Quick guide when you move to Finland:

https://www.kela.fi/web/en/from-other-countries-to-finland-quick-guide

Eligibility:

If you come to Finland from some other country than an EU or EEA country or Switzerland in order to study here for at least 2 years, you can usually receive the Kela card and for instance reimbursements from Kela for medicine costs. You are not entitled to all Kela benefits, however. If you are not a Finnish citizen and have come to Finland for study purposes, the general rule is that you cannot get financial aid from Finland.

However, you may qualify for financial aid if

• you have been granted a continuous (A) or permanent (P) residence permit or an EU residence permit for third-country nationals (P-EU or P-EY).

• If you are a citizen of another EU or EEA country or of Switzerland, the family member of such a person, or a citizen of a Nordic country, you only have to register your right of residence or present your residence card.

• If you are living in Finland permanently and you have arrived in Finland for some other reason than to study. Such a reason can for example be 

• employment, family ties or return migration.

The circumstances may change during the studies. When determining the entitlement to social security coverage, Kela takes into account also possible other reasons for the stay in Finland in addition to the studies. Such reasons can be, for instance, previous residence, family ties or employment in Finland. If you work in Finland alongside the studies, you can become entitled to benefits on the basis of your employment also when your residence in Finland is not considered permanent. One requirement for entitlement to benefits on the basis of employment is that the wage amounts to at least EUR 723.69 per month.

(https://www.kela.fi/web/en/from-other-countries-to-finland-students-and-researchers)

Student loan:

You can get a government guarantee for a student loan if you are being paid a study grant.

(https://www.kela.fi/web/en/financial-aid-for-students-student-loan)

How to apply:

Apply for financial aid in the same way as other students. Enclose with your application the Appendix to application for student financial aid filed by foreign resident (OT 10e), if you have not previously received financial aid in Finland.

Financial aid for students form – OT 2e – https://www.kela.fi/documents/10192/3861304/OT2e.pdf

Appendix for application for student financial aid filed by foreign student – OT 10e – https://www.kela.fi/documents/10192/3861304/OT10e.pdf

(https://www.kela.fi/web/en/financial-aid-for-students-eligibility)

https://www.kela.fi/web/en/financial-aid-for-students-how-to-apply

1. Apply for financial aid online. Log in to Kela’s online customer service using your bank ID or a mobile ID. Please note that the e-service is available in Finnish and Swedish only.

2. Scan or take a photo of supporting documents and send them online.

3. Visit our e-service to see if your application has been decided, how much you will get and when you will be paid. You can also see any possible reminders concerning, for instance, documents missing from your application. A written decision on your application will be sent to you by post.

Alternatively, you can complete and print out an application for financial aid. Mail your application along with the supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.

When should I send the application:

If a student wishes to receive financial aid starting from September. Their application must reach Kela by 30 September. If they mail their application on 30 September, but it arrives on 1 October, financial aid can be granted from the beginning of October.