Finland Visa Process Step by Step for Bangladeshi Students
DIY your Visa Application
{I have researched this content and write this piece of article with the help of my team members earlier in July. since then the India Bangladesh Relations have deteriorated. this may impact travelling to India for visa application purpose. this is an unforeseeable circumstance. Also, I have never applied to Finland myself. All the information shared here is based on the official websites. Please pardon any unintended mistakes.}
In our last discussion, we explored the opportunities and challenges of studying in Finland, a country that offers quality education at an affordable cost. We got some idea about the application process, the required documents, and the unique features of Finnish universities. Today, we will take the next crucial step in our journey - understanding the visa process for Bangladeshi students aspiring to study in Finland.
Navigating the visa process can often be daunting, but with the right guidance and preparation, it can be made simpler and more manageable. In this newsletter, we will walk through the Finland visa processing step by step, providing detailed information in the correct order specifically tailored for Bangladeshi students.
As I have already provided a list of documents required for the application in my previous newsletter, which are:
Passport, NID, Photographs—Euro Format, All Academic Mark Sheets and Certificates (Attested by the Education Board, Education Ministry, and Foreign Ministry), English Proficiency (according to subject and university choice), CV (Euro pass), Bank Solvency and Bank Statement, SOP (Statement of Purpose), Health Insurance, and Police Clearance. Along with these, there are three more documents that are additionally required as part of the visa documents.
1. University Offer Letter
2. Housing or Dormitory Contact Paper (you will need to coordinate with the admission officer)
3. Sponsor Documents
Now, let’s get into the details of the sponsor documents required for your Finland student visa application:
If Your Sponsor is a Businessman:
(You can easily prepare these documents with the help of a lawyer)
1. Trade License: This is a document issued by the local government in the area where the business is located.
2. Business Identification Number (BIN): A unique number assigned to a business as a means of identification. It’s usually issued by the tax department.
3. TAX Certificate: A document issued by the tax department that proves that the sponsor has been paying taxes.
4. Financial Statement: A formal record of the financial activities of the sponsor’s business.
5. National ID (NID)
6. Sponsorship Declaration: This is a document where the sponsor declares their intention to financially support the student during their studies.
7. Relationship Affidavit: A document that proves the relationship between the sponsor and the student.
If Your Sponsor is a Job Holder:
1. Employment Certificate: This is a document that verifies the sponsor’s employment status. It’s usually issued by the employer.
2. Pay Slip (Last 6 Months): These are documents that provide a record of the sponsor’s earnings for the last six months.
3. Salary Certificate (Updated): A document usually issued by the employer that certifies the sponsor’s monthly income.
4. Bank Statement (Salary Account): This is a document that provides a record of all transactions made through the sponsor’s salary account.
5. Balance Confirmation Certificate: The document that confirms the current balance in the sponsor’s bank account.
6. Bank Solvency Certificate: This is the document that proves that the sponsor has sufficient funds in their bank account.
7. Tax Identification Number (TIN)
8. Tax Certificate (Updated): This is a document that proves that the sponsor has been paying taxes. It’s usually issued by the tax department.
9. Tax Return Acknowledgement Slip (Updated): This is a document that acknowledges the sponsor’s tax return submission.
10. Passport / NID (English Translated)
11. Clarification of Big Transaction: If there are any large transactions in the sponsor’s bank statement, a clarification document may be required to explain the source and purpose of these transactions.
Now that our document checklist is complete, let's talk about the rest of the process. The most important part, which is the application process, is not as complicated as you might have thought it would be. Applications can be made in two ways: one is a separate application, where you can apply directly from the university’s website. And another is joint applications, which is the most popular way to apply. You can apply through www.studyinfo.fi , a central government website for all Finnish universities. Once you are done with submitting your application within the given timeframe, here are rest of the steps to follow:
· Conditional Offer Letter: If your application is successful, you’ll receive a conditional offer letter from the university.
