FAQ: applying for a residence permit

Frequently asked questions about applying for a residence permit (non-EU/EEA citizens).

Obtaining a residence permit may take up to five months, so we recommend starting the process as soon as you receive your admission notification in April to avoid late arrival. Start by checking at which service point you need to prove your identity, and book the appointment straight away.

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

Yes, you can apply for a residence permit when your admission is still conditional, and it won't have any negative impact on your application. Moreover, this is what we recommend you do. Finnish immigration service will receive information once your admission is final.

The process of getting a residence permit can take some time (up to 5-6 months in some cases) and it's important to start as soon as you get admission in April.

You can find more information here:

Apply for residence permit/ right of residence

First, check well in advance which Finnish embassy or application centre you need to visit and book an appointment. There might be a high demand for the appointments, so book it as soon as possible. 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.
Submit your residence permit application via online service EnterFinland.
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.
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.

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.

Based on previous years' situation, the following countries have very long processing times: Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

You must have 9,600 EUR in your bank account when you submit the application to prove you have enough funds to cover your living expenses during your first year of studies.

In addition, you should have either paid your tuition fee or you'll need to attach proof of having the necessary funds for the tuition fee payment. You cannot use the above-mentioned 9,600 EUR to cover the tuition fee.

Yes, your spouse/dependents can move to Finland with you and will also need to apply for residence permits. Please note that in such cases the income requirement will be higher. Please also take in mind that the processing times for family residence permits may be longer than for a student residence permit (up to 9 months) and you will need to arrive in Finland before your family members to start your studies.

You can find further information on the Finnish Immigration Service website linked below:

We highly encourage you to apply for a residence permit as early as possible to avoid such situations. In case you are late for the orientation programme, you can follow it online. In case your arrival is seriously delayed, you should inform your degree programme and discuss whether an online study arrangement is possible.

If you have questions related to applying for residence permit, please contact us at degree-students@jyu.fi

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