Path to staying
- Study12 months, renewable
- Post-study workup to 24 months
- Permanent residencyafter 4 years
- Citizenshipafter 5 years
Overview
- Country
- Finland
- Visa name
- Residence Permit for Studies
- Local name
- Oleskelulupa opiskelua varten
- Status
- Active
- Duration
- 12 months
- Renewable
- Yes
Finland's student residence permit for non-EU/EEA nationals pursuing degree-level studies. Since 2017, non-EU students pay tuition fees, but the country offers generous work rights (30 hours/week average) and an extended 2-year post-study job-seeking permit since 2022. Applied via the Enter Finland online service.
Tuition and costs
- Tuition policy
- Mixed
- Free condition
- Free for EU/EEA citizens and those with permanent residence in Finland. Finnish/Swedish-taught programs free for all.
- Tuition range
- $0 – $20,826/year
- Proof of funds
- $11,106/year
- Funds type
- Bank statement
- Scholarships
- Available
Non-EU/EEA in English-taught programs: EUR 4,000-18,000/yr depending on university and program. Since August 2017 tuition fees apply. Most universities offer tuition fee waivers (50-100%) for high-achieving non-EU students. Finnish and Swedish-taught programs remain free for all nationalities.
Work rights during study
- Work allowed
- Yes
- Term hours
- 30 hrs/week
- Vacation hours
- Unlimited
- Permission
- Automatic
- Freelance
- Allowed
Average of 30 hours per week. Hours can vary week to week as long as the annual average stays at 30 hours. Full-time work allowed during holidays if the average is maintained. Work can be in any field, not limited to field of study.
Post-study work options
| Program | Type | Duration | Min degree | Work | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residence Permit to Look for Work | Job seeker | 24 mo | Bachelors | Unrestricted | No |
Language requirements
| Test | Purpose | Language | Min score | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Admission | English | 6.0 | Most international programs taught in English. Score varies: 6.0-6.5 typical. TOEFL iBT 79-92, Cambridge C1 Advanced also accepted. Finnish/Swedish language programs have separate requirements. |
| YKI (Finnish National Certificate of Language Proficiency) | Admission | Finnish | Level 4 (B2) | Required for Finnish-taught programs. YKI Level 4 (intermediate) or completion of Finnish studies at B2 level. |
Fees and costs
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residence Permit Application Fee (online) | Application | $694 | One time |
Dependents and family
- Dependents
- Allowed
- Restriction
- Spouse/partner and children. Must show sufficient funds for the family.
- Spouse work
- Unrestricted
- Conditions
- Spouse with family member residence permit has unrestricted work access.
Long-term pathway
- Post-study visa
- Available
- Work permit
- Possible
- Permanent residency
- After 4 years
- Citizenship
- After 5 years
- Study time counts
- 100% credit
How to apply
- Method
- Online
- Processing
- 14-60 days
- Interview
- Not required
- Official site
- migri.fi
- Health insurance
- Required (buy separately)
Notes and caveats
Apply online via Enter Finland. Biometric registration at Finnish embassy. Student residence permit is a B-type permit; after graduation and employment, can be upgraded to A-type (continuous). Since 2022, student permit is granted as continuous (A-type) for degree programs, which counts fully toward PR. Paper applications cost EUR 750 (EUR 150 more than online). Fees increased significantly in January 2026.
Also in Finland
Last verified May 3, 2026 Source