Finland closed its embassy in Islamabad, making Doha, Qatar the only location where Pakistani applicants can complete the biometric verification required for a Finnish residence permit. Since 31 March 2026, Qatar suspended visa-on-arrival access for Pakistani nationals, and Hayya visa applications (Hayya A1) have remained pending for months with no resolution.

The result: students who have done everything right, secured admission, paid tuition fees, signed leases, obtained insurance, and received confirmed VFS Global Doha appointments, now have no legal way to reach the only location where they can complete their residence permit process.

This is not merely anecdotal: universities have begun informing incoming students that, based on information received directly from the Finnish Immigration Service, Pakistani applicants currently have no alternative service location for identity verification.

With the Finnish Immigration Service's processing time of up to 90 days from identity verification, and the academic term beginning 1 September 2026, every week of delay pushes affected students closer to missing the intake entirely, despite having met every requirement asked of them.

What we are asking for:

We respectfully request that the relevant authorities urgently consider one or both of the following:

From Qatar: A limited, time-bound exception to the visa-on-arrival suspension for Pakistani nationals who can demonstrate a confirmed appointment at a foreign mission or visa centre in Doha for study-related purposes. Such narrow, verifiable exceptions are routine in diplomatic practice.

From Finland: A temporary alternative arrangement for biometric collection for Pakistani applicants, for example through VFS Global centres in Lahore, Islamabad, or Karachi (which already process biometrics for other governments, including the UK), or through a third country, consistent with Finland's own published guidance that applicants may need to attend a VFS centre in a country other than where they reside.

Why this matters:

This is a narrow, well-defined problem caused by circumstances entirely outside the control of the students affected. A targeted, time-limited solution would resolve it for an entire cohort — protecting the academic futures of students who have already invested their savings, time, and plans in good faith, and preserving the strong educational relationship between Pakistan and Finland.

If you are a student, parent, or family member affected by this situation, please sign and share this petition, and add your own experience in the comments. The more voices represented here, the stronger the case for a swift resolution.