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Student Residence Permit

Application Instruction

Finest Future

Updated 30.04.2025

Bambi Dang

First time

This instruction is for students who are applying for their first Student Resident Permit to come to Finland to study in High School and Vocational School via Finest Future program

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There are a few changes after the webinar we held on 22.04.2025. After that we made some changes and corrections, as we reflected the questions you had in the webinar, and we updated this Google Slides file of instructions.

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Please find the written instructions here about the Student Resident Permit:

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1. Google Slides:

2025_EN_Student RP Application Instruction_Finest Future

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• Zoom recording of webinar 22.04.2025:

2025_EN_Student RP Application Instruction_Finest Future

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• Finest Future Student website: https://students.finestfuture.org/pre-departure-2025

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• Aino Residence Permit & Pre-Departure Channel for Aino users:

https://finestfuture.prod.ikon.live/auth/login

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Google Slides are updated accordingly by the Finest Future team throughout the whole process.

We keep these documents up to date. Please always click the links for the most up-to-date instructions.

!! IMPORTANT NOTE !!

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Finest Future follows the latest regulations related to Student Resident Permit application, and we make frequent updates to this Instruction file.

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We have disabled the possibility of downloading the file, because we would like you to check instruction via this online file Google Slides for the most up-to-date information. If you download the file and only look at the downloaded file in your own computer, you might miss the most important update that we share.

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Please always refer to the online file in the format of Google Slides by Finest Future, to ensure that you have the latest instructions.

!! IMPORTANT NOTE !!

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General Note

• The following instructions are based on information from the official Migri.fi website of Finnish Immigration Office when applying for a Student Resident Permit for international students.
• The following instructions are based on the experience from Finest Future in general. Some countries might have a slight difference.
• All decisions related to the RP are done by Migri in Finland, and not within the control of Finest Future.

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Student RP card

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Student RP application process

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Required Documents

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Your name in any official documents MUST match with your official Passport.

In Finnish system, for each person's name, legally there are 2 names in official documents:

• Family name / last name (sukunimi in Finnish)
• Given names / first names = the remaining of your name (etunimi or etunimet in Finnish)

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Example:

Your full name is: PHAN LE BAO TRAN

So whenever applicable, you should write:

Your Family name / last name: PHAN

Your Given names / first names: LE BAO TRAN

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If your name is not written correctly in official documents, please contact related people to correct that.

Please note that from now on you will be using the same name order as how we instruct here.

!!! SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT YOUR OFFICIAL NAME

IN ALL DOCUMENTS

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Documents can be classified into 3 main categories:

Academic

Documents

Personal Documents

Financial Documents

Student RP application document types

All original documents that are in local languages must be translated into English/Finnish/Swedish.

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Notarization stamp is needed on the translated version, in order to certify that the content of the translated version is correct with the content of the original version in local language.

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1. Academic Documents

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• Check the correct name and info of the student (exactly the same as in Passport and Birth Certificate).
• Maximum 4-year duration of studies for High School students.
• Accommodation: If school offers free accommodation, it is also written in the Acceptance Letter�
• August intake: Usually the ending date of studies in the Acceptance Letter is 31.05.XX, but students are advised to write in RP application that the expected duration of validity of RP card is until 31.07.20XX, so that students have enough time to receive results from University, usually in early July for the August intake. �
• Students usually receive acceptance letters from Finnish schools in April-May for the August intake, and Oct-Dec for January intake.
• It is important to prepare all other documents to be ready while waiting to receive Acceptance Letter from the Finnish school.

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Acceptance Letter from school

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If the student does not have a Diploma at the time of applying for the Residence Permit, a letter confirming the expected date of graduation from the school is required.

Diploma from Lower Secondary School in home country

Study Transcript from Lower Secondary School in home country

Study Transcript from grade 6-9

Lower Secondary school in home country

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II. Personal Documents

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• Passport valid for at least 6 months since date of RP Application
• Passport must be in good physical condition
• Make a color scanned copy of the passport with all pages with information (exit, entry, Visa...).
• Bring both Original Passport + Copy of Passport to the Embassy
• Take pictures of your passport, just in case you lose it.
• It is recommended to apply for a new passport if your current passport is about to expire because it is quite expensive to get a new passport in Finland

Note:

The passport must be ready before SUBMITTING the application online in EnterFinland

Original Passport + Copy of Passport

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Passport photo

• Photo not older than 6 months
• 4 pieces of photos
• Size 3.6 x 4.7 cm
• White background
• Straight face
• No eye glasses
• No smiling showing teeth
• Write applicant’s information (Name + DoB) on the back of the photos to avoid losing/mixing them.

