Services Frequently asked questions: Students Requirements for applying Application procedure Researchers, students of the Finnish language and open university Insurance Living and financial resources Working Requirements for applying I would like...

Residence permit Guide for students Are you applying for a residence permit for studies? Check out our guide for students! When you answer the questions in the guide, you can easily find exactly the information you need. The guide also enables you...

Residence permit Customer instructions for students The Finnish Immigration Service has prepared customer instructions in English for students who have received a study place in Finland. The educational institution can attach these instructions to...

Residence permit Instructions for exchange students Congratulations on your study place 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...

Residence permit Income requirement for students You can be granted a residence permit for the entire duration of your studies. You need to be able to support yourself in Finland. When you apply for your first residence permit for studies, you can...

Residence permit Instructions for high school exchange students Congratulations on your study place in Finland! Start preparing your application immediately after receiving your acceptance letter. The entire process may take several months. How do...

Residence permit Instructions for degree students without tuition fees Congratulations on your study place in Finland! Start preparing your application immediately after receiving your acceptance letter. The entire process may take several months....

Residence permit Instructions for degree students with tuition fees Congratulations on your study place in Finland! Start preparing your application immediately after receiving your acceptance letter. The entire process may take several months. Ho...

Residence permit We process all residence permit applications for studies as urgent without any separate requests. We will contact you if we need any additional information for your application. Processing queue of students’ residence permit appli...

Residence permit 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 Fi...

Residence permit Application for students and researchers: residence permit to look for work or to start a business Apply for a residence permit with this application if you need a residence permit to look for work or to start a business and you d...

Residence permit Students must have insurance 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 drug expenses. T...

28.10.2025 | The rapid growth in the number of students’ applications during the previous few years has come to a halt this year. However, students and their family members continue to have a historically high level of interest in Finland. At the same time, there has been a decline in the number of employees intending to move to Finland and in the number of asylum seekers.

28.10.2025 | The rapid growth in the number of students’ applications during the previous few years has come to a halt this year. However, students and their family members continue to have a historically high level of interest in Finland. At the same time, there has been a decline in the number of employees intending to move to Finland and in the number of asylum seekers.

20.8.2025 | At the moment, there are 3,185 applications for a first residence permit for studies that are waiting for a decision. We will process all applications for a residence permit for studies as urgent without any separate requests. So far in 2025, we have decided 7,724 applications for a first residence permit for studies.

30.1.2025 | High numbers of employees, students and family members of employees and students continue to show interest in Finland. Despite the high application numbers, the number of permits granted by the Finnish Immigration Service was lower in 2024 than in 2023. Labour migration to Finland has decreased because of the economic downturn in Finland, but the number of applications received is still at a historically high level.

7.11.2024 | The growth of labour migration to Finland has slowed down, but the application figures still remain on a higher level than in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of international students in Finland is increasing.

27.8.2024 | The numbers of students' first residence permit applications have continued to increase. By the end of July 2024, 9,293 applications had been submitted, whereas the corresponding figure in 2023 was 8,762.

19.10.2023 | Today on 19 October 2023, we have introduced automated decision-making for first residence permits for studies.

27.11.2025 | Students This information package contains information on residence permits for students from outside the European Union (EU). This information package is useful if your work includes providing advice on topics related to immigration and residence...