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Residence permit application for internship

Apply for a residence permit for internship if you are coming to Finland for an internship or for an unpaid traineeship through a training programme, such as Eramus+. A residence permit for internship can be issued for a maximum period of 18 months.

You may work as an unpaid intern without a residence permit for a maximum of 90 days if you are residing in Finland visa-free, with a visa, or with a residence permit issued by another EU Member State. However, you must also meet the requirements for an unpaid training programme. A residence permit is always required for a paid internship. 

  • Expected processing time for electronic application

    First permit 3 months / extended permit 3 months

  • Expected processing time for paper application

    First permit 3 months

    extended permit 3 months

  • Electronic application fee

    First permit 380 € / extended permit 170 €

  • Paper application fee

    First permit 480 € / extended permit 430 €

This is what you should do to apply for a residence permit for internship

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 or at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate).

5

Book an appointment to visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) abroad to prove your identity.

6

Wait for a decision abroad. 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. In addition, you will usually receive automated messages at the different processing stages of your application.

If you intend to come to Finland for an internship, you must meet one of the following conditions:

  • You submit your application for a residence permit for internship within a maximum of two years of completing your higher education degree.
  • You are currently participating in a course of study that leads to a higher education degree and the internship is in a field matching your studies.
  • You are between 18 and 30 years of age, and you are studying the Finnish or Swedish language at a university outside Finland.
  • You are between 18 and 30 years of age, you are studying at a university outside Finland, and the internship is in a field matching your studies or your degree.

You should also apply for a residence permit with this application if you are coming to Finland for an internship which is part of:

  • an agreement between states; or
  • a non-governmental organisation’s exchange programme.

If you are coming to Finland as a trainee employee in the context of an intra-corporate transfer, apply for an ICT residence permit. Read more on the page Internal transfer within a company

You cannot be granted a residence permit for internship in the following situations:

  • You have long-term resident status in a Member State of the European Union as a third-country national (EU residence permit).

 

Requirements for an internship in Finland

The documents you need to attach to the application are listed at the end of the page.

Unpaid training program

Requirements for traineeship in Finland through an unpaid training programme

The documents you need to attach to the application are listed at the end of the page.

General requirements for entry into Finland

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

When can I start my internship?

You cannot start the training before you get a residence permit. You are only allowed to do work that is included in the internship.

If you apply for an extended permit, check if you have the right to do the training while your application is being processed. The same instructions that apply to working while your extended permit application is being processed also apply to internships. Read more on the page Working while your extended permit application is being processed

Attach the following attachments to your application:

  • Valid passport accepted by Finland (um.fi). Present your passport when you submit your residence permit application.
  • A passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police (poliisi.fi), or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop
    • The passport photo must be no more than 6 months old.
  • 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 (pdf) (if you already are in Finland and apply for your first residence permit)

Residence permit application for internship, OLE_TY3

Fill in an electronic application

Extended permit for a trainee, OLE_TY3

Fill in an electronic application