Finland requires a study residence permit from students coming to Finland to study. If you are coming to Finland to study for more than 90 days, you will apply for a study residence permit. So it is important to know the Finnish student visa process. Let’s discuss the Finnish student visa process in detail.

The number of international students in Finland has been steadily increasing this year. Finland granted 7,060 residence permits for study to applicants from outside Europe. You can travel to Finland in just 10 days by applying for a Finland D work visa . This is a fast online service provided by the Finnish Immigration Service.

Details about the process of obtaining a Finland student visa

• Host country: Finland
• Visa Type: Finland Study Residence Permit
• Who can apply: Students

Who can apply for a Finnish residence permit for study?

The Finnish residence permit for study is for non-EU students coming to Finland for higher education.

You will be granted a residence permit if you are accepted as a student at an educational institution in Finland.

The educational institution can be a university, a university of applied sciences, a general secondary school or a vocational education institution.

Types of Finnish residence permits

Your residence permit can be either a category A permit or a category B permit.

• You will be granted an A permit if you are coming to study for a higher education degree such as a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate.
• A degree other than a higher education degree, you will be granted a B permit.

Benefits of obtaining a permit

• You can apply for a permanent residence permit  when you graduate and reside in Finland with an A permit for four years .
• Your family members may be granted a category A permit.
• You can complete some of your studies in another EU member state.

Benefits of B permit

• Your family members may be granted a B permit.
• Your permit does not give you the right to study in any other EU member state.
• You can change the B permit to the A permit.

Residence permit requirements for studying in Finland

• You must be able to provide support in Finland for the duration of your studies.
• You must be able to show proof of payment in your bank account of how you will finance your stay in Finland during the first year of your studies.
• If you have a scholarship or your educational institution supports your living in Finland, you do not necessarily need to have 560 euros per month at your disposal.

Get a residence permit

You will get a residence permit if you are accepted into an educational institution in Finland.

Get insurance

As a student, you must be able to cover the costs if you become ill in Finland. To obtain a residence permit, you must take out private insurance that covers your medical and pharmaceutical expenses.

• Attach your insurance certificate with your application.
• Your insurance must be valid when you arrive in Finland.

Required documents

• Valid passport
• Passport photo
• A colour copy of the passport page containing your details
• Acceptance letter from the Finnish educational institute.
• Bank statement covering the past three months
• Insurance Certificate
• Previous academic degree certificates
• Possible employment certificates if you have done any work previously.

Steps to follow in the process of obtaining a student visa to Finland

Application process for a residence permit in Finland for study:

1) Fill out the online application and add documents.

You can fill out the application online to get study residence permit at Enter Finland . The online application fee is lower than the paper application fee.

2) Pay the processing fee.

• If you apply for a residence permit online at Enter Finland, you must pay a fee online.
• If you apply for a residence permit through a paper application, you must pay a processing fee, when you visit the Finnish Embassy.

3) Prove your identity

Book an appointment at one of our Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). You can also prove your identity at one of VFS Global's application centres.

4) Wait for the decision

If you apply online, you will receive an email notification about your progress.

5) Wait for residence permit

If your application is approved, you will receive a positive response regarding your residence permit.

Get your visa in 10 days with Finland D Visa

You can apply for a Finland D visa online using the fast track service. With a D visa, you can enter Finland without a residence permit card once you have obtained your residence permit.

Apply for a D visa to enter Finland at the same time as you apply for a residence permit.

Processing time

If this is your first time, the expected processing time for an online application is:  2 months.

Work while studying

If you obtain a residence permit for study , you are allowed to work in a paid job in any field for an average of 30 hours per week. .

Useful Links

• To obtain a residence permit to study in Finland: https://migri.fi/en/residence-permit-application-for-studies
• Guide for students: https://migri.fi/en/guide-for-students
• To apply for a student visa to Finland: https://enterfinland.fi/eServices/info/studypermit
• D visa process: https://migri.fi/en/d-visa

Can students get permanent residence in Finland?

Yes. If you apply for higher education in Finland, you will receive a study permit of category A. You can apply for a permanent residence permit  when you graduate and have been living in Finland with a category A permit for four years. .

What type of residence permit is required for students in Finland?

Students must apply for a residence permit to study.

How many years to get permanent residence in Finland for international students?

It will take four years to obtain permanent residence in Finland.

Can I settle in Finland after studying?

Yes, you can apply for a permanent residence permit after you have completed your higher education in Finland and after you have spent four years in Finland.