In this article, we would guide you on how to apply for Estonia student visa in Nigeria.
Studying abroad is the dream of many Nigerians. The prestige and honour given to citizens with international qualifications have inspired this dream. Do you wish to apply for Estonia student visa in Nigeria? Read on for details on how to do this.
Why should I apply for Estonia student visa?
Estonia is a great choice of country to study in and there are a number of reasons why you should study in Estonia:
Educational institutions in Estonia have been ranked among the top 100 in Europe. The country Estonia has a safe and stable learning environment, exciting and active student life, possibility of working during studies, and more.
It has nearly 4,000 international students, from over 70 countries, taking degree programmes from a pool of more than 130 degree courses. And many international students have admitted that they would like to settle in Estonia after their studies due to the country’s hospitability, robust tradition, level cost of living, job availability, and fair economic policies.
Furthermore, universities and the government of Estonia have put various scholarship programmes in place in order to help foreign candidates who wish to study in Estonia. You can choose any one from categories such as degree studies, short courses, exchange studies, or carrying out research in Estonia that is in line with your study preferences. You also have the option to search for scholarship offers that match your study interests in the scholarship database.
Estonia has dozens of institutions (private and public alike) offering tertiary education, including vocational schools and professional higher education institutions. It is beautiful country with a friendly populace and efficiently managed systems.
If you decide to study in Estonia, the first thing you need to do is learn how to apply for Estonian student visa in Nigeria. This visa application guide is written to give the most basic and important information you need to help you get started on your journey towards studying in Estonia.
What is Estonian student visa?
Estonian student visa is a permit that allows you to study in Estonia. For prospective international students, like Nigerians, who do not enjoy visa-waiver, this is what you must apply for to study in Estonia.
Just as other visa categories cover business and tourism/visitation, there are two categories that cover study. You can either apply for category ‘C’ Estonia or Schengen visa or category ‘D’ visa. Category ‘C’ is a short-stay visa allowing you to stay in Estonia for no more than 90 days. While ‘D’ is a long-stay visa that allows you to stay for a period between three to 12 months and is ideal for you if you intend to take a course that spans more than 90 days.
However, if you intend to study for more than 12 months, you will need to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) which will authorize you to stay in Estonia for more than 12 months. Here are few things to keep in mind concerning Estonian TRP:
If you are applying for a long-stay Type “D” Schengen visa to study for more than 12 months, it is advisable to apply for your temporary residence permit before you get to Estonia. This is because the process takes up a lot of time (sometimes two months or more) and may interfere with your studies.
You are allowed to apply for the visa and temporary residence permit at the same time.
The temporary residence permit required for the study will be issued for the duration of your study. That is, if you are taking a degree course, which runs for three years, you will be issued a TRP that will allow you to stay for that duration.
You must apply for an extension of your TRP at least two months before its expiry date.
Within one month after you arrive in Estonia if you have obtained your TRP, you must, as a non-EU citizen, register your place of residence with the local government of whatever city you will be staying in.
Requirements for Temporary Residence Permit:
– A duly filled TRP application form
– Adequate funding
– A valid medical insurance cover.
– Enrolment letter from the institution where you got your admission.
– Correct information about family members and close relatives.
– State fee payment receipt.
– Documents that prove your identity
– Coloured copy of passport photograph.
Be sure to contact the academic institution where you are enrolled for assistance in obtaining a temporary residence permit.
Working and studying in Estonia
If you gain admission into a higher institution in Estonia and have gotten your visa, then you automatically have the right to work while you study. You are even permitted to work a full-time job as long as it does not hamper your studies. After you graduate from the tertiary institution, you will be allowed to stay for an extra six month to look for a job in Estonia.
Who can apply for Estonia student visa in Nigeria?
You can apply for an Estonian student visa if you desire to study in or already have obtained admission to an institution of learning. If you reside permanently in Nigeria or are a Nigerian citizen, you can apply for an Estonian student visa from Nigeria.
Then again, if you reside in Nigeria as a foreigner but are a citizen of a country that is a member of the Schengen group, you do not need to apply for a student visa to travel to Estonia for academic purposes.
If you are a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria, and you have a robust financial backing enough to sustain you in Estonia, then you are eligible to apply for a student visa. You can also look up the scholarship opportunities available to prospective students.
Note that what separates this particular visa application from others is the proof of enrolment into a tertiary institution in Estonia. If you have other reasons for wanting to travel to Estonia besides academic pursuits, then read our guide on how to apply for tourist or Medical visa.
When applying for Estonian student visa in Nigeria, be sure to carefully follow the steps outlined hereafter for a successful application process.
What are the required documents to apply for Estonian student visa in Nigeria?
Ensure you carefully review every document required for your visa application to make sure they are complete before you proceed. Every document requested for by the embassy clearly shows the purpose of your application. The following documents are required for Estonia student visa:
– A duly filled online application form. Do not be alarmed to see the symbol of the embassy of Belgium as The Belgian embassy handles all Estonia visa application. Carefully and completely fill this form as an incompletely or incorrectly filled form will be rejected. Minors should have their forms filled by their parents or guardians, with two passport photos of either parents or guardians.
– An international passport having no less than 3-months validity and a minimum of two blank pages. If you have an old passport having border stamps and/or visa stamps and also if you have visas from previous travels, all these indicating past travels, they can be submitted along with the current passport in your application.
– A letter of enrolment or acceptance from the tertiary institution where you intend to study stating the course of study and the duration of the programme. Please note that without this document you cannot process an Estonia visa as a student.
– Two passport photos taken in accordance with the visa application photograph requirements. This usually measures 35mm x 45mm with a plain and bright background.
