Residence permit application for studies

Apply for a residence permit with this application if you are moving to Finland to study and you have been accepted as a student at an educational institution in Finland. The educational institution can be a university, a university of applied sciences, a general upper secondary school or a vocational education institution. You may apply for a residence permit for studies, if

your studies lead to a degree or a vocational qualification, or
you are coming to Finland as an exchange student.

You cannot be granted a residence permit for studies, if your studies mainly consist of distance learning online and do not require you to stay in Finland. If you wish to visit Finland for a shorter period of time, find out whether you can get a visa. For information on extended permits, see the page Extended permit for studies.

Expected processing time for electronic application

First permit 2 months
Expected processing time for paper application

First permit 2 months
Electronic application fee

First permit 350 €
Electronic application fee, minor holder

First permit 240 €
Paper application fee

First permit 450 €
Paper application fee, minor holder

First permit 270 €

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. The processing time may be longer if you have not filled in your application sufficiently.

3

Fill in your application.

4

Pay for your application in the online 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. Check the estimated processing time of your application here. You can follow the processing of your application with the help of our chatbot Kamu. In addition, you will usually receive automated messages at the different processing stages of your application.

8

You should wait for the residence permit in the same country or locality where you submitted your application and proved your identity.

General requirements for entry into Finland

Make sure you meet the general requirements for entry into Finland before you submit an application.

Requirements

You must meet the following requirements:

You need to be able to support yourself in Finland for the entire duration of your studies. You must have at least EUR 560 at your disposal every month to be able to pay for your accommodation, food and other needs.

Add to your application proof of how you will finance your stay in Finland during the first year of studies.
- you must have 6,720 euros in your bank account when you submit the application.
If your studies will take less than one year, you must have 560 euros per month at your disposal.

If your educational institution supports your living in Finland, you do not necessarily need to have 560 euros per month at your disposal. Attach to your application documentation of the support your educational institution provides. Read more about income requirements.

You can get a residence permit if you have been accepted to study at an educational institution in Finland. Your studies must lead to a vocational qualification or a degree. You may also get a residence permit for other types of studies if you have a well-founded reason for it. You cannot get a residence permit for studies to complete basic education.Read more on the page Study place.

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.

Attach a certificate of insurance to your application.
Your insurance must be valid when you arrive in Finland.

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. Read more about the insurance you need, and about accepted insurance companies, on the page Insurance.

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
documentation of sufficient financial resources
certificate of insuranc e
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)
If you are under 18 years of age, you should also attach to your application
- a legalised birth certificate
- your parent’s or guardian’s consent for you to move to Finland (the document must be confirmed by a notary public or other comparable authority).