Student’s residence permit

1. Student’s residence permit Anna Tähkäpää 3.9.2014 Turku police station

2. Student’s residence permit • The studies must lead to a degree or vocational qualification • The student’s residence permit can be valid one year at most

3. Applying for a residence permit • First residence permit application should be done abroad at the Finnish embassy in the student’s home country • The application for the extension should be done at the police station in the student’s residential area (in Lounais-Suomi: Turku, Salo, Pori or Rauma police station) • It is also possible to apply electronically (https://e-asiointi.migri.fi) • the applicant must anyway go to the embassy (first application) or police station (extension) and give finger prints and show all the original documents • For police, an appointment must be booked in advance

4. Processing times • Police’s processing time at the moment is about 2 months • Depending on the situation it can also be longer • Electronic application for extension does not speed up the process • Upcoming trip, for example, does not speed up the process • The application for extension should always be done before the current permit expires

5. Necessary documents • Application form (OLE_OPI) • Passport, new passport photo, fee 118 € (year 2014) • Study certificate (certificate of attendance) • Transcript of records • Clarification of income • Health insurance • All the documents must be originals, not copies or printouts

6. Study certificate • Certificate of attendance for the current or upcoming study year (depending on when the application is made)

7. Transcript of records • In the decision making, it is relevant that the studies have progressed during the previous study year

8. If the studies are not progressing Reasons, for example: • Writing thesis • Certificate from the university (when has the student started working on the thesis, when will it be ready, how many credits is it worth) • Health problems that prevent studying • Doctor’s certificate, own clarification • Other reasons • Own clarification

9. If the studies are not progressing • If there is no acceptable reason for the lack of progress, the police can grant a residence permit for a shorter time (less than a year) or make a negative decision altogether • Before the decision making, the student is given an opportunity to give an explanation and express his/her own opinion of the situation as well as provide possible additional documents • In the decision making, police takes into consideration all the clarifications, the case-specific situation and previous study years

10. Minimum level of income • Requirement is 6.720 euros per year or 560 euros per month (net) • Student must present a bank account statement from a Finnish bank account (transactions from the last three months) • The statement can be printed out from the internet banking system • The money must be on the student’s own account and available for his/her use

11. Minimum level of income • If the money is on a foreign bank account, the student must present a bank statement and a certificate that the money is in his/her use in Finland • Sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are not acceptable • If the student is working, work contract and latest payslip are also needed

12. Minimum level of income • If the student does not have enough money, the permit can be applied for a shorter time (e.g. if the student has about 5.000 euros, the permit can be valid for about 9 months) • If the student applies for a one year extension and does not have the necessary income or savings, the decision may be negative

13. Health insurance • The health insurance must cover medical expenses in the amount of 30.000 euros if the studies in Finland last at least two years • If the studies last less than two years, health insurance must cover medical expenses in the amount of 100.000 euros • The health insurance must cover the student’s entire stay in Finland • In case the student has a Finnish Kela card or European Health Insurance Card, no additional health insurance is needed

14. Student’s right to work • With a student’s residence permit, the student has a right to work full-time if the work is part of an internship that is required for a degree or if the work is otherwise closely related to the studies • Student has a right to do other kind of work 25 hours per week during the academic term • When the university does not offer any instruction, the student can work full-time

15. Exchange studies • Student can go for an exchange period to another country for one academic term and still have a residence permit in Finland • If the exchange period lasts the whole study year, it is not possible to have a residence permit in Finland • If the student intends to go for an exchange period during the upcoming study year, he/she must present a certificate or clarification about it when leaving the application for the extension • Student may need a residence permit to the other country

16. After graduation • Residence permit for looking for employment • The permit must be applied for before the student’s residence permit expires • The graduate must present a degree certificate when applying for the permit • Income requirement is 3.360 euros in total or 560 euros per month (net) • The permit is valid for six months and it is only possible to get it once right after the student’s residence permit

17. After graduation • Residence permit for working • The graduate must present a degree certificate when applying for the permit • Work contract and latest payslips are also required • Income requirement is 1.000 euros per month (net) • With this permit, the graduate is allowed to work full-time and do any kind of work

18. Student’s family members • Student’s family members (e.g. spouse, children) can apply for residence permits to Finland based on family ties • First residence permit application should be done abroad (embassy) and the extension in Finland (police) • The validity of the family members’ residence permit cannot be longer than the student’s permit

19. Income requirement for family members • Spouse 700 euros per month or 8.400 euros per year • Child 500 euros per month or 6.000 euros per year • Second child 400 euros per month or 4.800 euros per year • For example, a student with a spouse and one child: • 1.760 euros (560 + 700 + 500) per month or • 21.120 euros (6.720 + 8.400 + 6.000) per year

20. PhD Studies • If the doctoral student is paid salary or grant, he/she can apply residence permit for scientific research • If the student is studying with his/her own funds (savings), he/she can apply for student’s residence permit • If the student has done another degree in Finland, it is possible to apply for residence permit for working if the student receives salary

21. PhD studies • Income requirement is 1.000 euros per month (net) • When leaving an application, the PhD students must have a clarification from the university about • the length of the research/studies • the length and amount of the funding

22. Contact information • Address: Eerikinkatu 40-42 A, 20100 Turku • Customer service tel. 0295 417 194 (Mon-Fri 9.00 - 11.00am) • Email: lupahallinto.lounais-suomi@poliisi.fi • Application forms: www.migri.fi

23. Contact information • Alien affairs information desk (with a queue number) • Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10.00 - 11.00 and 12.00 - 16.15 Wednesdays closed • Due to renovations at the Turku police station 15.9.-3.10.2014 all the inquiries should be made by calling • Booking an appointment: • www.poliisi.fi • by calling • visiting the information desk at the police station