Other than EU Citizens and Equivalent Persons | Residence Permits for EU/EEA Nationals | Applying for Visa and Residence Permit (non-EU/EEA Citizens) | Notification of Change of Address | Civil Registration | Work Permit and Taxation |Driver's Licence
EU Citizens and Equivalent Persons
Similar regulations on the right of free movement that apply to citizens of EU member states also apply to those of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, which are the EEA countries. Hence, the citizens of the EEA countries are equated with EU citizens.
EU citizens do not need visas when entering Finland. A passport is not needed either, but people must be able to prove their identity with an official identity card if asked by the officials. However, it is highly recommended to have a passport when arriving in Finland, as it is the most common and recognised proof of identity. Students will also need a passport if they wish to travel to Russia or the Baltic states. EU citizens and equivalent persons do not need a residence permit, but they must register their right to reside in Finland if their stay lasts for longer than three months. Work permit is not needed either, so the EU/EEA students may work alongside the studies.
Other than EU Citizens and Equivalent Persons
Citizens other than EU, EEA or Nordic countries have to have a visa before entering Finland. Residence permit is also required if the studies last for more than three months. Residence permit should be applied for before arrival, and only in exceptional cases the residence permit may be applied for after arrival. Please contact the nearest Finnish Embassy / Consulate for the application procedure.
Citiziens other than EU, EEA and Nordic countries also need work permits for full-time work, which they have to apply for at the same time as residence permits.
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Residence Permits for EU/EEA Nationals
Citizens of the Nordic Countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland) may freely enter Finland and reside and study there without a residence permit.
EU/EEA citizens can study in Finland without a residence permit if their studies last for less than three months. If the exchange period last more than three months, they have to register their right to reside in Finland after arrival at the local police authorities in Finland. For the residence permit they need: registration form (will be filled in at the police station), certificate of enrolment (from the institution), proof of financial support (e.g. Erasmus grant), two passport-sized photos and a passport or other official identity card.
For more information on residence permits, please visit the Directorate of Immigration webpage: www.uvi.fi/
To apply for a residence permit please contact the local police authority in the city/town you are staying.
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Applying for Visa and Residence Permit (non-EU/EEA Citizens)
Visa, (viisumi), and residence permit, (oleskelulupa), can be applied for from the Finnish embassies in the applicants’ own home country. The formalities can vary in every country, but usually they require a filled visa/residence permit application, 1-3 passport photos, passport or some other official travel document, a document which points out the purpose and conditions of the stay (e.g. Letter of Acceptance) and proof of travelling insurance and finance during the stay. For the residence permit, the applicant must show that he/she has a minimum of EUR 500 per month at his/her disposal.
After 1.9.2007, students from non-EU countries must attach details of their comprehensive health insurance cover to their application when submitting a residence permit application. Comprehensive insurance cover means insurance which includes the types of treatment and costs that are covered by municipal health care services and the health insurance system.
The residence permit must be renewed for each academic year before the autumn term. The same conditions must be met and the student has to show that he/she has progressed in his/her studies. The renewal can be applied for at the local police authorities in Finland.
For further information on the Finnish embassies, applying for a visa, the validity periods of visa and visa application fees as well as a list of countries whose citizens do not need visas, see the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. See Embassies and/or Services/Foreign nationals arriving in Finland.
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Notification of Change of Address
If students wish to stay in Finland for more than a month, they have to submit an official notification of the change of residence, the Notification of Change of Address (muuttoilmoitus) to the local register office. Notice should then be given every time they move within the country or away from it. The notification should be made one week before or at the latest one week after moving. The forms for the notice of moving are available at post offices, register offices and police offices. If moving from another Nordic country, the Inter-Nordic Migration Form must be presented.
Forms can be printed out at http://www.suomi.fi/suomifi/english/eservices_and_forms/forms/vrk_maist006/index.html
The completed and signed form needs to be returned to the local register office.
More information at the web site: www.vaestorekisterikeskus.fi/vrk/home.nsf/pages/index_eng
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Civil Registration
Basic information (name, address, nationality and date of birth) on people residing in Finland is recorded in the Population Information System. The information is used for example for the purposes of taxation, health care, judicial administration and statistical purposes. Based on registration, foreigners are given the Finnish personal identity number, which is used in banks, hospitals and the registers of different authorities.
If you reside in Finland for over a year, you must be registered in the Population Information System. The registration takes place in the local register office. You should bring with you your passport, a valid residence permit, a possible certificate of marriage and birth certificates of any children you have.
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Work Permit and Taxation
With a valid residence permit, non-EU/EEA students may work part-time during the academic year and full-time during the holidays without a separate work permit. The part-time work is limited to approximately 25 hours per week during one academic term. A theses done for a company/a public organisation is exempt from limitations. Exchange students cannot be issued a work permit for full-time employment. The 25-hours-per-week rule does not apply to the citizens of EU/EEA countries, since they are allowed to work as much as they wish.
For information on taxation in Finland, please visit www.vero.fi/english or Tax Guide: Working in Finland (http://www.vero.fi/nc/doc/download.asp?id=1252;35598). You can get a tax card at the Tampere Tax Office. You need to give the card to your employer, who then will withhold the tax.
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Driver's Licence
Citizens of the Nordic and EU member countries can use their driver’s licences (ajokortti) in Finland without restriction. Citizens of non-EU countries that have joined the Geneva or Vienna Road Traffic Conventions are entitled to use the national or international license issued to them by the authorities of their country of origin in Finland for one year starting from their date of arriving in Finland after which they must apply for the Finnish license from the Finnish police within six months.
If more than six months have passed after the year, the applicant must take and pass the Finnish driving test. On receiving their Finnish licence foreign citizens must hand the license issued in their country of origin to the Finnish authorities who hold it temporarily until they wish to move out of Finland. On receiving their original licence, foreign citizens must return their Finnish licence.
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