Instructions for scientific researchers
Congratulations on your postgraduate status in Finland!
This page is for you who need a residence permit in Finland. Start preparing your application immediately after receiving your acceptance letter. The entire process may take several months.
How do I know if I need a residence permit in Finland?
You will need a residence permit in all other cases, except:
- If you are a citizen of an EU Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. However, you may need to apply for EU-registration. For more information, please see our website migri.fi/i-am-an-eu-citizen.
- If you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of studies by some other EU Member State than Finland and if you are covered by a programme or an agreement specified in the Finnish act on residence permits for students. You can carry out part of your studies in Finland for a period up to 360 days. You must submit a mobility notification to the Finnish Immigration Service. For instructions, please see migri.fi/mobility-notification-to-finland.
- If you plan to study in Finland for 90 days or less. However, you may need a visa. For information on visas, please see the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland um.fi/frontpage.
What type of residence permit do I need?
There are 3 different options:
- You have been selected by a research organisation.
- If you are employed by your research organisation, you must be able to earn your living in Finland through gainful employment throughout the time you stay in Finland. Your gross salary must be at least € 1,252 per month in 2021.
- If you are not in an employment relationship, you must have at least € 1,000 per month at your disposal for your living costs in Finland. You can secure your income with funds or even other types of income, such as a research scholarship.
- You need a residence permit for scientific research, application form OLE_TUT.
- For more information, please see:
- Since you only have a bachelor’s degree (a first-cycle degree), you cannot be granted a residence permit for scientific research even if you are conducting scientific research.
- You are employed by your educational institution and you receive a salary of at least € 1,252 per month.
- You need a residence permit for employment of another kind, application form OLE_TY5.
- For more information, please see:
- You only have a bachelor’s degree (a first-cycle degree) and you receive a scholarship or you are funding your stay with your own funds (at least € 1,000 per month).
- You need a residence permit for employment of another kind, application form OLE_MUU.
- For more information, please see:
1
Apply for your residence permit abroad, not in Finland.
Apply for your residence permit abroad, not in Finland.
2
Create an account in the online service enterfinland.fi. Fill in the correct application form. Fill in your name as it is in your passport, your contact details and the date you plan to arrive in Finland. Next, collect the mandatory appendices listed on the website Migri.fi.
Create an account in the online service enterfinland.fi. Fill in the correct application form. Fill in your name as it is in your passport, your contact details and the date you plan to arrive in Finland. Next, collect the mandatory appendices listed on the website Migri.fi.
3
Submit your online application.
Submit your online application.
4
Visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) in person for identification and fingerprinting. Contact the embassy or consulate in advance to book an appointment. All Finnish embassies and consulates are listed at finlandabroad.fi/frontpage. If there is no Finnish diplomatic mission in your country, check on the finlandabroad.fi website which embassy or consulate you need to contact. Please note that the Finnish Immigration Service cannot influence at which Finnish embassy or consulate you should handle your matter. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland makes this decision.
Visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) in person for identification and fingerprinting. Contact the embassy or consulate in advance to book an appointment. All Finnish embassies and consulates are listed at finlandabroad.fi/frontpage. If there is no Finnish diplomatic mission in your country, check on the finlandabroad.fi website which embassy or consulate you need to contact. Please note that the Finnish Immigration Service cannot influence at which Finnish embassy or consulate you should handle your matter. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland makes this decision.
5
Your application will be processed only after you have visited a Finnish mission. Also, the estimated processing time of your application starts from the day you visit the mission.
Your application will be processed only after you have visited a Finnish mission. Also, the estimated processing time of your application starts from the day you visit the mission.