Application for an extended permit on the basis of studies

Apply for a residence permit with this form if your studies continue but the validity of your residence permit is about to expire. Apply for an extended permit before your previous residence permit expires. We do not recommend that you apply for an extended permit earlier than three months before the expiry date of your residence permit. If you apply earlier, we may not necessarily be able to assess whether you meet the requirements for an extended permit and may be unable to grant the permit. Do not apply for an extended permit before you have completed the necessary ECTS credits.

When you visit the service point, please check that you have all the necessary documents with you. This way you will get a decision on your application faster. Please observe that in matters concerning extended permits the residence permit card will not be sent abroad. You have to have a valid address in Finland where the card can be sent.

Expected processing time for electronic application

4–5 months
Expected processing time for paper application

4–5 months
Electronic application fee

180 €
Paper application fee

250 €

This is what you should do

1

Make sure you meet the requirements for the residence permit you are applying for.

2

Make sure you have all the attachments needed for the application and that they are up to date. If necessary, have them translated and legalised.

3

Fill in your application.

4

Pay for your application in the e-service Enter Finland or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

5

Book an appointment at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

6

Wait for a decision. The Finnish Immigration Service will contact you if necessary.

7

Read what happens after you have applied.

Requirements

You must meet the following requirements:

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have sufficient financial resources for living in Finland. You must have at least EUR 560 at your disposal every month to be able to pay for your accommodation, food and other needs. If you apply for a residence permit for two years, you must have EUR 13,400 at your disposal. When you are applying for an extended permit, you may secure your means of support with work.Read more on the page Means of support.

You got your first residence permit on the basis of studies. You have to be a student at an educational institution in Finland and your studies must be progressing.

• If you are a student at an institute of higher education, you must complete about 45 credits during an academic year.

• If you are studying at a vocational education institution, you must study full-time and your studies must progress according to the study plan.

As a student, you must personally cover the costs if you become ill in Finland. In order to get a residence permit, you must take out private insurance that will cover your medical and drug expenses. Attach a certificate of insurance to your application. Read more about the insurance you need, and about accepted insurance companies, on the page Insurance.

General attachments

Valid passport (you must present it when you submit the residence permit application)
Passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop, OLEL_PK
Colour copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes
Document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application
Form MP_1 (if you already are in Finland and apply for your first residence permit)

Application-specific attachments

Certificate of acceptance/attendance from your educational institution in Finland
Clarification of income
Health insurance
Documentation of paid tuition fee or documentation of scholarship

Right to work

If you have applied for an extended permit in good time, in other words before your previous permit expires, you may work while your residence permit application is pending. If you submit your application too late, you cannot start working before you get a new residence permit.

You can work without restrictions if your work is related to your degree. This means practical training and thesis work.

Your right to do other kinds of work is restricted.

You may only work for an average of 25 hours per week during the academic terms.
- The number of working hours is not restricted on a weekly level. This means that you can adjust your weekly working hours to suit your situation during the academic year, as long as you do not work for more than 25 hours a week on average.
You can work without restrictions at the times when your educational institution offers no instruction.