Student visa & permits in Finland
Student visa, residence permit, registration, fees, deadlines and document guidance for studying in Finland.
Read the complete Finland study abroad guide.
Visa & Immigration
Non-EU students apply to Migri for a residence permit for studies before travelling, through the Enter Finland service. Degree students receive a continuous (A) permit granted for the full duration of the studies, which is unusual in Europe and removes the annual renewal ritual.
You must show EUR 800 per month, EUR 9,600 for the first year, in your own account; if your tuition is unpaid, the money for it must be visible on top. Older articles still cite EUR 560 per month: that figure died in 2024, and Migri's page is the one to believe. An application fee applies and has changed recently; check the current amount on Migri's processing fees page, and note the online application is cheaper than paper.
Two things soften and sharpen that requirement in turn. If your institution supports your living costs, for instance by providing accommodation or meals, Migri may not require the full EUR 800 a month, but you must attach documentation of what the institution actually provides. And the requirement does not stop at the application: Migri runs automated post-decision checks on whether permit holders still meet the conditions they were granted on, and will contact you if there is reason to consider withdrawing the permit. Funds should sit in your own account, and a bank statement covering recent months is the standard evidence.
Source: https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement-for-students
Residence Permit
After arrival, register your address with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) to get a Finnish personal identity code if you did not receive one with the permit; the code unlocks everything from banking to the pharmacy.
Municipal residence status, which brings public healthcare access, generally follows for degree students staying two years or more. The permit card itself arrives by post or is collected from Migri.
Source: https://dvv.fi/en/foreign-citizens
Common questions
What should international students know about visa in Finland?
A permit for the whole degree; EUR 800/month; ignore the stale EUR 560.
What should international students know about residence in Finland?
DVV registration and the personal identity code open every other door.