1. You have EUR 800 per month at your disposal
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have sufficient financial resources for living in Finland. You must have at least EUR 800 at your disposal every month to be able to pay for your accommodation, food and other needs.
- In your application, provide documentation proving that you have sufficient funds to live in Finland for the first year of studies.
- A deposit in a Finnish bank account is the easiest and most reliable way to show that you have sufficient financial resources.
When you are applying for an extended permit, you may secure your means of support with work. The Finnish Immigration Service receives information about your salaries and benefits from the Incomes Register. Therefore, you do not need to attach certificates of salaries or benefits to your application. If we need further information, we will send you a request for additional information. Read more on the page Incomes Register.
If your educational institution supports your living in Finland, you do not necessarily need to have 800 euros per month at your disposal. When applying for an extended permit, your income from work can also be taken into account. Read more about income requirements.
2. Your studies are progressing
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 studying at a vocational education institution, you must study full-time and your studies must progress according to the study plan.
- If you are a student at a higher education institution, you must complete approximately 45 credits during an academic year.
- If you have completed fewer than 45 credits during an academic year, attach to your application documentation of the reasons why you have not made enough progress in your studies. The documentation can be, for example
- a statement from your supervisor, if you are writing a thesis
- a doctor’s certificate, if you cannot make progress in your studies because of your health.
3. You have insurance
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 pharmaceutical expenses.
If you have a Kela card, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) you do not need to take out other insurance. Attach a certificate of insurance to your application.
Read more about the insurance you need, and about accepted insurance companies, on the page Insurance.
