How To Study In Finland. Do You Need A Visa Or A Residence permit? Choosing the right permit to study in Finland.

When I decided to move to Finland many years ago for my masters programme, one of the pressing challenges that I had then was the limited sources of information about Studying in Finland as well as the application process. So after I arrived in Finland, and have settled in to a degree that I was comfortable with, I started making videos about Studying in Finland, Moving to Finland, and Life in Finland personally and generally.

My aim is to provide helpful tips and information, especially those you may not find on the university web pages, or even on the Finnish immigration service website.

It is a known fact that Finland stays on top of the list when it comes to Education. Personally though, I would like to add that it also depends on the academic level in question. On a yearly basis, Finland receives many applications from prosperous students all around the world.

It is no doubt that many these incoming students are also browsing the internet, searching for useful information about Studying in Finland and also easy to understand simple steps to the whole process.

On my YouTube Channel where I share about these things, here are some of the videos you will find very useful if you are planning to study in Finland. Below is a video on how you can STUDY IN FINLAND IN ENGLISH; Practical Tutorial, How To Find Universities, Courses and How To Apply:

Also check out my STUDY IN FINLAND / MOVING TO FINLAND playlist. Here you will find a lot of helpful videos about Studying in Finland, application process and Resident permit application, Moving to Finland and general questions about relocating to Finland. You can CLICK HERE to view the playlist.

One of the questions I receive frequently and also via email is whether to apply for a Visa or a Residence permit. Honestly, the first time I got this very question, I found it quite funny and dismissible. But then it came again, and again. And looking at the Immigration website, the answer is there but quite lengthy and that has the tendency to be confusing.

Sometimes they just leave tiny useful details out. These are details that you may not find anywhere except from other people’s experiences.

I think this is one major problem with websites like that. Because of the bulk of information they have to provide, sometimes the message gets buried in a whole load of other stuff. Other times, the terms are used interchangeably and that can be quite confusing.

For example, on the official Study in Finland website, when you navigate to the Residence permit page, you will find something like this on the first line: ‘Non-EU/EEA students need a student residence permit (student visa) for their studies in Finland.’ So today, I will spell it out in simple terms so you can understand what exactly you should apply for when you are Moving to Finland.

Visa or Residence permit? Which Do You Need To Study in Finland?

The Finnish government actually grants both Visas and Residence permit to International Students. The type you should apply for depends on certain factors. So in a nutshell, below are the things you should know:

When to Apply For A Residence Permit:

Simply put, you will need a Residence Permit if you have been admitted into a study programme in Finland, you are not from an EU country, and the duration of the programme is more than 90 days. The residence permits are granted on a yearly basis (one year at a time), and can be extended. So even if the duration of your programme is 4 years, you just have to renew your permit yearly by applying for an extended residence permit.

When to Apply For A Visa:

Simply put, you will need a Visa if you are coming to Finland on a ‘short term’ basis. The short term here means 90 days or less, not more. Generally, a Visa is needed when you are coming to Finland as a tourist or you are visiting family members or friends, or the purposes of your visit is business related. You also need a student Visa if your programme or course is a short one that will last for less than 90 days. So when it comes to Visa applications, the main point to note here is that you apply for Visa if your trip will only be for 90 days or less.

However there is an important twist that you should know;

If the duration of your programme is less than 90 days, but you plan to also work in Finland during your study period, then in that case you must apply for a residence permit.

So these are just the basis rules to know which one to apply for so you don’t end up wasting your time and your money. In addition, I always advice incoming and prospective students or those planning to move to Finland for work or family reasons, not to hesitate to directly make inquiries at the Finnish Immigration service.

You can always email them, or message them on Facebook. Although there may be a delay in response sometimes due to the bulk of applications they have, but in most cases they will respond to your query.

It is always better to ask and get it right than to be sorry!

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