· Tuition Fees Payment: Pay the tuition fees for the first year to confirm your acceptance of the offer. You can receive an Early Bird Scholarship depending on whether you can pay the tuition fees within the allocated time before the deadline. Applied Science University offers only Early Bird Scholarships (10%–70% off from first-year tuition fees). Research universities offer up to a full-fund scholarship plus a 5,000 Euro stipend per year, depending on your eligibility.
· Unconditional Offer Letter: After your payment is confirmed, you’ll receive an unconditional offer letter.
· Prepare Your Documents: Gather all the necessary documents for your visa application. This includes your passport, NID, photographs, academic certificates, English proficiency scores, university offer letter, housing/dormitory contact paper, sponsor documents, CV, bank solvency & bank statement, SOP, health insurance, and police clearance.
· Make an Appointment with VFS: Once you have all your documents ready, you need to make an appointment with the Indian Finland Visa Facilitation Services (VFS). VFS is an international services company that handles visa applications on behalf of the embassy. You can make this appointment online through the VFS website.
· Attend the Interview: After making the appointment, you will be given a date and time to attend an interview at the Finland Embassy in India. During the interview, you will be asked various questions about your study plans in Finland, your financial situation, and other relevant topics. It’s important to answer these questions honestly and confidently.
· Visa Approval: If your interview is successful and all your documents are in order, you should receive your visa approval within 2-3 weeks.
Now, I will try to break down the costs associated with applying for a student visa to Finland:
· Tuition Fees: These are the fees you pay to the university for your chosen program. The cost varies depending on the university and the program you choose, but it generally ranges from 8,000 to 15,000 euros per year.
· Health Insurance: Health insurance is mandatory for all students in Finland. Swisscare is one of the providers of student health insurance plans, and their coverage costs approximately 197 euros. It’s important to check the specific coverage details and ensure it meets the requirements set by Finnish immigration authorities.
· India Travel: Since there is no Finland embassy here in Bangladesh, students need to visit the nearest Finland embassy, which is in New Delhi, India. This includes the cost of the visa, accommodation for 2-3 weeks, transportation, and VFS (Visa Facilitation Services) fees. These are the costs you’ll need when you travel to India for your visa application process.
Note: For Indian visas, you need educational documents, confirmation of tuition fee payment, a cover letter for the high commission, a bank statement, dollar endorsements, etc. You can opt for the double-entry visa, which usually arrives within 7 days.
· Embassy Fees: These are the fees charged by the embassy for processing your visa application. It’s 350 euros for the student and 470 euros if you’re bringing your spouse.
· Bank Solvency & Bank Statement: As you already know, these are crucial documents that demonstrate your financial ability to support yourself (and any dependents) during your study period in Finland. For the student, a minimum of 6720 euros is required to show; for the spouse, it’s 8400 euros; and for a baby, it’s 6000 euros. These amounts are designed to ensure that you can cover living expenses, tuition fees, and any unexpected costs.
· Marriage Certification Verification from VFS: If you’re married and you’re bringing your spouse, you’ll need to have your marriage certificate verified by VFS. This costs between 3000 to 5000 Indian Rupees.
Note: For the spouse, they will need to fill out the PK1_plus form; the marriage certificate, in both Bangla and English, needs to be notarized and attested by the law and foreign ministry. For the baby, the birth certificate needs to be attested by the law and foreign ministry. The rest of the procedures are the same. No health insurance is needed for the spouse or the baby.
· Air Ticket: The price can vary depending on the time you are booking it and how early you are booking it, but it’s generally between 85,000 and 95,000 BDT per person if your flight is from Dhaka to Helsinki.
· 05-06 Month Accommodation cost: This is an optional cost for pre-booking your accommodation for the first 5-6 months in Finland. It’s estimated to be between 4 to 6 lakh Bangladeshi Taka.
I do not provide any professional service for Finland. If you want to get your Statement of purpose reviewed you can email me at info@tomarahman.com. I help students with Canadian admission and Visa processing. You can email me for Canadian student support.