Estonia Denies Visas to 114 Foreign Students, Majority from University of Tartu.
Estonia has recently denied visas to 114 foreign students, with the University of Tartu facing the highest number of rejections—66, representing 57.89% of the total. According to Estonian media, the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) primarily rejected students from Nigeria, with 28 denied visas, followed by Pakistan (22) and India (10), as reported by Schengen.News.
Tiina Nirk, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Estonia, told ERR that there are often uncertainties about the true intentions of students applying for study visas to Estonia. She suggested that some may be applying for visas solely to gain access to the European Union.
In 2024, Estonia granted visas to 646 foreign students. Chinese students received the most visas, with 65 approved, followed by American students (53) and Azerbaijani students (51).
Impact of International Student Enrollment Due to Russian War in Ukraine
Estonia’s international student enrollment rates have declined, partially due to the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. Among Pakistani applicants, 43 out of 65 were approved for visas, resulting in a rejection rate of 34%. Nigerian applicants faced a much higher rejection rate, with 28 out of 37 being denied, equating to a 75% rejection rate.
The University of Tartu has seen a drop in the number of international students over the past three years. Aune Valk, the university’s vice rector, explained that post-pandemic challenges, including visa difficulties and economic factors, have contributed to this decline. Currently, the university hosts 1,700 international students, making up 11% of its total student population.
“We have 70 more international students this year than last, but it is still unclear whether they will all arrive, as not everyone receives a positive response to their visa applications,” Valk noted.
Pakistani Students Face Financial Losses Over Visa Issues
Pakistani students, in particular, are concerned about the financial implications of their visa denials. One student shared his experience, explaining that he, along with three other Pakistani students, was accepted into the master’s program in Computer Engineering and Robotics at the University of Tartu. Their classes were set to begin on September 2.
However, due to the absence of an Estonian embassy in Pakistan, these students were hoping to obtain their visas from Estonian embassies in Singapore or Turkey. Unfortunately, they were denied entry to both countries, leaving them unable to apply for a study visa to Estonia.
The four students had collectively paid €6,300 as an initial deposit to the University of Tartu, with each contributing €1,600 individually.
“This situation represents a significant financial loss for us and our families. Our families have invested their savings in our education,” said one of the affected students.
The University of Tartu only refunds students who are officially denied a visa by the Estonian embassy.