Finland

EU citizens don't need a visa. If you stay in Finland for more than 3 months without a break, you register your EU right of residence with the Finnish Immigration Service, Migri:

• if you register on the basis of studies, you can apply only after your studies have started,
• you must show that you have enough money to support yourself,
• the fee is €53 (2026), for both online and paper applications.

After registration, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) can give you a Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus) and register you as a resident of your municipality.

Students from outside the EU/EEA need a residence permit for studies. You apply for your first permit before you come to Finland – online in the Enter Finland service or on paper at a Finnish mission abroad – and you have to visit a Finnish embassy or consulate to prove your identity. The fee in 2026 is €600 online and €750 on paper. You will need, among other things, your letter of acceptance, proof that you have paid the tuition fee (or have a scholarship or fee waiver), a bank statement covering the past 6 months and health insurance. You must also show that you have at least €800 a month for living costs – for studies lasting a year or more, that means €9,600 in your account when you apply (Migri, 2026). Money for the tuition fee must come on top of this.

Health insurance: if you come from the EU, Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) usually treats your stay as temporary, so you won't get Kela benefits. With your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you get necessary medical care. If you are covered by health insurance in another EU country, you can also use the student health service FSHS (YTHS) without paying the healthcare fee. Students from outside the EU/EEA need private insurance for the residence permit: it must cover medical costs up to €120,000 with a deductible of no more than €300, and for studies of 2 years or more also medicines up to €40,000.