FAQ: applying for a residence permit

If you are not a citizen of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you are required to apply for a residence permit immediately after admission, and have it granted before moving to Finland. 

The process of obtaining a residence permit can be quite lengthy, potentially taking up to five-six months in total. This includes gathering the required documents and funds, booking an appointment, and possibly acquiring an entry visa for the country where the appointment takes place. Therefore, it's important to begin preparations well in advance, before you receive your admission decision!

• First, start preparing financially. In addition to the tuition fee amount for one academic year, you will need to have at least EUR 9,600 (EUR 800/month) in your own bank account to cover the first year’s living expenses. You'll be required to provide a bank statement covering the past 6 months to prove sufficient financial resources.
   
• Then, check the application requirements on the Finnish Immigration website (type of insurance you would need, bank statement requirements, proving the origins of funds, etc.)
   
• Finally, find out where you will need to prove your identity from finlandabroad.fi. Be prepared that you might need to travel to another country, and get an entry visa for that.  
   
• Be ready to book your identification appointment and apply for your residence permit as soon as you receive your letter of admission notification in spring.  

Be ready to book your identification appointment and apply for your residence permit immediately after you receive your letter of admission (by the beginning of April in most programmes). You should apply for your residence permit (study visa) by 15 May 2026 at the latest to make sure you arrive in time for the start of your studies. If you are in BIS admission group number 2, this does not apply to you. 

Obtaining a residence permit, including getting the necessary documents and an appointment, may take up to five-six months, so you should be well-prepared before admission results are announced and act quickly to avoid arrival delays. 

If admitted conditionally, apply for a residence permit while your admission is still conditional. 

You can also apply for a residence permit before paying the tuition fees. In this case, you need to attach proof of having the necessary funds for the tuition fee payment. 

You can find more information here:

Apply for residence permit/ right of residence

If you have been admitted conditionally, you should apply for a residence permit while your admission is still conditional, as soon as possible after receiving your conditional admission notification. It won't have any negative impact on your application, and the Finnish immigration service (Migri) will receive information once your admission becomes final. 

1. Book an identification appointment (instructions depend on your country of residence). There might be a very high demand for appointments (with waiting lists of several months in some locations), so book it as soon as you receive your admission letter. 
   Please note that a Finnish mission or VFS Application Centre may be located in a different country from where you are staying, and you may be required to apply for a visa to enter that country.  
    
2. Submit your residence permit application via online service EnterFinland. 
    
3. Visit a Finnish embassy or VFS Application Centre in person for identification and fingerprinting. The estimated processing time of your application starts from the day of your visit. 
    
4. Wait for the decision. You will receive your residence permit card in the embassy or application centre, where you proved your identity. In case you applied for visa D in addition to your residence permit, you can travel to Finland immediately after receiving a positive decision on your application, and the residence permit card will be delivered to you in Finland. 

Further information: Apply for residence permit/ right of residence

We recommend applying for visa D if there are long processing queues in your country as it would allow you to travel to Finland 1–2 weeks earlier.