Visa and Residence permit
Finland has quite strict rules concerning immigration. Rules and regulations may differ depending on if you are a non-EU citizen, European Union citizen or citizen of the Nordic countries. It is very important that you familiarize yourself with all necessary information beforehand and apply necessary permits on time!
For more detailed and updated information, please check the link for Finnish Immigration Service’s web page and also the Finnish Immigration Service Notice to Degree Students or Exchange Students. Visas and residence permits are handled by Immigration Service and national embassies and we always recommend reading the latest instructions and guidelines from their web pages.
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Non-EU citizens must acquire a residence permit if the studies last for more than three months. A visa is needed if the student has to participate in an entrance exam in Finland prior to being accepted at the educational institution and if he or she is a citizen of a country that has not signed an agreement on the abolition of visa with Finland. Since the visa allows for only a short stay, the student must usually return to his or her home country after the entrance examination in order to apply for the actual residence permit. Check the latest information from Finnish Immigration Service’s web page.
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EU citizens and citizens of Liechtenstein and Switzerland don’t need residence permit but they must register their right to reside in Finland at a local police department if the studies last for longer than three months.
- Citizens of the Nordic countries don’t need residence permit but they need to register their rights at a Register Office (maistraatti) if the studies last longer than six months.
Insurance
Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences does not offer insurance for its international degree programme students or exchange students and trainees. Therefore the incoming students must have their own insurances. When applying for a residence permit the student must have insurance cover as without it a residence permit cannot be granted. For more detailed and updated information, please check the link for Finnish Immigration Service’s web page below.
- For non-EU citizens it is compulsory to have an insurance to acquire a residence permit.
- For EU citizens it is important to acquire at least European Health Insurance Card to get necessary medical treatment in Finland.
Finnish Immigration Service - Notice to Degree Students.pdf (132 KB)
Finnish Immigration Service - Notice to Exchange Students.pdf (131 KB)