Visas and Permits

Visas

Before entering Finland, students who are not citizens of the EU/EEA or equivalent countries (Switzerland) need to obtain a visa. The visa can be obtained from a Finnish embassy or consulate in the country of origin.

More information on how to obtain a visa can be found in the homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
» Ministry for Finnish Affairs of Finland

Permits

Residence Permit

If the student is admitted to a Finnish higher education institution and will stay in Finland for more than three months, he or she must apply for a residence permit or a certificate of residence.

EU/EEA citizens
Citizens of Nordic and EU/ EEA countries, and Switzerland do not need a residence permit. However, with the exception of citizens of Nordic countries, international students must register at the local police office to obtain a certificate of residence.
Non-EU citizens
A student outside the EU/ EEA area should apply for the first residence permit in their home country, or possibly in a third country, before arriving in Finland.

How to apply?

The application forms are available online at the Finnish Immigration Service website. It should be noted that all application types have their own designated forms. In order to obtain the residence permit, students need to present proof of sufficient financial means of supporting him/herself and a clarification of studies. These documents should be submitted at the local police station.

When to apply?

You should submit the residence permit application as soon as you have received confirmation of your acceptance to LUAS. The processing time of the applications vary greatly from 17 days to several months. The applicant's passport will be held by the officials during the application period. Even though the passport can be requested back, this may extend the processing period further.

Information on the average processing times:
»Finnish Immigration Service

Different types of residence permits

A residence permit may either be for a fixed-term or permanent. There are three types of residence permits:
1) Fixed-term, continuous - so-called permit A
2) Fixed-term, temporary - permit B
3) Permanent, valid until further notice - permit P

Students from outside the EU/ EEA area must also renew their residence permit every year. For this the student needs to have a certificate of studies to prove sufficient progress. The residence permit for students normally ends as soon as the student has finished his or her studies, but the student can apply for an extended residence permit of up to six months in order to stay in Finland and look for a job after graduation.

More information about residence permits
»Finnish Immigration Service

Work Permit

EU citizens and citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can freely work in Finland if the work lasts for less than three months. After that, they must register their right to reside in Finland at the local police department, but they do not need a residence permit while they are employed.
Non-EU citizens must apply for a residence permit to be able to work in Finland. A student entering Finland with a student visa is allowed to work a maximum of 25 hours per week during the semester and full-time during the summer vacation. To be able to work more than 25 hours per week during the semester, the student must apply for a work permit.

Civil Registration

Provided that you will stay in Finland for more than one month, you have to fill in a civil registration form within three days of arrival to your place of residence. Forms are available at the caretaker or the house manager of your residence and in post offices, and it should be returned to the caretaker or the house manager, who forwards it to the Local Register Office.

Civil Registration Office Lahti
Lahden Maistraatti
Salininkatu 3
15100 Lahti

Registrations: tel. (03)875 0020
Mon - Fri 8.00 - 16.15