🎓 Student residence permit in Finland 2026: money, insurance, work
If you want to understand how the student residence permit in Finland works in 2026 — from money in your account to the right to work part-time in the evenings — this text is for you.
Imagine: it's August, you're getting off the train at Helsinki station, suitcase in hand, a letter from the university on your phone, and a fresh plastic card with the letter A in your wallet. Everything seems to have worked out. But behind this card lies some very specific maths: €800 per month to live on, a valid insurance policy, sufficient progress in your studies, and careful management of your part-time work hours.
In this article, you will learn:
● how much money you need to show for the first year and how to "pack" it into documents;
● what kind of insurance to buy and why Finns are so obsessed with the €100,000 limit;
● how to calculate "an average of 30 hours per week" in order to work and not lose your status;
● how the 2026 student residence permit is linked to future job searches and longer statuses.
Important: a student residence permit is already adult immigration, only against the backdrop of lectures and libraries. The better you understand the rules at the beginning, the fewer surprises you will have in the middle of the programme, when you want to think about your diploma rather than the deadlines of the migration service.
What is a student residence permit and how does it work in 2026?
Who needs this status?
If you are not a citizen of the EU/EEA/Scandinavia and are going to study in Finland for more than 90 days, you need a student residence permit. Without it, you can only make a short visit, not enjoy a full student life.
Key features of the format in 2026:
● permission is usually granted for the entire duration of the course, rather than "bit by bit" for each year;
● for higher education programmes, this is a continuous permit (type A), which counts towards the length of stay required for permanent status;
● you can apply online, but personal identification is required (consulate/embassy or Migri in Finland itself).
Which programmes qualify for a residence permit
A residence permit for study is issued if:
● you have enrolled in a programme that leads to a diploma or professional qualification (bachelor's, master's, UAS programmes, vocational);
● it is a full offline/hybrid course, not purely online distance learning;
● you are a participant in an official exchange programme between universities.
Formally, this is not a "student visa", but a residence permit, which is linked to:
● studies;
● limited right to work;
● the possibility of bringing your family (if you have sufficient income and funds).
Table of basic logic of a student residence permit
These guidelines are simple but important: your entire student life in Finland in 2026 can be summed up in these four words – duration, money, insurance, work.
Money, insurance, documents: the practical minimum
How much money do you need to show in 2026?
The current rule is €800 per month for a student's living expenses. For programmes lasting a year or more, €9,600 for the first year.
This is not a "recommendation" but a threshold that is taken very literally.
Key points:
● the money must be available to you (personal account, grant, scholarship);
● if tuition has not yet been paid, you must have €9,600 and the tuition fee in your account;
● if the university provides free accommodation or meals, the minimum requirement may be lower (e.g. €400 or €270/month with a full support package).
What is accepted as proof:
● bank statement with your name and transaction history;
● a letter about a grant/scholarship indicating the amount and terms;
● a contract with the educational institution for accommodation and meals.
Think not only about the required €9,600 on paper, but also about your actual budget. Helsinki and, say, Joensuu differ greatly in terms of cost: allow for a reserve of at least 10-15% on top of the mandatory minimum.
Insurance: what exactly is expected of a student
Without insurance, you simply won't be granted a student residence permit. Insurance is not an option, but a strict requirement.
The basic logic is as follows:
● if the programme is shorter than two years, the policy must cover medical expenses up to €100,000;
● if the programme lasts two years or more, minimum coverage of €30,000 for medical care and medication is sufficient;
● the deductible must not exceed €300;
● the insurance must be valid for the entire period of the requested residence permit and without any tricky restrictions on "90 days per trip".
This is where the anchor insurance for students in Finland comes in: the policy must suit not only you and the university, but also the immigration service — with clear coverage, terms and conditions, and no small print that suddenly "cuts off" half of the risks.
