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Finland

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At a glance

Living index rating
Moderate
Monthly rent
€300 – €600 in student housing (Helsinki €450 – €800)
Monthly food
€250 – €350 (student cafeteria meals about €3)
Other monthly expenses
€150 – €250 (transport, phone, insurance, personal)
Visa processing time
Usually 1 – 3 months
Family allowed for students
Yes

Visa requirements

  • Residence permit for studies, applied for online (Enter Finland) before travelling, with identity checked at a Finnish mission
  • Admission to a degree programme and proof that tuition is paid or covered by a scholarship
  • Proof of funds: at least €800 a month (€9,600 a year)
  • Health insurance meeting Migri's requirements
  • Work up to an average of 30 hours a week; full-time in holidays

Work permit after studies

  • Extended permit to look for work or start a business: up to 2 years after graduating
  • You can apply for it within 5 years of your study permit ending
  • Then switch to a work-based residence permit or EU Blue Card

Citizenship route

  • Continuous (A) residence permit after working, and permanent residence after 4 years of continuous residence (rules are being tightened)
  • Citizenship normally after 8 years of residence (since October 2024), with Finnish or Swedish language skills and a citizenship test
  • Time as a student counts only partly

Family details

  • Your spouse and children can get residence permits based on family ties, and your spouse can work
  • You must show extra funds to support them
  • Family permits can take up to 9 months to process
  • A bill submitted in September 2026 would make students' families wait until the student has been in Finland for 1 year, from April 2027

Universities in Finland

Top-ranked

All other universities and colleges (27), A–Z

This guide is for general information. Visa and immigration rules change often, so always check the official government website before you apply. Last updated 6 October 2026.