Residence Permit Changes - Help

s3zza · Post by **s3zza** » Sat Jan 09, 2016 11:18 pm

I'm an Australian citizen and will soon be in Finland on a working holiday residency permit/ visa.
I also applied to a number of universities. If I get accepted to take an Entrance Examination at any of these universities and then proceed to be accepted into one, am I able to apply for a student residency permit whilst still in Finland, or do I need to go home and visit the embassy?

To some of you this may sound obvious, but the immigration website specifies you must get this permit before entering Finland as you need to visit the Finland Embassy in your home country. As I will already be in Finland on a Working Holiday (the residency permit lasts a year and I will be about 6 months into it by the time acceptance letter would be sent) I wasn't sure if this still applies, as in I could apply within the country with immigration services or something.

Thank you in advance.

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leisl · Post by **leisl** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 12:05 pm

You're right to be concerned because the tourist visas are generally restricted so that you can only switch to non-student permits. That is, got a full-time job -residency or got married -residency only.

We have had people in here with similar problems when they stayed in Finland after their entrance exams under visa-free rules which allow them to be here as tourists. It is not without headaches. Because the application was still supposed to be lodged in the home country. Some have suggested appointing a relative in their home country. With power of attourney in order to deal with it.

To get a definitive answer I think you should phone the Finnish embassy in Canberra. 02 6273 3800

betelgeuse · Post by **betelgeuse** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 1:11 pm

s3zza wrote: I also applied to a number of universities. If I get accepted to take an Entrance Examination at any of these universities and then proceed to be accepted into one, am I able to apply for a student residency permit whilst still in Finland, or do I need to go home and visit the embassy?

You can apply in Finland since it's a permit extension.

http://www.migri.fi/working_in_finland/permit_extension

leisl wrote:You're right to be concerned because the tourist visas are generally restricted so that you can only switch to non-student permits. That is, got a full-time job -residency or got married -residency only.

The OP is not on a tourist visa.

leisl wrote: We have had people in here with similar problems when they stayed in Finland after their entrance exams under visa-free rules which allow them to be here as tourists. It is not without headaches. Because the application was still supposed to be lodged in the home country. Some have suggested appointing a relative in their home country. With power of attourney in order to deal with it.

Not applicable to the OP.

s3zza · Post by **s3zza** » Wed Jan 13, 2016 10:14 pm

Thank you for your help. As stated I am not on a tourist visa. I am a on a Working Holiday residence permit. But I guess if anything comes down to it, I may try to find a permanent job.

leisl · Post by **leisl** » Fri Jan 15, 2016 6:36 am

Well find out if the EU citizen preference rules apply for permanent work. You might not be entitled to take such a job. Unless there are no EU people who can do it.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Jan 18, 2016 4:54 pm

A "Working holiday" permit is more or less the same as given for "interns or trainees". Its not elaborated on the Migri site, but as its a valid permit and not a waiver or a visa, its in the same category as "permits".

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