This bulletin is updated regularly.
At the moment, we begin to process applications made by students within 2–3 weeks after the applications have arrived at the Finnish Immigration Service.
Applications submitted through the e-service are transferred to the Finnish Immigration Service directly in electronic form once the applicant has visited a Finnish embassy or consulate abroad in person. It takes a few weeks for paper applications to reach the Finnish Immigration Service.
Residence permit applications must be submitted to a Finnish embassy or consulate in a country where the applicant resides legally. If you, however, submit your application to a police department in Finland, the processing of your application will begin within one month of its arrival to the agency. During the busy seasons, the Finnish Immigration Service prioritises applications that have been submitted to a Finnish embassy or consulate.
Dozens of applications may be submitted during one day. When the applications arrive at the Finnish Immigration Service, they are divided into three processing queues:
- Exchange students
- Degree students
- Other students
The Finnish Immigration Service makes a decision on the applications in approximately one month after their arrival at the agency.
Processing times vary case by case.
Residence permit applications for studies are always considered urgent
The Finnish Immigration Service processes and decides all residence permit applications for studies as urgent without any separate requests. Applications are decided in the order they are submitted, and emailing or calling the Finnish Immigration Service will not speed up the processing of your application. We will contact you if we need any additional information for your application.
Do not buy flight tickets in advance. The fact that you have already purchased a flight ticket will not fast-track the processing of your application.
