Student Residence Permit (Finland)

You can apply for a student residence permit if you have been accepted by a Finnish educational institution and your studies lead to a degree or vocational qualification, or if you are an exchange student. Studies that are mainly online and do not require you to stay in Finland do not qualify, and basic education is not eligible.

The permit is issued by the Finnish Immigration Service, called Migri. This guide covers the main rules. The checklist and the application form on the Migri site have the full document list.

Migri says that for studies of one year or longer you must have EUR 9,600 in your bank account when you submit the application. For studies of less than a year you need EUR 800 per month at your disposal. The money is for accommodation, food and other needs, plus tuition if it is not yet paid.

Some situations lower the figure:

• A grant or scholarship for living costs counts towards the requirement. Migri's example is a one-year stay with a EUR 2,000 grant, which lowers the bank requirement to EUR 7,600.
• If the institution gives you free accommodation, you need at least EUR 400 per month.
• With free accommodation and meals, you need at least EUR 270 per month.

You attach a bank statement that covers the past six months. It must show the account holder's name, the bank's name and the currency. The account must be for your personal use. Accounts in any country are acceptable if you can withdraw money from them in Finland.

Students under 18 and exchange students may use a joint account with a guardian, as long as the statement shows your right to access it. Sponsorship agreements from relatives, friends or employers are not accepted. If a sponsor provided the money, you may be asked for documents on its origin, such as a tax certificate or the sponsor's bank statement.

If you have already paid tuition, attach proof of payment and show sufficient living funds. If you will pay after applying, your bank account must hold enough for the first year's tuition and your living costs when you apply, and living funds cannot be used for tuition. If a scholarship covers tuition, attach the institution's certificate and show sufficient living funds. Instructions for degree students with tuition fees are on a separate Migri page.

You need private insurance that covers medical and pharmaceutical costs and is valid when you arrive. A Kela card, an EHIC or a GHIC means you do not need additional insurance.

Students in higher education degree programmes receive an A permit, which is a continuous residence permit. Other degree students and exchange students receive a B permit, which is temporary. B permit holders cannot study in other EU member states under that permit.

If you study for a higher education degree in Finland and meet the conditions, you can switch from a B permit to an A permit by submitting a new application. Family members of A permit holders can receive an A permit. The first permit lasts up to one year, and extended permits last up to four years. Family members of B permit holders can receive a B permit.

You can do paid work in any field for an average of 30 hours per week. The limits are 120 hours per month or 1,560 hours per year. You may exceed 30 hours in some weeks, but the yearly average must stay within the limit. Mandatory internships and diploma work are exempt if they are agreed in advance for credits.

Since 15 April 2022, students can no longer work without restrictions during holidays.

Apply online in Enter Finland, which has a lower fee than paper, or on paper if you cannot use it. First permits are generally applied for abroad, and you book an appointment at a Finnish mission to prove your identity. If you are already in Finland, book an appointment at a Migri service point and attach Form MP_1.

Attachments include a passport, a passport photo, a copy of the passport data page, the acceptance certificate, proof of funds, an insurance certificate and tuition payment or scholarship documents. Translations and legalisation may be needed. You can apply for a 100 day D visa alongside the permit, but only if you can travel to Finland within two weeks of approval. The Migri page does not state the fee amount or processing times.

For an extension, funds can come from work. You may work in paid employment for an average of 30 hours per week, provided your studies progress normally. A deposit in a Finnish bank account is described as the easiest and most reliable option. Attach your employment contract if you are employed. Payslips are not needed, because income data comes from the Incomes Register.