FAQ for international applicants

We have two degrees in English. You can get to know them here.

We accept international students and applications. We select both international and local students who meet the student selection criteria. 

International applicants can apply and become accepted as a student.   

Please take into consideration that Varia's vocational and TUVA trainings are intended primarily for people living in Finland. If applying for training from outside the EU or Schengen countries, the applicant must have a job in Finland. 

Please make sure you check the student selection criteria for each vocational qualification.   

There is no Finnish language requirement for Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services – degree or for The Vocational Qualification in Tourism Industry -degree. Please note that  the possible interviews are done on-site at school only.  The rule is the same for all applicants. Student selection is based on said interview.   

Have you missed completing your vocational basic qualification and want to continue your studies? Or do you want to transfer from another educational institution to Varia to study the same degree?

You can apply to us if you have completed at least one (1) professional degree part of the degree you are applying for. The performance can be done at Varia or another vocational school.

 You should use the  application form when the studies are open for applying on this page.

If the degree is not open for applying on that page, you can check if it is in on this page.

The applicants will be selected based on the priority order in accordance with the need for education in basic degrees and parts of  vocational qualifications. The order is as follows:

1. Applicants subject to compulsory education
2. Applicants with no employment or degree
3. Applicants with either no employment or degree
4. Applicants with employment and degree

We don't offer the option to do the language test or interview remotely. Unfortunately, this rule is the same for all applicants.

We conduct language tests and interviews only on-site at school.

We are unable to help with Visa-issues. We don`t send additional letters / documentation for Visa application.

You can read about Visa-issues here.

Check out the Finnish Immigration Service here.

Unfortunately, that is not possible due to the large number of applicants.

Generally we don`t have a English language test. But there might be studies that test English language. Please read the student selection criteria for that.

Only valid photo documents are accepted as proof of identity. In Varia, the following documents are accepted as proof of identity: (specified on March 3, 2025)

1. Finnish passport
2. EU or Schengen Area passport
3. Foreign passport (non-EU or Schengen Area).  In addition to a foreign passport, a valid Finnish residence permit card must be presented.  N.B.! A residence permit card for a country other than Finland will not be accepted as proof of identity.
4. Finnish ID card or ID card issued by a country within the EU or Schengen Area
5. Finnish driver’s license 

The customer must have an original ID card, just a photo of the ID card is not enough.

The Reception Centre's customer card or residence permit card are not official forms of identification and are not valid as proof of         identity on their own.

Identity is checked in a language test, in an interview, in a entrance exam and at the beginning of studies.

Study costs depend on the field of study you enroll in. The possible costs are mentioned on our website on the vocational qualification page for each field.  

Please note that the cost of living in Finland is about 50 euros per day. Rent and food can be quite pricey.

Yes. While we are an upper secondary school and not a higher education institution, tuition fees apply to students from third countries.

Tuition fees for students from third countries

Students in upper secondary education who come from third countries, that is, a country other than an EU member state, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, will be charged tuition fees going forward.
The tuition fees apply to students starting their studies on August 1, 2026, or later, who are arriving in the country or reside in Finland with a residence permit for studies.

The tuition fees for vocational education correspond to the average costs of organizing the training. The tuition fees vary depending on the qualification being completed. The City of Vantaa shall decide on the amount of the tuition fees. The fees will be announced on Varia’s website during spring 2026.

In vocational education, the following persons shall pay tuition fees

• those whose first Finnish residence permit was granted on the basis of their studies
• those who are 18 or older who come to Finland on the basis of family ties, if their sponsor's residence permit or first residence permit was granted on the basis of studies. These persons shall pay tuition fees up to the time they receive a permanent residence permit.

In vocational education, tuition fees do not apply to the following persons

• students subject to compulsory education. Students subject to compulsory education are children under the age of 18 who came to Finland with their family or guardian after gaining a municipality of residence in Finland.
• Those residing in Finland with a permanent (P) residence permit.
• Those residing in Finland with a continuous (A) residence permit (EXCEPTION: If the permit or first permit of the student or their sponsor has been granted on the basis of their studies, the student is required to pay tuition fees).
• Blue Card holders and those with a long-term resident’s EU residence permit for third-country nationals as well as their family members.   
• Exchange students who have a residence permit that is valid for a maximum of one year.
• Students who have a residence permit on the basis of temporary protection when starting their studies and those receiving international protection.
• Students in commissioned education.

We do not offer student accommodation, housing or dormitories. Varia does offer all its students school lunch in the cafeteria on school days. 

For such concerns, we recommend you contact Immigration Services.

Here are two useful links

• Studying in Finland
• Customer guidance services.