Check the requirements for the residence permit for studies
- You have a valid passport
- You must have a valid passport. A residence permit can be granted for a longer period than the period of validity of your passport. If your passport expires while the residence permit is valid, remember to renew it early enough.
- You have not been imposed with an entry ban
- You are not a danger to public order and security
- You are not a danger to public health
- You have been admitted to a study programme in Finland that leads to a degree or a vocational qualification
- You have enough money to cover your tuition fees
- You have enough money to cover your living costs in Finland
- You must have at least EUR 560 per month at your disposal so that you can pay for your accommodation, food and other needs in Finland.
- You must have the money for living in Finland for the entire time your residence permit is valid.
- You have insurance
- In order to get a residence permit, you must take out private insurance that will cover your medical and pharmaceutical expenses.
- However, you do not need private insurance if you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a Finnish Kela card.
Check which attachments are needed for your application
Answer the following questions to create a checklist of the attachments you need for your application.
You can take photos of the attachments with your phone. Add the files to your application in Enter Finland. The following file formats are accepted: pdf, txt, rtf, jpg, png, gif.
Show the original documents when you visit the Finnish embassy or consulate or the VFS Global application centre in your country of residence to prove your identity.
Are you residing in your current country of residence with either a visa or a residence permit?
– copy of your visa or residence permit
Attach to your application
- colour copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages containing markings
- a copy of your visa or residence permit
Attach to your application colour copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages containing markings.
Are you applying for a residence permit to complete further training to improve your vocational skills or to complete special training offered in Finland?
– your earlier certificates of employment and degree certificates
Attach to your application
- a certificate of acceptance or attendance from your educational institution.
- your earlier certificates of employment and degree certificates.
Attach to your application a certificate of acceptance or attendance from your educational institution. You do not need to attach to your application any earlier certificates of employment or degree certificates.
Have you already paid the tuition fee for the entire year in full?
Have you been granted a scholarship for paying the tuition fee?
– if your scholarship does not cover the tuition fee for the entire academic year in full, a certificate from your educational institution of the tuition fee you have paid, or a copy of the payment made
Attach to your application
- a certificate of the scholarship awarded to you
- if your scholarship does not cover the tuition fee for the entire academic year in full, a certificate from your educational institution of the tuition fee you have paid, or a copy of the payment made.
Attach to your application a certificate from your educational institution of the paid tuition fee, or a copy of your bank statement showing that you have made the payment.
Have you been granted a scholarship for paying the tuition fee?
– certificate from your educational institution of the paid tuition fee, or a copy of your bank statement showing that you have made the payment
– a bank statement showing that you have the money to cover the rest of the tuition fees for the year
Attach to your application
- a certificate of the scholarship awarded to you to
- a certificate from your educational institution of the paid tuition fee, or a copy of your bank statement showing that you have made the payment
- a bank statement showing that you have the money to cover the rest of the tuition fees for the year.
– a bank statement showing that you have the money to cover the rest of the tuition fees for the year
Attach to your application
- a certificate from your educational institution of the paid tuition fee, or a copy of your bank statement showing that you have made the payment
- a bank statement showing that you have the money to cover the rest of the tuition fees for the year.
Is the duration of your studies one year or longer?
Will your educational institution provide you with free accommodation or free meals or have you been awarded a grant towards your living costs in Finland?
– a bank statement showing the money you have at your disposal for living in Finland
– if you have been awarded a grant towards your living costs in Finland, a certificate of the grant awarded to you
If the educational institution provides you with free accommodation, you need to have at least EUR 280 per month at your disposal.
If the educational institution provides you with free accommodation and free meals, you need to have at least EUR 195 per month at your disposal.
Add to your application proof of how you will finance your stay in Finland during the first year of studies: Attach to your application
- documentation of the support your educational institution provides
- a bank statement showing the money you have at your disposal for living in Finland
- if you have been awarded a grant towards your living costs in Finland, a certificate of the grant awarded to you.
- The bank statement must cover the past three months.
- The bank statement must show all account transactions from the past three months. For example: If you submit your application on 1 April 2022, the bank statement must show all account transactions between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.
- The bank statement must show the name of the account holder, the name of the bank, and the currency.
- The bank account must be your personal account. In other words, you should be the only user of the account.
- If you are under 18 years of age or an exchange student, the bank account can be a joint bank account that you share with your parent or guardian. In that case, the bank statement must include a statement of your right to access the bank account. Because the funds must be in your own bank account, sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are not accepted.
- You can have your bank account in any country, as long as you can use it in Finland. You must be able to withdraw money from the account when you are in Finland.
- Sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are not accepted. The funds must be in your own bank account. If you have received the funds from your parents or relatives, for example, the Finnish Immigration Service may ask you to submit additional information about the origin of the funds.
You must have EUR 6,720 in your bank account when you submit your application. Attach to your application a bank statement showing the money you have at your disposal for living in Finland.
- The bank statement must cover the past three months.
- The bank statement must show all account transactions from the past three months. For example: If you submit your application on 1 April 2022, the bank statement must show all account transactions between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.
- The bank statement must show the name of the account holder, the name of the bank, and the currency.
- The bank account must be your personal account. In other words, you should be the only user of the account.
- If you are under 18 years of age or an exchange student, the bank account can be a joint bank account that you share with your parent or guardian. In that case, the bank statement must include a statement of your right to access the bank account. Because the funds must be in your own bank account, sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are not accepted.
- You can have your bank account in any country, as long as you can use it in Finland. You must be able to withdraw money from the account when you are in Finland.
- Sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are not accepted. The funds must be in your own bank account. If you have received the funds from your parents or relatives, for example, the Finnish Immigration Service may ask you to submit additional information about the origin of the funds.
Will your educational institution provide you with free accommodation or free meals or have you been awarded a grant towards your living costs in Finland?
– a bank statement showing the money you have at your disposal for living in Finland
– if you have been awarded a grant towards your living costs in Finland, a certificate of the grant awarded to you
If the educational institution provides you with free accommodation, you need to have at least EUR 280 per month at your disposal. When you submit the application, you must have EUR 280 per each study month in your bank account.
If the educational institution provides you with free accommodation and free meals, you need to have at least EUR 195 per month at your disposal. When you submit the application, you must have EUR 195 per each study month in your bank account.
Attach to your application
- documentation of the support your educational institution provides
- a bank statement showing the money you have at your disposal for living in Finland
- if you have been awarded a grant towards your living costs in Finland, a certificate of the grant awarded to you
- The bank statement must cover the past three months.
- The bank statement must show all account transactions from the past three months. For example: If you submit your application on 1 April 2022, the bank statement must show all account transactions between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.
- The bank statement must show the name of the account holder, the name of the bank, and the currency.
- The bank account must be your personal account. In other words, you should be the only user of the account.
- If you are under 18 years of age or an exchange student, the bank account can be a joint bank account that you share with your parent or guardian. In that case, the bank statement must include a statement of your right to access the bank account. Because the funds must be in your own bank account, sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are not accepted.
- You can have your bank account in any country, as long as you can use it in Finland. You must be able to withdraw money from the account when you are in Finland.
- Sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are not accepted. The funds must be in your own bank account. If you have received the funds from your parents or relatives, for example, the Finnish Immigration Service may ask you to submit additional information about the origin of the funds.
When you submit the application, you must have EUR 560 per each study month in your bank account. Attach to your application a bank statement showing the money you have at your disposal for living in Finland.
- The bank statement must cover the past three months.
- The bank statement must show all account transactions from the past three months. For example: If you submit your application on 1 April 2022, the bank statement must show all account transactions between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.
- The bank statement must show the name of the account holder, the name of the bank, and the currency.
- The bank account must be your personal account. In other words, you should be the only user of the account.
- If you are under 18 years of age or an exchange student, the bank account can be a joint bank account that you share with your parent or guardian. In that case, the bank statement must include a statement of your right to access the bank account. Because the funds must be in your own bank account, sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are not accepted.
- You can have your bank account in any country, as long as you can use it in Finland. You must be able to withdraw money from the account when you are in Finland.
- Sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are not accepted. The funds must be in your own bank account. If you have received the funds from your parents or relatives, for example, the Finnish Immigration Service may ask you to submit additional information about the origin of the funds.
Do you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a Finnish Kela card?
You do not need insurance. Attach a copy of the card to your application.
Your EHIC card must be valid throughout your entire stay in Finland. Under EU legislation, you can access healthcare at the same cost and under the same conditions as people living permanently in Finland. For more information about the European Health Insurance Card, see the European Health Insurance Card website of the European Commission (ec.europa.eu).
You must have private insurance.
Is the duration of your studies less than one year?
Your insurance must be valid throughout your entire stay in Finland.
Your insurance must cover medical expenses up to EUR 120,000.
The insurance excess may not be more than EUR 300. The insurance excess means the amount of money that you need to pay yourself when you make an insurance claim.
There cannot be any restrictions on the validity of your insurance. It must be valid throughout your entire stay in Finland. This means that the insurance cannot be a regular travel insurance that is only valid during trips that last a maximum of 90 days.
Your insurance must be valid when you arrive in Finland.
