# Finland Student Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist > Indian degree students need a Finnish residence permit for studies, not a VFS visa. The 2026 checklist: admission, EUR 800 a month, insurance, tuition and what happens after graduation. _Published: 2026-10-30 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1212_ ## TL;DR Indians studying a full degree in Finland need a residence permit for studies from the Finnish Immigration Service, applied for online in Enter Finland after admission. You must show admission, valid insurance and at least EUR 800 a month (EUR 9,600 a year); short study trips of up to 90 days use a Schengen visa at VFS instead. ## Key takeaways - Degree students need a Migri residence permit for studies, applied for in Enter Finland after admission. - Minimum funds are EUR 800 a month (EUR 9,600 a year), plus valid insurance; tuition fees come on top. - VFS Finland centres in India accept short-stay Schengen visas only, including study trips of up to 90 days (EUR 90 / INR 10000). - 19.8% of Migri decisions on first study permits for Indians were negative in January-September 2026 (26.7% in 2025). - Graduates can apply for a two-year permit to look for work or start a business. **Indians coming for a full degree need a residence permit for studies from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), applied for online in Enter Finland after admission. According to Study in Finland, you must show admission, valid insurance and at least EUR 800 a month (EUR 9,600 a year), then verify your identity at a Finnish mission.** ## Article A Schengen visa is only for short study trips of up to 90 days, and that is the only kind of student application VFS Global handles for Finland in India. Everything below is as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For tourist visas, fees and centres, see our Finland visa guide for Indians. ### Is it a visa or a residence permit for studying in Finland? It depends on how long you will stay. - Degree studies, more than 90 days: a residence permit for studies, decided by Migri. You apply online through the Enter Finland portal, and the permit can be granted for the full length of your studies. - Study trips, summer schools or short exchanges of up to 90 days: a Schengen short-stay visa with the 'Culture, sports and study' purpose, lodged at a VFS Global centre in New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata or Mumbai. VFS Finland centres in India state that they accept short-stay Schengen visa applications only. Do not book a VFS slot for a degree permit. ### What does Migri require for a student residence permit? Study in Finland, run by the Finnish National Agency for Education, lists these conditions for degree students: RequirementOfficial ruleAdmissionAdmission to a Finnish educational institution; apply for the permit after you have been acceptedFundsAt least EUR 800 per month (EUR 9,600 per year) for studies and living costsInsuranceValid insuranceIdentity checkAfter applying online, book and attend an appointment at the nearest Finnish embassy or consulateResearch or doctoral studiesA separate residence permit for scientific research, valid up to two yearsOur verified record does not include the 2026 Migri processing fee or processing time for student permits, because Migri's own website could not be checked. Read the fee shown in Enter Finland on the day you apply, and see the Study in Finland student residence permit page for current guidance. ### How much money do you need beyond EUR 800 a month? EUR 800 a month is Migri's minimum for supporting yourself. Tuition fees are charged on top of that by the university: - English-taught bachelor's and master's programmes typically charge EUR 9,000-20,000 a year. - Non-EU/EEA applicants, which includes Indians, pay a EUR 100 application fee. - Programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish, and doctoral programmes, are tuition-free. So an Indian family arranging a loan or sponsorship needs to plan two sums: the tuition the university invoices, and at least EUR 9,600 for each year of living costs. Build both into the loan sanction or savings plan before you start the online application. ### How do you apply from India? - Accept your study place and keep the admission letter. - Create an account in Enter Finland and complete the residence permit application for studies. - Attach proof of admission, funds and insurance, and pay the processing fee online. - Book an appointment at the nearest Finnish embassy or consulate to prove your identity. The Embassy of Finland in New Delhi has visa jurisdiction over all of India, but our record could not confirm whether permit appointments are also offered elsewhere in India, so follow the booking instructions Enter Finland gives you. - Wait for Migri's decision before you book non-refundable travel. ### Which documents do you need for a short study trip? For a course, exchange visit or summer school of up to 90 days, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' India checklist for 'Culture, sports and study' asks for: - A certificate of admission or registration at an educational establishment, or a cover letter from the inviting company - An official invitation letter from the receiving organisation covering the programme, expenses and who pays them, and accommodation - A dispatch letter from the