Basic set of documents
The minimum that almost everyone needs:
● a passport valid for the duration of your studies;
● letter of acceptance;
● proof of finances (bank statement, grant, scholarship);
● insurance policy with clear terms and conditions;
● student residence permit application form + payment receipt;
● if necessary, translations and legalisation of educational documents.
All this is to make your case look like a normal student route, rather than an attempt to open the door to the country through any available loophole.
Right to work: those same 30 hours
In 2026, Finland is offering students a pretty fair deal:
● you can work in any field (not just your "speciality");
● the limit is an average of 30 hours per week per year, i.e. a maximum of 1,560 hours per year;
● in some weeks you can work more, in others less, the main thing is that the average for the year does not exceed 30;
● internships and thesis projects included in the programme do not count towards the limit.
This is where the second key theme of this article comes in — working while studying in Finland: it's not a matter of luck, but a normal part of the journey, provided you keep track of your hours.
How to live with your status: studies, work, budgets
Now a little about life. Numbers are numbers, but you will have to live in a specific city, with a specific scholarship/part-time job, snow, wind from the bay and exams on schedule.
Scenario 1. Budget master's degree in Helsinki
You have enrolled in a master's programme in English, tuition is 10-12 thousand per year, part of which is covered by a discount/scholarship. You have:
● showed €9,600 for living expenses plus the balance for tuition;
● Take out insurance for two years of study with a minimum coverage of €30,000.
● plan to work part-time for 15–20 hours a week in retail/cafés and occasionally take on professional assignments.
With this plan, it is important not to expect that your part-time job will cover all your expenses in Helsinki, as it is an expensive student city. The minimum amount required by the immigration authorities is the lower limit, not a comfortable level.
Scenario 2. UAS student in a small town
Option: applied university in Lahti or Seinäjoki, university dormitory, student canteen, fewer temptations to spend everything on coffee to go.
Here, as a rule:
● rent is cheaper (dormitory vs private accommodation);
● easier to find a part-time job "in real Finnish" — warehouse, shop, kitchen;
● easier to stick to the "30-hour" limit and not burn out than in the capital
This is the ideal option if you want not only to study, but also to "get into" the language, and then move on to bigger cities and other statuses.
"I was initially aiming for Helsinki, but ultimately chose UAS in Lahti. The rent is lower, the campus is compact, and it's an hour by train to the capital. On the other hand, the "30-hour" limit doesn't turn into a "work-study-burnout" carousel."
Scenario 3. Family + study
If you are travelling with your partner/children, calculating your finances becomes more sensitive: each adult and child adds their own piece to the minimum income and budget.
Here, a student residence permit ceases to be "for one person" and becomes a joint family project: who can work how much, what rent can you afford, who picks up the children from nursery while the other is at lectures.
It is a good idea to look in advance at where studying in Finland in English is best combined with nurseries, schools and job opportunities for your partner.
How to fit work into your life without jeopardising your status
A couple of simple practical tips:
● think in terms of a year, not a week: 1,560 hours per year can be "spread out" over semesters so that there is no overload during exams;
● remember that work experience and your degree do not count towards your limit, so you can use this to take on less demanding work during critical periods;
● keep an eye on the clock — a regular Google Sheet works wonders when you need to quickly figure out if you can take on a couple more shifts.
A separate advantage of Finland: even part-time work "outside your field" is often valued as experience in the local work culture, rather than simply "serving coffee." These are all building blocks for your future job search after graduation.
Mistakes that can cause stress
Now — about the minefield surrounding student residence permits.
The application is submitted with the minimum amount allowed, without a real understanding of how to live for a year on land/rent/transport.
As a result, the person arrives, is confronted with real prices, and is forced to chase every change just to stay afloat. Studies suffer first. If possible, it is better to set aside a reserve.
Buying a policy with a deductible/limit that does not meet the requirements, or with a "90 days per trip" restriction.
Migration cuts such options without regret. You have to urgently buy a normal policy, send documents and delay the deadlines. It is better to start from the official requirements for the amount of coverage and duration.
After the topic of insurance, the next pitfall often follows — work.
