Instructions for students applying for an extended permit
Submit your application in good time before your current permit expires. The entire process may take several weeks.
The mandatory appendices
If your documents are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, have them translated into one of these languages by an authorized translator. Take the originals of your documents with you to the service point. For more information about the appendices, please see the page Residence permit application for studies.
- If your application is approved, the residence permit is valid for 2 years, unless you apply for a shorter period. However, the residence permit is only valid for the duration of your studies, if your studies take less than 2 years.
- Transcript of records including the credits you have completed
- If you have less than 45 credits from the previous academic year, please attach an explanation about your studies and your future plans.
- If your right of study has been extended, please attach an official certificate from your educational institution.
- If you are working on your thesis or dissertation, please include a statement given by your supervisor on how you are proceeding.
- If your studies in Finland last two years or more, your insurance must cover medical expenses up to at least 40,000 euros.
- If your studies last less than 2 years: your insurance must cover both sickness and accident related medical expenses up to at least 120,000 euros.
- Your insurance must be valid throughout your entire stay in Finland. If you plan to study in Finland for at least a year, take out the insurance for a minimum of 1 year.
- Make sure that there are no restrictions to the number of days within the period of validity. Please note that travel insurances are often valid for up to 90 days per trip, and we do not accept these.
- Acquire an insurance document which indicating the following information:
- Your personal details
- Period of validity of insurance
- Geographical area in which your insurance is valid
- Insurance coverage
- Insured amounts
- Amount of deductible, or a mention that there is no deductible
- Do not terminate your insurance. Otherwise you will be responsible for any costs yourself.
- Read more about insurance companies offering international health insurance to students
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You must have 800 euros per month at your disposal to cover your living costs.
- If you are applying for an extended permit for a period of 1 year or longer,
- describe in your application how you intend to finance your stay in Finland during the first year of studies.
- you must have 9,600 euros on your bank account when you submit the application.
- If you are applying for an extended permit for a period shorter than 1 year, you will need to have 800 euros per month at your disposal.
- If your educational institution supports your living in Finland, you do not necessarily need to have 800 euros per month at your disposal. When you are applying for an extended permit, we can take into account your income from work. The Finnish Immigration Service receives information about your salaries from the Incomes Register.
- Documentation on how your income is secured in Finland
- A bank statement from your Finnish bank account from the past 6 months. If you do not have a Finnish bank account, you must verify that you are able to use your foreign account in Finland. Make sure that the statement indicates you as the account owner.
- If you are working, your employment contract
- You do not need to send us payslips. We receive information about your income in Finland from the Incomes Register. If we need further information, we will send you a request for additional information.
- Other possible documentation of your secured income.
- Please attach documentation of the paid fee.
- If you have been partially or entirely exempted from paying tuition fees or have received a scholarship, you have to present a certificate from the educational institution of this.
- Please note that the passport photo or a photograph retrieval code you have received from a photo shop must not be more than 6 months old.
- The photo must comply with the passport guidelines issued by the police. For more information, please see the page Passport photographs (poliisi.fi).
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Apply for your extended permit in Finland. You cannot apply for an extended permit abroad. If you submit your application abroad, your application will be processed as an application for a first residence permit and the application will be subject to a processing fee for a first permit.
Apply for your extended permit in Finland. You cannot apply for an extended permit abroad. If you submit your application abroad, your application will be processed as an application for a first residence permit and the application will be subject to a processing fee for a first permit.
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If you need an extended permit to complete your studies, submit your application before your current permit expires. We recommend that you apply for a new residence permit at the earliest three months before your current residence permit expires. Your application will become pending from the moment you send in the application in our online service Enter Finland.
If you need an extended permit to complete your studies, submit your application before your current permit expires. We recommend that you apply for a new residence permit at the earliest three months before your current residence permit expires. Your application will become pending from the moment you send in the application in our online service Enter Finland.
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To submit your application, log in to your online account at enterfinland.fi. We recommend that you use strong identification when logging in. Fill in the application form for studies. Fill in your name as it is in your passport, your contact details and the date you plan to arrive in Finland.
To submit your application, log in to your online account at enterfinland.fi. We recommend that you use strong identification when logging in. Fill in the application form for studies. Fill in your name as it is in your passport, your contact details and the date you plan to arrive in Finland.
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Submit your online application.
Submit your online application.
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If you used strong identification when logging in to your Enter Finland account, you do not necessarily need to visit a service point.
When you have submitted your application, Enter Finland will tell you whether you need to book an appointment for proving your identity at a service point or not.
Read more about strong identification on the web page migri.fi/identification. We recommend that you use strong identification.
If you used strong identification when logging in to your Enter Finland account, you do not necessarily need to visit a service point.
When you have submitted your application, Enter Finland will tell you whether you need to book an appointment for proving your identity at a service point or not.
Read more about strong identification on the web page migri.fi/identification. We recommend that you use strong identification.
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If required, visit one of our service points for identification and fingerprinting. Your application will not be processed before you have visited a service point. Book an appointment at one of our service points at migri.vihta.com.
All our service points are listed at migri.fi/service-points.
If required, visit one of our service points for identification and fingerprinting. Your application will not be processed before you have visited a service point. Book an appointment at one of our service points at migri.vihta.com.
All our service points are listed at migri.fi/service-points.
Important to remember:
The application process is longer if you submit an incomplete application. We process all residence permit applications for studies as urgent.
If your application is approved, you will get a biometric residence permit card. The card is manufactured in Finland and delivered to your Finnish address. It is not possible to collect the card from a Finnish embassy.
Inform us of your change of address, if you move to another address in Finland.
How to follow the progress of your application:
- Check the processing queue of students’ residence permit applications
- Log in to your Enter Finland account.
- Please note that telephone or email inquiries will not speed up the process.