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The Finnish government has introduced a temporary solution for Pakistani students by relocating the residence permit identification process from Abu Dhabi to Doha, Qatar due to ongoing travel difficulties.
From July 9 to August 6, 2025, Pakistani students can visit VFS Global in Doha, Qatar, to complete biometric submissions and identity verification for Finnish residence permits.
This change addresses logistical issues faced by students trying to attend visa appointments in the UAE, where strict entry regulations have disrupted timely processing for many Pakistani applicants.
According to the Finnish Embassy, students already on the Abu Dhabi waiting list will be automatically transferred to the VFS Doha schedule and contacted individually with instructions.
Those with confirmed appointments in Abu Dhabi who prefer switching to Doha must notify the Finnish Embassy in Abu Dhabi by July 11 to request the change.
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If space is available in Doha, the embassy will provide further guidance. However, all appointments in Doha are final and cannot be rescheduled due to high demand.
Students who miss their slot in Doha will need to rebook through the original system in Abu Dhabi. No alternate arrangements will be made once appointments are missed.
Despite the change in location, residence permit cards will still be delivered to the Finnish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, where students can later choose their preferred collection method.
Applicants are reminded to pay the residence permit fee online before arriving at VFS Global in Doha and ensure they bring all necessary documents to avoid delays.
The Embassy hopes this temporary setup will ease the application process for Pakistani students and prevent further delays in their academic plans for the upcoming semester.
