WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
For a longer course, many non-EU applicants need a residence permit for studies rather than a short-stay visa. Use Migri’s instructions for your nationality, course and circumstances.
Confirm the permission and course
Start with your admission letter and Migri’s study-permit instructions. EU/EEA citizens have different residence formalities; a short visit and a multi-year degree should not share a generic visa checklist.
Check passport validity, course dates and whether your offer has unresolved conditions. Ask the institution how a delayed arrival affects your place and any paid tuition.
Separate living funds from tuition
Migri’s current living-funds baseline is €800 a month, or €9,600 for a year, subject to the circumstances it specifies. This is separate from unpaid tuition. Finland’s official study guidance recommends planning above the minimum for actual living costs.
For example, €10,000 available cash does not cover both €9,600 living funds and an unpaid €8,000 tuition bill. Identify which cost a scholarship pays and document any remaining gap. Do not assume you will find work quickly enough to finance arrival.
Match insurance to the requirement
Read Migri’s required coverage, deductible and validity conditions for the length of your studies. A generic holiday policy may not meet them. Obtain a certificate showing the relevant details and check any exemption through the official guidance.
Keep evidence of tuition payment or an awarded scholarship, financial records and any required translations together. Use the application’s checklist rather than collecting unrelated certificates.
Complete the identity step and track the case
Submit through the official route and arrange the required identity visit at the relevant Finnish mission. Follow its current booking instructions and bring the requested originals. Processing estimates are not guaranteed completion dates.
Next action: make a checklist with admission, tuition, living funds, insurance and identity appointment as separate rows. Resolve the first incomplete row before buying non-refundable travel.
Sources and further reading
- Migri: studying in Finland ↗
- Migri: tuition fees ↗
- Migri: insurance ↗
- Study in Finland: fees and living costs ↗
Sources checked 2026-10-13. Examples and planning suggestions are Effikos editorial guidance.
Something needs a closer look? Send us a correction.