– A valid Schengen medical insurance cover worth €30,000 in value. You can get your insurance HERE, starting at only ₦3,250.
– A valid flight ticket reservation indicating flight number as well as departure and return date. WARNING: please, do not buy an actual flight ticket prior to the completion of your visa application as you might lose all your money should your visa application be denied. Most airline firms have a strict no-refund policy, while some others may only refund a fraction of the money you spent purchasing the ticket. Visit HEREto place an order for a valid flight reservation.
– A cover letter stating why you want to study in Estonia. Don’t know how to write one? Contact us for visa assistance.
– A valid proof of adequate financial buoyancy such as a statement of account showing transactions for the past six months. This is to ensure that you can bear the financial responsibilities that come with living and schooling in Estonia. If you are being sponsored, then you must provide the bank transaction statement of your sponsor in your application.
– Valid proof of accommodation. In this case, your hostel payment receipt if you applied to stay in the institution’s hostel accommodation. A valid hotel reservation can also suffice. Click HERE to book affordable hotels.
– If you are employed and are going to be taking a short course, you must provide your payslips for at least the past four months and a leave permit from your current employer. You may include your Tax Identification Number as well.
How to apply for Estonia Student Visa in Nigeria
How to apply for Estonia student visa in Nigeria: Step by Step
Application for an Estonia student visa is quite tedious. You need to ensure that you follow this guide on how to apply for Estonia student visa in Nigeria to ease the process. To get started, you should do the following:
1- Secure an admission into an institution of learning in Estonia
The basic rule when seeking admission into universities abroad is to apply to as many institutions as possible. This will significantly improve your chances of securing an admission. Tartu Ulikool, Tallinna Tehnikaulikool and EELK Usuteaduse Instituut are some of the recommended institutions of learning in Estonia.
2- Gather all required documents
Consolidate all the documents that are required for the visa application procedure. Use the list of required items in the guide as a checklist to ensure you do not leave out any important item. When you have put all the documents together, check them again to be certain that none is missing.
3- Submit all your documents at VFS
VFS Global limited is a visa application centre with offices in Lagos and Abuja that has a third-party agreement with the Belgian embassy. Through VFS, the Belgian embassy collects and processes Estonia visa applications in Nigeria.
When you have all the required documents ready for submission, you can go over to VFS office at:
Note that you will be required to pay the visa application fee upon submission of your documents. Ensure that all payment receipts are securely kept. Find out your Estonia visa fee before you proceed to any VFS centre.
4- Track your visa application
You can monitor visa application using VFS’s online systems. The programme enables you to know the stage your visa application is and to see if your passport is available for retrieval. Click HERE to see the VFS visa application tracking system.
5- Retrieve your passport
If the visa application tracker indicates that your passport is ready for collection, you can go over to the VFS office where you submitted your documents to retrieve it. Their offices are open from 10 am to 4 pm from Mondays through Fridays. Do not forget to take your payment receipts with you when you visit VFS to retrieve your passport.
How to book interview appointment for Estonia student visa in Nigeria
You do not have to book an appointment when you are applying for an Estonia student visa. The offices of VFS Global are open through 5 working days and you can walk in at any time to submit your application whenever you are ready.
Do not forget to take original copies of all required items with you on your submission date as it is mandatory that the VFS representative must view all original documents before making photocopies.
When you visit a VFS centre, you must go in person because your biometric details would be collected. You must also go alone, no company would be allowed in the submission area or in the waiting room, except in these cases:
– A parent accompanying a minor, a son and/or daughter, who is 17 years old or younger.
– An applicant with disabilities or one that needs special medical attention.
– A senior applicant who is 80 years or older and require ambulatory help from an offspring, a spouse or a sibling.
In all instances listed above, only one individual is allowed to assist the visa applicant. Groups such as families or colleagues of small organizations must submit their application individually. Please, ensure that you inform VFS Global about the identity of the individual who would be accompanying you to submit your application. Go HERE to contact VFS.
Frequently asked questions on how to apply for Estonia student visa in Nigeria
How much will Estonia Student Visa cost?
Typically, a Schengen Type “C” visa for a short-stay costs €60 and a Type “D” visa for long-stay costs €99. For kids between 6 and 12 years of age, it typically costs €35. Extra cost may be incurred for applicants who want their visa delivered to them through courier service.
Go HERE to find out your visa fee using our free online calculator. It can be used for Estonia and other nations of the world.
How can I get the Estonia visa application form?
Applicants are required to fill an online application form when they are applying for an Estonia student visa. Click HERE to begin filling the application form.
How long will it take me to get my visa?
Typically, it takes about 15 working days (or approximately four weeks) to process am Estonia visa, although this time-frame is dependent on the nature of your application or the number of applicants at the consulate at the period of your application.
How long will the visa allow me to stay in Estonia?
This is dependent on the type of visa you applied for: a short-stay visa will allow you to stay for a period of 90 days or less, while a long-stay visa will allow you to stay for a period 3 to 12 months. However, if you applied for long-stay for an academic programme with duration longer than 12 months then your visa will allow you to stay for the duration of your academic programme. In that case, you will need to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP).
Conclusion
Visa application can be an engaging process requiring time and energy, and so it is important that before you begin the process you create ample time in your schedule to be ready to attend to matters concerning your visa application. Again, before you go ahead to submit your application, make certain that you have all the required documents for the process to run seamlessly. Keep all payment receipts safe as you will be required to present them when retrieving your documents from VFS.
If you think you missed anything, kindly go through our ‘How to apply for Estonia student visa in Nigeria’ guide again.
If you have not taken our free visa eligibility test, we advise you take the test now in order to properly plan your application.
