There has been a change in the law for international students who are seeking to apply for a Finland student visa, and the good news is that the law has been in favour of students. International students in Finland no longer have to go through the process of applying for a residence permit every year, thanks to the new law. Conversely, during your time studying in Finland, an all-encompassing permit will be granted to you.
It is strongly recommended for students to expedite their application for an online resident permit upon university acceptance in Finland.
Prior to the processing of your residence permit, it is essential to make an appointment at either the Finnish embassy or VFS Center for biometric identification and interview. It's crucial to schedule your appointment promptly because, typically, securing a reservation at the Finnish embassy or VFS Center can take up to a month. Your application will be processed within 5 to 8 weeks by the Finnish Immigration Service if they have all the required documents and understand the situation. Your residence permit card will take an extra two to three weeks to arrive.
First residence permit visa
When you secure admission to a Finnish university, your primary requirement will be to acquire a residence permit for studying. A university in Finland requires applicants to apply to be accepted.
Students enrolled in a university or vocational education institution are obligated to acquire a residence permit.
- The purpose of your international study is to obtain a degree or receive training for a job.
- Upon your arrival in Finland, you will assume the role of an exchange student.
In the event that your classes are accessible online and there is no requirement to be physically presence in Finland, obtaining a study permit is not obligatory.
So, how much beneficial is this new law for international students?
The implementation of the new law on April 15 simplifies the process for students from foreign countries to fulfil the required criteria. As a result, students studying in Finland are exempt from the requirement of obtaining a new residence permit annually. Instead, they will be granted a permit that remains valid throughout their entire period of study. A continuous permit (A) will be issued to students studying for higher education degrees in Finland, replacing the previous temporary permit (B). This assists students in achieving a permanent residence permit with greater ease in the long run. Furthermore, the recent legislation stipulates that the student's family members can also obtain continuous permits. A temporary permit will be granted to students enrolled in vocational education or non-degree programs. Students must demonstrate their financial ability to sustain themselves during their time of study in Finland. However, this is only applicable during the initial year. Normally, you need to have 560 euros each month or 6,720 euros per year. Some of its benefits are:
- The easiest way to permanent residency
In order to obtain a permanent residence permit in Finland, students must reside in the country for a minimum of four years, provided they possess either a type A or continuous residence permit. The new legislation adds the period of residency on a study permit to the four-year mandatory duration for living in the country. This system enhances the convenience for international students, enabling them to attain permanent residency in Finland more swiftly.
- Improved employment chances
Additionally, students now have the opportunity to prolong their eligibility for a jobseeker's permit by two extra years, as per the recent legislation. After completing their studies, this enables them to explore job opportunities in Finland.
The purpose of this legislation is to simplify the process of job hunting for students upon graduation. Furthermore, it aims to generate a wider array of job choices for students hailing from different nations. Prior to this regulation, international students had the opportunity to engage in part-time employment, albeit limited to a maximum of 25 hours per week. At present, it has been increased to 30 hours per week. Although these hours were previously restricted during the school semester, they will now be valued throughout the whole year.
- A relief from the labor shortage
The implementation of this law could resolve the issue in Finland, where there is a shortage of workers. By loosening the criteria, the nation aims to simplify the process for global students and entice a larger pool of skilled individuals from around the globe to contribute to the local workforce.
