions that were negative, computed from those counts. Indian nationalsDecisionsPositiveNegativeLapsedNegative share20251,1047142959526.7%January-September 20261,14081222610219.8%Lapsed cases are counted among decisions but are neither positive nor negative, so the positive and negative shares do not add up to 100%. The 2026 figure covers nine months and already includes more decisions than all of 2025. For comparison, work-based first permits for Indian nationals showed a similar pattern: 26.1% negative in 2025 and 19.9% in January-September 2026. These numbers describe past decisions across all Indian applicants. They are not a forecast for any one file. ### What does the 13.9% Schengen figure measure? It is the European Commission's refusal rate for Schengen short-stay applications lodged at Finnish consulates in India. It covers every purpose, from tourism and business to study trips, and it does not include residence permits. YearRefusal rateVisas not issuedApplications lodged202513.9%2,45017,564202420.0%3,48317,762The Commission calculates its rate on its own basis, so read it as published rather than dividing the two columns. If your trip is a short course or a college group visit, the Schengen rules are what matter. The Embassy of Finland processes individual applications in up to 15 working days and groups of more than 15 people in up to 20 working days, and it can extend this to 30 days in individual cases or high season. You can apply no earlier than six months before the journey. Bring a certificate of admission or registration, the receiving organisation's invitation letter covering programme, expenses and accommodation, and a dispatch letter from your college in India. ### Which requirements decide a Finnish study permit? Study in Finland lists the conditions Migri applies. Each is a point where a file can fall short. - Admission first. You apply after a Finnish educational institution has accepted you. Applying early on the strength of an application alone does not meet the condition. - Sufficient funds. Migri's official minimum is EUR 800 per month, or EUR 9,600 per year, for studies and living costs. - Valid insurance. The permit needs valid insurance cover. - The right permit type. Research and doctoral studies need a separate residence permit for scientific research, valid up to two years. - Identity verification. After applying online, you book and attend an appointment at the nearest Finnish embassy or consulate. Tuition is part of the money picture. English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes typically cost EUR 9,000-20,000 a year, and non-EU/EEA applicants pay a EUR 100 application fee. Programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish, and doctoral programmes, are tuition-free. ### Where do Indian students complete the identity step? At a Finnish mission. VFS Finland centres in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai state that they accept short-stay Schengen visa applications only. Our dataset could not confirm whether the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai handles residence-permit identity checks for each applicant, so confirm the location when you book. Migri's permit fees and study-permit processing times were also not verifiable in our October 2026 check. Look them up in Enter Finland before you apply. ### What happens after a refusal? For a Schengen visa, the European Commission says the refusal decision states the reasons and how to submit an appeal. For a residence permit, follow the appeal instructions in Migri's decision; our dataset does not cover that procedure. ### Before you apply for a Finnish study permit - Wait for your admission letter, then apply. - Show at least EUR 800 a month for the period you need. - Arrange valid insurance before submitting. - Choose the research permit if your studies are doctoral or research-based. - Book the identity appointment as soon as the online application is in. The permit also carries rights worth planning around: part-time work of up to 30 hours a week on average during the academic year, a two-year permit to seek work or start a business after graduating, and permanent residence after four years on a continuous permit, study time included. For family members visiting you on a Schengen visa, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us. ### Frequently asked questions #### How many hours can Indian students work in Finland? Up to 30 hours per week on average during the academic year, and full-time during holidays, according to Study in Finland. #### Can I stay in Finland after graduating? Yes. After graduation you can apply for a two-year permit to look for work or start a business. Permanent residence is possible after four years on a continuous residence permit, and the study period counts. #### What is the VFS service fee for a Finland study trip visa? EUR 20 / INR 2215, paid online by card when booking. It is payable even when the EUR 90 visa fee is waived for a study trip. #### Is the Migri negative share the same as my chance of refusal? No. It is the share of Migri's decisions on Indian nationals' first study permits that were negative in a given period. It reflects past decisions across all applicants and says nothing about how your own file will be assessed. ## FAQ ### How many hours can Indian students work in Finland? Up to 30 hours per week on average during the academic year, and full-time during holidays, according to Study in Finland. ### Can I stay in Finland after graduating? Yes. After graduation you can apply for a two-year permit to look for work or start a business. Permanent residence is possible after four years on a continuous residence permit, and the study period counts. ### What is the VFS service fee for a Finland study trip visa? EUR 20 / INR 2215, paid online by card when booking. It is payable even when the EUR 90 visa fee is waived for a study trip. ### Is the Migri negative share the same as my chance of refusal? No. It is the share of Migri's decisions on Indian nationals' first study permits that were negative in a given period. It reflects past decisions across all applicants and says nothing about how your own file will be assessed. ## Sources 1. [Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) statistics service - decisions on first residence permits by grounds and nationality (data to September 2026)](https://statistics.migri.fi/) — Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) 2. [Study in Finland (Finnish National Agency for Education) – Student residence permit](https://www.studyinfinland.fi/admissions/student-residence-permit) — Finnish National Agency for Education 3. [European Commission — Schengen visa statistics by consulate (2025)](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/56816949-e59f-442b-9091-5d03360bf860_en) — European Commission