When can I be granted a residence permit for my studies?

You may apply for a residence permit for studies, if

• you have been accepted as a student at a higher education institution or other educational institution in Finland, and your studies will lead to a degree or a vocational qualification.
• you participate in an exchange programme between educational institutions or other exchange programmes; please ask your educational institution for further information about exchange programmes.

Applicable educational institutions are, for example, universities, universities of applied sciences and vocational education institutions. You cannot be granted a residence permit for studies if your studies mainly consist of distance learning online and do not require you to stay in Finland. If you wish to visit Finland for a shorter period, find out whether you can be granted a visaLink to an external website, which Opens in a new tab. Read more about the requirements for a residence permit for studies.

Suppose your studies do not lead to a degree or a vocational qualification. In that case, you can only be granted a residence permit for studies if there are reasonable grounds for doing so.  Acceptable reasons can be further studies to supplement vocational skills or degrees already acquired, further training relating to work done in the country of departure, or special training available in Finland (for example, training provided within the framework of education export). Residence permits are not granted for studies at open universities.

Check the processing queue for students’ residence permit applications.

You must have sufficient financial resources.

You must have sufficient funds for living in Finland during the entire period of validity of your residence permit. You must have at least EUR 560 at your monthly disposal to pay for your accommodation, food and other needs. You can read more about students’ income requirements.

Tuition fees

Finnish institutions of higher education charge tuition fees to students who arrive from outside the EU and the EEA. In your application, you must prove that you have the necessary funds to pay your tuition fees.

You are allowed work in Finland with certain restrictions.

The residence permit for studies enables you to work without restrictions if your work is related to your degree. This means practical training and thesis work. In addition, you may work in paid employment for a maximum of 30 hours per week. The number of working hours can be exceeded some weeks, as long as the average working hours are at most 30 hours per week at the end of the year.

Students can only work with restrictions during holidays or when the educational institution offers no instruction. The right to work changed when the amendments to legislation on students and researchers entered into force on 15 April 2022.

Students must have insurance.

As a student, you must cover the costs if you become ill in Finland. In order toTodence a permit, you must take out private insurance covering pharmaceutical expenses. You’ll be able to read more about insurance.

Family members

If you are granted a residence permit for studies, your spouse and children can be granted a residence permit based on family ties.

Even your family members can get a continuous residence permit if you study for a degree at a higher education institution.

May I complete my studies in a second EU Member State?

A study residence permit can be granted as a national or a permit under the Students and researchers Directive (EU) 2016/801.

A residence permit under the Directive allows you to complete part of your studies in a second EU Member State. You can be granted a residence permit under the Directive if you meet the requirements for the permit and are coming to Finland to complete a higher education degree.
Suppose you intend to complete part of your studies in a second EU Member State. In that case, please ask the competent authorities of the second Member State if you need to submit a mobility notification.

A national residence permit does not allow you to study in a second EU Member State. You can be granted a national residence permit if you meet the requirements for the permit and you

• are coming to Finland to carry out studies other than those leading to a higher education degree, or
• have come to Finland as an asylum seeker (read more about work and study activities for asylum seekers), or
• have been granted international protection in an EU Member State, or
• have received a decision on deportation from Finland.