Studies

Statistics on residence permit applications for studies can be found on the statistical service.

Statistics on decisions on residence permit applications for studies can be found on the statistical service.

1. The applicant receives a study place in Finland and accepts it. They should apply for a residence permit as soon as possible.
2. The applicant fills in a residence permit application, checks that they have all the required attachments and, if necessary, has them translated and legalised.
3. The applicant pays the fee for the application, either in the Enter Finland service, at a mission, or at one of the Finnish Immigration Service’s service points.
4. The applicant comes in to prove their identity and give their fingerprints. Abroad, they visit a Finnish mission or a service point of the external service provider, VFS. In Finland they visit a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service. A student primarily applies for their first residence permit before entering Finland.
5. The application is sent to the Finnish Immigration Service for processing.
6. If the applicant has submitted their application at a Finnish mission, they stay abroad while waiting for the decision. Those who have submitted their applications at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service wait for the decision in Finland. The applicant can track the progress of their application in Enter Finland.
7. When the applicant has received the decision and a residence permit card, they can move to Finland. The card will be sent to the mission that the applicant visited when they submitted their application. If the applicant was already in Finland when applying, the card will be sent to the address in Finland they gave in their application. An applicant who has a D visa can enter Finland as soon as the residence permit has been issued. If a student has applied for a D visa and it has been granted to them, the residence permit card will be sent to them in Finland.  

A person who applies for a residence permit for studies must meet the general requirements for entering Finland. For example, they must have a valid passport. In addition, the applicant must have a study place, they must meet the income requirement, and they must have health insurance.

The Finnish Immigration Services always aims to issue residence permits to students as soon as possible, so that they can start their studies on time.

For the expected processing times, see Processing times.

During the busy period, you can check the situation at the Processing queue of students’ residence permit applications.  

If the processing time is longer than expected, the reason for this usually is that more information is required. For example, this may happen because the applicant has not provided the requested information. It may also be necessary to verify that the information provided by the applicant is correct or that their documents are authentic.

Yes. Students with a residence permit may work on average 30 hours a week in any field. The number of hours per week may be higher in some weeks, as long the average at the end of the year is 30 hours a week.

When a student applies for an extended permit, they can also meet the income requirement by working. However, working must not slow down their studies, which must progress normally at all times.

Read more on the page Working and internships during studies.  

Yes. A student can apply for a residence permit for a person with a degree completed in Finland when 

• they have completed a degree in Finland, and  
• they already have an employment contract or a binding job offer.  

They can apply for this permit even if they graduated in Finland several years ago and have lived abroad in the meantime.

A student can also apply for a residence permit to look for work or start a business if  

• they have previously had a residence permit for studies 
• they have not yet found a job, and  
• they have completed a degree in Finland. 

A permit to look for work is granted for no more than two years, during which the applicant can search for a job in Finland. You can apply for this permit within five years after graduating, and you can also apply for it if you moved abroad after graduation. Even if you do get a job, you only need to apply for a residence permit for an employee when your residence permit to look for work expires. 

If you have a residence permit to look for work or start a business, you can work in Finland without restrictions, regardless of the field in which you studied.