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. However, do not apply for an extended permit until you have three months left to the expiry date of your residence permit. If you apply for the permit earlier, we may not necessarily be able to assess whether you meet the requirements for an extended residence permit. In this case, we would be unable to grant you an extended residence permit.

When you apply for an extended permit on the basis of studies, it is important that you have made progress in your studies. 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 card will not be sent abroad but you have to have a valid address in Finland where the card can be sent.

  • Expected processing time for electronic application

    1–5 months

  • Expected processing time for paper application

    2–6 months

  • Electronic application fee

    150 €

  • Paper application fee

    150 €

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. If necessary, have them translated and legalised.

3

Fill in your application.

4

Pay for your application in the e-service Enter Finland, at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

5

If you are abroad, visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). If you are already in Finland, 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:

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
  • Earlier degree certificates (not required of degree students and exchange students)
  • Potential certificates of employment (not required of degree students and exchange students)

Right to work

If you get a residence permit, you may 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, that is, during summer and Christmas holidays.

Residence permit application for studies, OLE_OPI

Fill in an electronic application
Fill in a paper application
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