Full instruction on Passport photo here

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Birth Certificate

Translated into English and notarized copy.

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* NOTE:

Some countries MIGHT require the legalization of Birth Certificate at the Embassy, so you need to contact the local Embassy for the exact requirement regarding Birth Certificate.

If the legalization is required, then the following process must be followed:

• Step 1: Legalization at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Consular Department)
• Step 2: Consular Legalization at the Embassy of Finland

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** NOTE:

For the same trip to get the Birth Certificate legalized, the Guardian’s Consent Letter (using the template by Finest Future) is also to be legalized, for the bank account opening in Finland for child under 18 years old.

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***NOTE:

The birth certificate document MUST BE ORIGINAL.

The Embassy does not accept a copy of the birth certificate.

In case students has lost the original birth certificate, please consult with local authority.

(if applicant is under 18 years old )

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Consent Letter by Legal Guardians

for child opening bank account in Finland

(if applicant is under 18 years old)

Some banks in Finland require official legalization of the Guardian’s Consent Letter with the stamp from Finnish Embassy in order to open bank account and provide banking services for children under 18 years old in Finland.

On the same trip to the Embassy, this Guardian’s Consent Letter is also to be legalized (using the template by Finest Future) is also to be legalized, for the bank account opening in Finland for child under 18 years old.

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Some countries MIGHT require you to have it officially translated into local language. You can do so with the help of a translation office in your country.

• Download the template by Finest Future here (LINK) and fill in the info.
• Have the translation office translate the document as bilingual (English and local language) so that it can also be understood in Finland.

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Have it legalized as the following process:

• Step 1: Legalization at the local Department of Foreign Affairs (Consular Department)�Print out and bring to Department of Foreign Affairs for signature and stamp.

At Department of Foreign Affairs, parents sign in front of local authorities, and also have local authority signs to confirm.

• Step 2: Consular Legalization at the Embassy of Finland: Bring that document to Embassy of Finland on the same visit to submit the application.

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If parents are divorced and only one parent is legal guardian, then Divorce Certificate or Certificate of Child Custody is required.

Bring this legalized document to Finland later.

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!!! SPECIAL NOTE: Thisdocument is NOT required for the RP application, but is required for when child is in Finland.

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General Consent Letter by Legal Guardians

for child living and studying in Finland

(if applicant is under 18 years old)

• This is needed for later on when the child is in Finland, then the child can perform various activities for example applying for housing, ID card, banking, etc.

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• Template by Finest Future, download Template here
• Fill in the info, print out, parents sign.
• NO NEED to legalize this document. Parents signatures are enough.
• Make 5 copies to bring to Finland later on.
• If parents are divorced and only one parent is legal guardian, then Divorce Certificate or Certificate of Child Custody is required.

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Migri’s Consent form by Legal Guardians

(if applicant is under 18 years old)

• Form by Migri, download Form here
• Fill in the info, print out, parents sign
• NO NEED to legalize this document. Parents signatures are enough.

Guardian’s consent for child’s applying for Resident Permit

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Certificate of Insurance

!! NOTE !!

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Follow full instructions to buy insurance HERE

• There are 4 insurance companies recommended by Migri
• The only insurance available for students under 18 years old is the US company International Student Insurance www.internationalstudentinsurance.com �
• The insurance excess (deductible) may not be more than EUR 300.
• We recommend purchase the package with deductible rate EUR 0.
• If your studies take at least two years, your insurance must cover pharmaceutical expenses up to EUR 40,000.�
• The start date of Insurance must be the same as the start date of RP card, as well as the date that you intend to arrive in Finland: example 01.08.2025
• Insurance should be valid for 1 year of stay in Finland (effective from the date of travelling). The validity of Insurance certificate lasts for one year and can be extended each year.

Note: After 1 year living in Finland, you MIGHT be eligible for social insurance in Finland (Kela), so you MIGHT NOT have to buy private insurance for following year.

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NOTE:

• Buying insurance is the last step. Only purchase the insurance after finalizing other required documents, and before submitting application in EnterFinland.

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III. Financial Documents

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Required amount of money

• Obtain from local bank in home country
• English version or translated to English
• The bank statement must show the name of the account holder (Student's name), the name of the bank, and the currency (also show equivalent amount in EUR).
• Bank statement shows the account activities across the past 6 months
• Possibility to use the money in Finland

BANK STATEMENT FOR RP APPLICATION

As an official student with Student RP coming to Finland:

- Generally you are required to have an income of at least EUR 800 / month (EUR 9600 / year)

- If the school provides you with free accommodation, you need to have at least EUR 400 / month at your disposal.