sending organisation on official paper, such as your Indian college These sit on top of the common Schengen documents: a signed application form with an ICAO photo, a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid three months after the trip, travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000, round-trip flight reservations, accommodation proof, proof of enrolment, and three months of bank statements with ITR for the past two years. The visa fee is EUR 90 / INR 10000 for ages 12 and above, plus the VFS service fee of EUR 20 / INR 2215. Pupils, students and accompanying teachers on study trips may be exempt from the visa fee, decided case by case. Processing takes up to 15 working days for individuals and up to 20 working days for groups of more than 15, such as college groups. ### How many Indian student permit applications does Finland refuse? Migri's statistics service publishes decisions on first residence permits by grounds and nationality. For Indian nationals on study grounds: PeriodPositiveNegativeLapsedTotal decisionsShare negative2025714295951,10426.7%January-September 20268122261021,14019.8%The percentages are computed from the decision counts in Migri's published data. They describe past decisions for all Indian applicants on study grounds and are not a prediction for any single file. ### What can you do during and after your studies? Part-time work is allowed up to 30 hours per week on average during the academic year, and full-time during holidays. After graduating, you can apply for a two-year permit to look for work or start a business. Permanent residence becomes possible after four years on a continuous residence permit, and the study period counts towards those four years (Study in Finland, September 2026). Before you apply, avoid these four mistakes: - Applying before you are admitted: the permit is applied for after acceptance. - Booking a VFS appointment for a degree permit: VFS Finland in India handles short-stay Schengen visas only. - Planning only for the EUR 800 monthly minimum: English-taught programmes typically add tuition of EUR 9,000-20,000 a year. - Assuming an old fee figure: read the current processing fee in Enter Finland. For short study trips and summer schools that need a Schengen visa, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares verifiable flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Are Finnish-taught programmes free for Indian students? Yes. Study in Finland says programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish, and doctoral programmes, are tuition-free. 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. #### Do I need a residence permit for a two-month summer school in Finland? No. Stays of up to 90 days use a Schengen visa with the 'Culture, sports and study' purpose, lodged at a VFS Global centre in India. The fee is EUR 90 / INR 10000 for ages 12 and above, and students on study trips may be exempt case by case. #### Which Finnish permit do PhD researchers need? Research or doctoral studies need a separate residence permit for scientific research, valid for up to two years. Doctoral programmes in Finland are tuition-free. #### Does my Finland study period count towards permanent residence? Yes. Study in Finland says permanent residence is possible after four years on a continuous residence permit, including the study period. Graduates can also apply for a two-year permit to look for work or start a business. ## FAQ ### Are Finnish-taught programmes free for Indian students? Yes. Study in Finland says programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish, and doctoral programmes, are tuition-free. 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. ### Do I need a residence permit for a two-month summer school in Finland? No. Stays of up to 90 days use a Schengen visa with the 'Culture, sports and study' purpose, lodged at a VFS Global centre in India. The fee is EUR 90 / INR 10000 for ages 12 and above, and students on study trips may be exempt case by case. ### Which Finnish permit do PhD researchers need? Research or doctoral studies need a separate residence permit for scientific research, valid for up to two years. Doctoral programmes in Finland are tuition-free. ### Does my Finland study period count towards permanent residence? Yes. Study in Finland says permanent residence is possible after four years on a continuous residence permit, including the study period. Graduates can also apply for a two-year permit to look for work or start a business. ## Sources 1. [Study in Finland (Finnish National Agency for Education) - Student residence permit](https://www.studyinfinland.fi/admissions/student-residence-permit) — Finnish National Agency for Education 2. [Study in Finland - Fees and cost of living (Migri minimum EUR 800/month, 30 h/week work)](https://www.studyinfinland.fi/funding-your-studies/fees-and-cost-living) — Finnish National Agency for Education 3. [Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland - Finland online application for Schengen visa: application documents (India)](https://finlandvisa.fi/checklist/IND) — Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland 4. [Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) statistics service - decisions on first residence permits by grounds and nationality](https://statistics.migri.fi/) — Finnish Immigration Service (Migri)