Here are examples of insurance companies that offer students insurance contracts that meet the requirements for the residence permit:
- Assurances Courtages et Services (acs-ami.com)
- AON Students Insurance (students-insurance.eu)
- International Student Insurance (internationalstudentinsurance.com)
- ESI Finland plan (swisscare.com)
- SIP Integral (sipinsurance.eu)
Your insurance certificate must contain the following information:
- your personal details
- period of validity of your insurance
- geographical area in which your insurance is valid
- insurance coverage
- the sum insured
- amount of excess, or a mention that there is no excess
Is the duration of your studies less than two years?
Take out insurance that is valid at least one year without interruptions.
Your insurance must cover medical expenses up to EUR 120,000.
The insurance excess may not be more than EUR 300. The insurance excess means the amount of money that you need to pay yourself when you make an insurance claim.
There cannot be any restrictions on the validity of your insurance. It must be valid throughout your entire stay in Finland. This means that the insurance cannot be a regular travel insurance that is only valid during trips that last a maximum of 90 days.
Your insurance must be valid when you arrive in Finland.
Here are examples of insurance companies that offer students insurance contracts that meet the requirements for the residence permit:
- Assurances Courtages et Services (acs-ami.com)
- AON Students Insurance (students-insurance.eu)
- International Student Insurance (internationalstudentinsurance.com)
- ESI Finland plan (swisscare.com)
- SIP Integral (sipinsurance.eu)
Your insurance certificate must contain the following information:
- your personal details
- period of validity of your insurance
- geographical area in which your insurance is valid
- insurance coverage
- the sum insured
- amount of excess, or a mention that there is no excess.
Take out insurance that is valid at least one year without interruptions.
Your insurance must cover pharmaceutical expenses up to EUR 40,000.
The insurance excess may not be more than EUR 300. The insurance excess means the amount of money that you need to pay yourself when you make an insurance claim.
There cannot be any restrictions on the validity of your insurance. It must be valid throughout your entire stay in Finland. This means that the insurance cannot be a regular travel insurance that is only valid during trips that last a maximum of 90 days.
Your insurance must be valid when you arrive in Finland.
Here are examples of insurance companies that offer students insurance contracts that meet the requirements for the residence permit:
- Assurances Courtages et Services (acs-ami.com)
- AON Students Insurance (students-insurance.eu)
- International Student Insurance (internationalstudentinsurance.com)
- ESI Finland plan (swisscare.com)
- SIP Integral (sipinsurance.eu)
Your insurance certificate must contain the following information:
- your personal details
- period of validity of your insurance
- geographical area in which your insurance is valid
- insurance coverage
- the sum insured
- amount of excess, or a mention that there is no excess.
Are you an applicant under 18 years of age?
– your birth certificate, legalised and translated
To be able to apply for a residence permit, you will need your birth certificate and the consent of your parents or guardians.
- Ask your parents or guardians to fill in the form Consent from the guardians (pdf).
- If you have two parents or guardians, both of them must give their consent.
- The authenticity of the signatures in the consent form must be officially certified.
- This can be done by a notary public or by some other authority with similar powers.
- Read more about how the authenticity of a signature can be notarised in Finland (dvv.fi).
- Have the birth certificate legalised
- Documents issued by authorities in a country other than Finland must be legalised. Legalise your birth certificate in the country that has issued the certificate.
- Legalisation is not required if the birth certificate has been issued by an authority of one of the Nordic countries or of an EU Member State.
- Have the legalised birth certificate translated by an authorised translator.
- You may have your documents translated by a translator who is not an authorised translator but in that case you need to have the translation legalised.
- Birth certificates issued by an EU Member State do not need to be translated if you ask the authority that has issued the certificate to give you a multilingual standard form which you attach to the certificate.
You do not need to submit any attachments concerning this requirement. You can move on to the next step.
Will a family member of yours move to Finland with you?
Have the documents concerning your family relation legalised and translated.
For more information about how documents are legalised, see the instructions of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi) and of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (um.fi).
You do not need to submit any attachments concerning this requirement. You can move on to the next step.
Save a list of the required attachments
Get a photo of you
You will need a passport photo as an attachment to your application. However, do not upload the photo to Enter Finland. Instead, bring the photo with you when you go and prove your identity.
- The photo must comply with the passport photo instructions issued by the police (pdf).
Have your documents translated
If your documents are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, have them translated
- Have your documents translated by an authorised translator or by a translator who is considered to be an official translator by another EU Member State.
- You can ask the Finnish mission in your country of residence whether they know of any authorised translators in that country.
- You may have your documents translated by a translator who is not an authorised translator but in that case you need to have the translation legalised.
See the next step:
