Residence permit

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You must apply for a residence permit if you plan to study in Finland for longer than three months. EU citizens, citizens of the Nordic countries, Liechtenstein and Switzerland do not need a residence permit.

Residence permits are issued by the Finnish Immigration Service MIGRI.

Apply for a residence permit for study

Start applying early!

Don’t be late for your first semester! You must apply for a residence permit for study (unless you are a doctoral student). 

Start applying for your residence permit as soon as possible after receiving your acceptance letter. If possible, apply before the peak time, which is in July-August or November-December.

Start your application for the residence permit at MIGRI’s online service EnterFinland. This will speed up the application process and you can follow the status of your application online. In addition, you have to visit a Finnish embassy (or consulate) in the country of your legal residence in person. It is required to prove your identity and to give your fingerprints at the embassy.

You are required to have enough insurance cover

A common reason for delays in the residence permit application process is insufficient insurance cover. The insurance requirements vary based on the duration of your stay. You must have insurance for your entire stay in Finland.

Follow the insurance instructions closely, and get the right coverage.

You must have sufficient financial resources

Another common reason for rejecting a residence permit application is the lack of funding. You have to have 560 euros per month (6720 euros per year) in your bank account for the residence permit.

Please note that a student's living expenses in Helsinki are much higher (approximately 900–1250 euros per month). 

Cancellation of the residence permit

The University reports to MIGRI about admitted students who do not show up and start their studies. MIGRI will contact the students about possible cancellation of the residence permit.