Host Country Formalities

Residence permit

You need a residence permit to live in Finland depending on the nationality and the period of your stay. The application is subject to a fee, usually around € 40. Every foreign student is required to have a valid health insurance when applying for a residence permit if the studying period lasts for more than 3 months.

Students from EEU/EEA Countries
If you are an EU/EEA citizen, you do not need a residence permit. However, you must register your right to reside in Finland if your stay lasts longer than 3 months. This should be done within 1 week after arrival at the local police station in Finland.

In order to register you need to have the following:

• A valid health insurance
• A passport or other identification document
• Two passport size photographs
• A certificate confirming your registration as an exchange student at Satakunta University of Applied Sciences

Students from Nordic countries
If you are a Nordic citizen, you do not need a residence permit or a visa for studies in Finland. However, if you are staying in Finland for more than 3 months, you have to get the Joint Nordic Document of Moving from the local Register Office (Maistraatti).

Students from non EU/EEA countries and non-Nordic countries
If you are neither an EU/EEA citizen nor a Nordic citizen, you need a visa or residence permit, if you are going to stay in Finland for more than 3 months. A visa is an entry permit for a short, temporary stay of less than three months in Finland. The visa and the residence permit can be applied for at the nearest Finnish Embassy or Consulate in your home country. The visa or residence permit must be obtained before your departure to Finland. When you apply for a residence permit, a financial statement will be requested. The statement must show that you have at least 6,000 euros at your disposal for the academic year.

You need the following documents when applying for a visa:

• A completed and signed visa application form
• One passport sized photograph in color
• A passport (valid for at least 3 months following your journey)
• Valid travel insurance
• A valid health insurance
• Documents indicating the purpose, conditions and duration of your visit, such as tickets, accommodation, an official letter of invitation, the date of birth, your address, and you passport number

More information:
The Finnish Immigration Service
The Finnish Consulate
Information about visa

Health care and health insurance

EU and EEA students are permitted to the same social welfare benefits in Finland as Finns. Students who are citizens of the EU/EEA countries are advised to obtain the European Health Insurance Card from their local health insurance office before arriving in Finland.

All non EU/EEA students in Finland are required to have a valid health insurance when applying for a residence permit if the studying period lasts for more than 3 months. Contact the International Office at your home university for further advice on where to take out an insurance policy.

The level of health care in Finland is high and there are public Health Centres and hospitals throughout the country. No special vaccinations are required for entry into Finland. It is however recommended that you are vaccinated against tetanus, polio and diphtheria.

For more information on the health care services in the Satakunta region, please have a look at our Survival Guide (in pdf format) for the incoming students.

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