- If the school provides you with free accommodation and free meals (3 meals / day), you need to have at least EUR 270 / month at your disposal.

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- Coming to Finland for the first time, you need to have income for at least 12 months in Finland, if you are going to study in Finland for 1 year or longer.

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Bank statement should show the required amount of money for the duration of 12 months staying in Finland during the first year of studies (EUR 9,600).

This amount must be available at the moment of submitting RP application, and even after that.

** Note about the Money on Arrival section.

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Financial proof for family members coming along

Check specific required amount of NET income from this link:

https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement-for-family-members-of-a-person-who-has-been-granted-a-residence-permit-in-finland

If student applicant is an adult and has family members (spouse and/or children under 18), then the family members can also apply for Resident Permit at the same time as the student and come to Finland to live together.

The family members can apply for the Resident Permit based on Family-tie ground.

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When you apply for a residence permit on the basis of family ties, you are usually required to have sufficient financial resources.

You and your family members must have enough money for living in Finland.

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The required amount is NET income, meaning total amount received in bank account after taxes, pension and social insurance.

The total required amount depends on how many family members and where the family will live when in Finland.

The financial proof should be enough for the first one year in Finland, and to be proven again once / year for the following years

Migri prioritises the processing of students’ residence permit applications so that students could begin their studies in Finland as planned. For this reason, family members of students may not receive their decisions at the same time as the student.

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Money on Arrival - Required amount of money

BANK ACCOUNT AFTER APPLYING FOR RP

• After submitting application for RP in home country, and even after receiving the RP card and preparing to come to Finland, it is advised that you do not withdraw ALL the money out from the bank account.
• Remember that: Money in cash + Money in bank account = equivalent of the total amount of money you need to have up on your arrival in Finland.
• It's advised to have extra amount than what is required, just in case of currency exchange fluctuation.

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CASH ON ARRIVAL

• Generally students are advised to bring cash with them when coming to Finland, then open a bank account and deposit the money in the bank, and sending more from home country to Finland later when bank account is opened.
• If upon arrival, student don't have enough cash for the required amount, they should have a bank statement which shows the remaining amount of money needed.
• For example: If student is required to have 9600 EUR for their first 1 year in Finland (RP card can be 2-4 years depending on the duration of studies), and you can only bring 5000 EUR in cash, you should additionally have a bank statement with at least 4600 EUR.

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BANK STATEMENT + BANK CARD ON ARRIVAL

• Bank statements should be recent, preferably extracted a few days before flying to Finland, in order to show that the money is still in the account when the student arrives in Finland.
• Student should be able to prove that you are able to use the money in Finland from that said bank account that was opened in your home country. For example having a bank card for spending in Finland.

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Employee

Business Owner

Property for Rent

Proof of Origin of Fund

Proof of Origin of Fund: to clarify where the money came from.

• Besides showing that you have the required amount of money, you need to also prove the origin of fund.

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• For students that don’t have income on their own, their parents or guardian is to support the student’s living and studying in Finland, the parent or guardian must provide documentation of the clarification of income and assets.

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• Depend on difference of the characteristics of the origin of fund, each set of financial clarification documents would be different.

Commonly, there are 3 types: (following pages)

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Type 1

Office worker or employee.

(The employee)

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Type 2

Owner of a business/company.

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Type 3

Property Rentals.

(Real estate, premises, vehicles, etc.)

Other circumstances

Besides the labor types mentioned above, there are many other types of income such as investment, savings, real estate trading...

Each type will have different ways of financial proof. Parents need to be consulted separately to understand what types of documents need to be prepared.

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Example of an explanation letter

Proof of Origin of Fund documents

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Other Circumstances.

Besides the types mentioned above, there are many other forms of income such as investment, savings, real estate trading...

Each form will have different ways of financial proof.

Parents need to be consulted separately to understand what types of documents need to be prepared

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Resident Permit Application Form for studies (OLE_OPI)

This OLE_OPI form is only completed after filling in EnterFinland application online.

You can start fill in the EnterFinland website

NOTE!!

Click here to follow full instruction for filling the online application on EnterFinland.fi here

2025_Filling in EnterFinland.fi_

Student RP Application Instruction_Finest Future

(click link)

EnterFinland.fi

Filling in

However ONLY click “SUBMIT” after having all the required documents and checking that everything is correct.

After submitting on EnterFinland.fi , you can print out the completed form (OLE_OPI) and bring to the service point together with other documents.

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Finest Future

Starts Here

Your