This page explains what documents you need to enter and stay in Finland as a student at the University of Easter Finland (UEF).
They are
- travel documents
- registration at the local DVV office for
- the Finnish personal identity code
- municipality of residence (if applicable)
- notification of move
Passport and travel documents
In general, a foreign citizen must carry a valid passport when entering Finland.
Finland is a part of Schengen area (opens in a new tab), which normally has no border checks between member states. However, border checks may be temporarily reintroduced. Therefore, always carry valid travel documents.
Schengen area includes
- EU member states (except Ireland)
- Norway, Iceland and Switzerland
Recommendations
- Even if you are a Schengen citizen, we strongly recommend travelling with a passport.
- A passport is reguired if you plan to travel outside the Schengen area during your stay.
Students who are citizens of an EU country can enter Finland with their EU Identity Card. If they are planning to travel outside EU during their stay in Finland, they need a passport.
Visa and residence permit – general rules
- Do not enter Finland with a tourist visa if you intend to study in Finland. Tourist visas cannot be extended in Finland.
The requirements of the residence permit depend on your nationality.
Citizens of the Nordic Countries
Citizens of Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden
- do not need a visa or residence permit
- may arrive, reside, and work freely in Finland
- do not need to register with the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri)
- If you stay over 6 months, registration at the local DVV (Digital and Population Data Services Agency, opens in a new tab) has to be done.
EU citizens and citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
- You may enter Finland without a visa or residence permit
- If you stay longer than 3 months (90 days), you should
- register your right of residence (opens in a new tab) with the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) (opens in a new tab)
- The registration should be done within 3 months of arrival.
- If you travel outside the Finnish borders, you may stay another 90 days without the registration.
Registering your right of residcence
- Apply online (opens in a new tab)
- Visit a Migri service point (opens in a new tab) to verify your identity and present original documents. Contact information (opens in a new tab) for Migri offices.
- Book an appointment well in advance.
- The closest Migri office is in Kuopio.
- Bring original documents to Migri.
- If the documents are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, they must be translated by an authorised translator.
- Registration is subject to a processing fee.
Non-EU citizens
Students from countries outside the EU/EEA must apply for a residence permit for studies (opens in a new tab) before arriving in Finland if their stay exceeds 90 days.
Key points
- Residence permits are issued by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) (opens in a new tab)
- Recommendation: apply online via Enter Finland (opens in a new tab)
- Apply for a continuous residence permit (type A) for the full duration of your studies
- You can apply as soon as you receive your UEF Certificate of Admission
Required steps
- Submit the residence permit application online. Start the application process as early as possible.
- Visit a Finnish embassy or consulate (opens in a new tab) within 3 months to verify your identity. There may not be a Finnish mission in your country or residence. You may need to travel to another country.
Financial requirements and tuition fees
When applying for the residence permit, you must prove that you have sufficient funds to live and study in Finland.
Minimum funds
- 800 € per month for living costs
- 9,600 € for one academic year (12 months)
- Note that these requirements are for a single person. If family members are moving with you, check the information on Migri’s website (opens in a new tab).
Tuition fees
If your programme has a tuition fee and it is not paid yet, you must show funds to cover both the living costs and the tuition fees.
Scholarships
Grants and scholarships (e.g. Finland Scholarship, Erasmus Mundus) count towards the income requirement.
At UEF the information on the scholarship or tuition-waiver is stated in your acceptance letter.
What is required for the residence permit application?
You will need
- online application (opens in a new tab)
- a valid passport
- health insurance covering medical treatment
- letter of acceptance from UEF
- proof of sufficient funds
- tuition fee or scholarship information (if applicable)
Processing time
- typically 1-3 months, depending on your country
- Do not book flights before your residence permit is granted.
- Late or incomplete applications may cause delays.
Extending the residence permit while in Finland
If you need to apply for an extension to your residence permit, please read the instructions Finnish Immigration Service – Extended permit. Apply for an extended permit about three months before your residence permit expires and please note that you can only apply for an extension of residence permit while in Finland.
Finnish personal identity code and DVV registration
All students staying over 3 months must have a Finnish personal identity code. You might have it on your residence permit card already.
If you don’t have the Finnish personal identity code, you must visit the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) (opens in a new tab) in person to
- register as a foreigner (opens in a new tab)
- obtain the Finnish Personal Identity Code (opens in a new tab)
- (if eligible) apply for a municipality of residence (opens in a new tab)
- submit a notification of move
Bring with you
- passport or official ID
- UEF study certificate
- residence permit (if applicable)
- If family members move with you: marriage and children’s birth certificates
After receiving your Finnish personal identity code, inform the UEF Student and Learning Services about it: 29870 Finnish personal identity code – UEF Kamu
You should always use your Finnish personal identity code in all the official matters in Finland. For example when visiting a doctor, opening a bank account, getting your medical prescription, getting a Finnish tax card etc. This code differentiates persons from each other in all Finnish data bases.
Important Links
Insurance: https://migri.fi/en/insurance (opens in a new tab)
Sufficient funds: https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement-for-students (opens in a new tab)
Enter Finland online form: https://enterfinland.fi/eServices/info/studypermit (opens in a new tab)