Registration of Stay in Finland for non-EU/ETA Students

Are you coming to Finland because of your studies and are you a non-EU/ETA citizen?

You have to apply for a residence permit for studies at Migri = Finnish Immigration Service.

Once you are granted the permit and you move to Finland, you have to register your stay at Maistraatti = Digital and Population Data services Agency.

Please follow the instructions down below what you need to do.

NOTE: If you are coming to Finland from a non-EU/ETA country to study but you also have  some other ties to Finland such as work or family ties at the same time, different requirements may apply. You can find them on the website provided down below.

Registration at Migri

This is the official site you need to check-out: https://migri.fi/en/home

Detailed information for residence permit for studies are here: https://migri.fi/en/residence-permit-application-for-studies

General information about studying in Finland can be found here: https://migri.fi/en/studying-in-finland

NOTE: Expected processing time for electronic application of first permit is from 2 to 7 months and electronic application fee is 350€

Expected processing time for paper application of first permit is 7 months. Paper application fee is 450€.


Summarized information from the mentioned website about residence permit for studies:

Apply for a residence permit with this application if you are moving to Finland to study and you have been accepted as a student at an educational institution. The studies must lead to a degree or vocational qualification. Applicable educational institutions are higher education institutions such as universities and universities of applied sciences, upper secondary schools and vocational education institutions. Your studies can also be exchange studies at any of these educational institutions.

This is what you should do

1

Make sure you meet the requirements for the residence permit you are applying for.

2

Make sure you have all the attachments needed. If necessary, have them translated and legalised. The processing time may be longer if you have not filled in your application sufficiently.

3

Fill in your application.

4

Pay for your application in the online service Enter Finland, at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

5

If you are abroad, visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). If you are already in Finland, book an appointment at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

6

Wait for a decision. The Finnish Immigration Service will contact you if necessary.

7

Read what happens after you have applied. Check the estimated processing time of your application here.

8

You should wait for the residence permit in the same country or locality where you submitted your application and proved your identity.

General requirements for entry into Finland

Make sure you meet the general requirements for entry into Finland before you submit an application.

1

You have a valid passport.

2

You have not been prescribed a prohibition of entry.

3

You are not a danger to public order and security.

4

You are not a danger to public health.

5

You are not a danger to Finland’s international relations.

Requirements

You must meet the following requirements:

1

You have EUR 560 per month at your disposal

2

You have a study place

3

You have insurance

General attachments

  • Valid passport (you must present it when you submit the residence permit application)

  • Passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop, OLEL_PK

  • Colour copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes

  • Document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application

  • Form MP_1 (if you already are in Finland and apply for your first residence permit)

Application-specific attachments

  • Certificate of acceptance/attendance from your educational institution in Finland

  • Clarification of income

  • Health insurance

  • Documentation of paid tuition fee or documentation of scholarship

  • Earlier degree certificates (not required of degree students and exchange students)

  • Potential certificates of employment (not required of degree students and exchange students (Maahanmuuttovirasto 2020.)

Registration at Maistraatti

A foreign citizen living in Finland receives a personal identity code when he or she is registered in the Population Information System.

The main website of Digital and Population Data Service´s Agency is: https://dvv.fi/en/individuals

Check out this website for more information and important links: https://dvv.fi/en/foreigner-registration

Summarized information from the provided website:

Registration of personal data

Your personal data must be recorded in the Finnish Population Information System before a personal identification code can be given to you. The information in the Population Information System is available to the authorities. Some information is also disclosed to private parties. If you are registered in the Population Information System, the following information is always registered:

  • names, date of birth and gender

  • citizenship and mother tongue

  • address in Finland

Do the following

  • Complete the form titled the Registration information of a foreigner, preferably before the visit.

The registration information of a foreigner – Main form

 

  • When you request a personal identity code, bring the following documents with you:

    • your valid passport or EU citizen’s official identity card with a photograph

    • your residence permit card or some other proof that you have entered Finland legally

    • proof of work or studies performed in Finland (for example, an employment contract or a certificate of student status)

    • if necessary, the legalised, original and translated birth and marriage certificates and other official documents containing information that you would like the Digital and Population Data Services Agency to record in the Population Information System.

Personal identity code

  • If you have a residence permit or a residence card issued by the Finnish Immigration Service, or if the Finnish Immigration Service has registered your right of residence, you have usually been assigned a personal identity code. The code can then be found on the reverse side of the residence permit card. The same applies to other situations in which the Finnish Immigration Service has made some other positive decision concerning your stay in Finland. If you then want to register information about your family in the Population Information System or want to have a municipality of residence in Finland, contact the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and request registration or a municipality of residence. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will then examine the preconditions for registration and your right to a municipality of residence.

  • If you are not a customer of the Finnish Immigration Service or have not been assigned a personal identity code in connection with a decision issued by the Finnish Immigration Service, visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency to request a personal identity code. If you need a personal identity code for tax purposes, you can also request it at the tax office. However, in that case, you cannot be assigned a municipality of residence and it will not be possible to register information about your family.

  • To get a personal identity code, you must visit the authority in person. You cannot request a personal identity code electronically. All persons to be registered (including children) must visit the authority in person. The preconditions for registration will then be examined by the authority.


Sorces:

Digital and Population Data Services Agency 2020. Registration of a foreigner in the Population Information System. URL: https://dvv.fi/en/foreigner-registration. Accessed: 5 November 2020

Digital and Population Data Services Agency 2020. Individuals. URL: https://dvv.fi/en/individuals. Accessed: 5 November 2020

Maanhanmuuttovirasto 2020. Home. URL: https://migri.fi/en/home. Accessed: 6 November 2020

Maahanmuuttovirasto 2020. Residence Permit – Studying in Finland. URL: https://migri.fi/en/studying-in-finland. Accessed: 6 November 2020

Maahanmuuttovirasto 2020. Residence Permit – Residence permit application for studies. URL: https://migri.fi/en/residence-permit-application-for-studies. Accessed: 6 November 2020