Consider the "30-hour" limit as a strict weekly ceiling, not an average for the year.
Because of this, some people are afraid to take extra shifts during their free weeks and then have to work overtime during exam season. In fact, the rule about the annual average gives you more flexibility — if you know how to calculate it.
Next is the "academic" part.
Ignoring your progress in your studies and earning credits in a "whatever happens" style.
When extending a student residence permit, they look not only at money and insurance, but also at how you are progressing through the programme: do you have a normal number of credits, are you making progress towards your degree, are you stuck "forever in your second year"?
And last but not least — deadlines.
Treat requests for additional documents as optional correspondence.
Every request is a timer. If you don't meet the deadline, your application may be stalled or rejected for "failure to provide information." Make it a rule: letters from Migri are like exams; you can't "put them off until you feel inspired."
Student residence permit without panic: Finland as a long-term project
A 2026 student residence permit in Finland is essentially a long-term contract between you and the country: you promise to study, support yourself and follow the rules, and the country promises to give you time, access to education, moderately flexible work rights and the chance to obtain further statuses.
If you look at this status not as a "visa for photos from Lapland" but as the first step on the path from "study → work → more stable residence permit", many things become easier: numbers, hours, insurance and deadlines no longer seem like chaos but become manageable parameters.
At some point, you will realise that a Finnish student residence permit is no longer about "temporary arrival" but about a foundation for your future life: local experience, language, network of contacts, understanding of how the country works from the inside. And the more attentive you are to your status now, the easier it will be to move on to the next steps.
If this material has helped you to understand the topic better, save it, share it with those who are just starting to apply to Finnish universities, and come back with your questions: the real experiences of future students and graduates are what SuomiGuide values most.
❓ FAQ
If your studies last more than 90 days, a residence permit is almost always required, even for one-semester programmes. For stays of up to 90 days, a visa is sometimes sufficient, but this is not a full student route with the right to work and long-term planning. It is better to view this format as a mini-version of regular student status.
The benchmark is a minimum of €800 per month and €9,600 per year, plus funds for tuition if it is not paid for. If the university provides free accommodation and/or meals, the minimum requirement may be lower, but this must be confirmed by contracts and letters from the university.
The insurance must be private, cover medical and medication expenses, and be valid for the entire duration of the requested residence permit. For programmes shorter than two years, a limit of €100,000 is usually required, and for longer programmes, a minimum of €30,000 with an adequate deductible. Travel insurance policies with a limit on the number of days of travel are usually not suitable.
This is an average for the year, not a weekly limit. You can work more during holidays and less during exams, as long as the average for the year does not exceed 30 hours per week, i.e. approximately 1,560 hours. Internships and diplomas are not included in this limit.
Yes, if the grant covers the minimum financial requirements and is confirmed by an official letter stating the amount and terms. If the grant only covers part of the expenses, the remaining amount must still be confirmed by a bank statement or other documents.
In big cities like Helsinki or Tampere, there are more jobs, especially English-speaking ones, but the costs are higher. In medium-sized cities, it's easier to find accommodation and the pace is more relaxed, but it can sometimes take longer to find a job. There is no universal answer, but there is an honest combination: working while studying in Finland always requires a balance between income, rent and workload at university.
Yes, but it is important that your new studies and progress still correspond to the logic of your status. A sudden change of direction or long breaks in credits will have to be explained when renewing your residence permit. It is better to discuss such plans with the university in advance and make sure that your documents and life circumstances remain within the framework of your student path.
Treat this as an important deadline: read the request carefully, gather the missing information and respond on time via your online account. This is a normal part of the process, not a "sign of rejection", if you respond quickly and substantively. Unanswered requests are much more dangerous.
After graduation, you can apply for a separate residence permit to look for work or start a business, usually for up to two years, and then switch to a work permit if you find a contract. This is where your time as a student becomes the foundation: language, contacts, experience and understanding of the market greatly simplify the next steps.
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