Please help! Questions about Student Residence Permit

minia · Post by **minia** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:30 am

Hello & thank you for reading this topic.

I've read through topics in this category but couldn't find one similar to my case, so please help!
I am a Non-EU citizen and have just been accepted to study on a 3-year-long Bachelor's programme (taught in English) in a Finnish university.

**Because my bachelor's programme is 3 years long, am I allowed to apply for my first student permit valid for 3 years?
Or am I supposed to apply for a student permit valid for just one year?

In other topics, it's said the immigration office normally issues student resident permit valid for only 1 year, and after that students extend their student resident permit at the end of the year. And this kind of makes me confused.....

If anybody has an answer or advice, please help me with this....

Any help is truly appreciated!
Thank you

**Sponsor:**

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Sun May 25, 2008 2:38 pm

minia wrote: In other topics, it's said the immigration office normally issues student resident permit valid for only 1 year, and after that students extend their student resident permit at the end of the year. And this kind of makes me confused.....

What's the confusion?
First one year rp on basis of study.
Then an extension.
It gives Migra the chance to see if you gained enough study points in the first year (so if you really are studying, not trying to sneak in for an other reason)

parisdepaul · Post by **parisdepaul** » Sun May 25, 2008 5:55 pm

Hey,

if you don't mind me asking, what university did you apply to and what program?

minia · Post by **minia** » Sun May 25, 2008 8:20 pm

> rinso,

Thanks for your reply & answering my question.

The confusion was simply about what to write on the application for my first residence permit.

It asks for how long I intend to stay in Finland, so I thought I should say 3 years.

But it seems now regardless of how long my study programme is, I should state I intend to stay just for 1 year.

Sorry if I'm not really clear here.....please correct me if I'm not getting it right.

Thanks again.

interleukin · Post by **interleukin** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:41 pm

But it seems now regardless of how long my study programme is, I should state I intend to stay just for 1 year.

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that you should write that you plan to stay for three years, but then you will still just be given a 1 year permit to begin with.

EP · Post by EP » Sun May 25, 2008 10:15 pm

If you intend to stay three years, you write it down. Saying that you plan to stay just one year would be odd when studying takes three. The rest is up to them. If they give you one year permit, you just take care that you have enough study points at the end of it, and then get an extension.

minia · Post by **minia** » Mon May 26, 2008 6:29 am

> interleukin & EP

Thank you for your replies & clarification!

When I got my student permit from other countries, the immigration authority just gave me a visa valid for the entire duration of my study. So, I had never wondered the question until now... but I understand the basic rule now. Thanks for your help

I'm sorry for asking another question, but then, does the same rule apply to the income requirement?

Students need to prove that they can financially support themselves during the study, and it's around 500 euros per month.
So when I submit my student residence permit application (and write I intend to stay for 3 years), how much money will I need to have in my bank account?

Is it 500 euro x 12 months = 6000 euros? because they'll probably give me RP for 1 year,

or 500 x 36 months = 18000 euros? for the intended 3 years?

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Mon May 26, 2008 6:42 am

If you show 6000,-€ it is certain they give you only a 1 year rp ( or non at all)
If you show 18.000,- € they might consider a longer period.

(and don't forget to show a medical insurance)

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Mon May 26, 2008 9:20 am

Yeah, you have to show every year the same papers: that you are enrolled in school and have Xnum study credits, you have the 6K in the bank, you have a valid medical insurance etc. Maybe you should write on the papar of "how long" as "for the duration of the studies" as if something happens and you'd need a few extra months to get some course done it would be quite silly to be forced to leave? Theres a bit of spandex in the system, not much but a little.

The first RP is always (IIRC) for one year. And it is one of those "temporary" deals always as students are looked upon as vagrants and not migrants. Finnish students battled a long time they could officially change residence to the city they were studying in.

Well, anyways congratulations of getting in. And yeah, don't forget the medical insurance - you need to get one *before* and not after.

minia · Post by **minia** » Mon May 26, 2008 11:58 am

>rinso,

Thank you for the reply & pointing out the insurance requirement as well.
I'll make sure I get one before applying for RP. Thanks a lot.

> Hank W.,

Thank you for the detailed information. It's a very good idea (and something I didn't think of at all) to state "I am going to stay for the duration of my studies, which is approximately 3 years." And thank you for reminding me of medical insurance!

Thank you all for helping me with helpful & informative advices.
I'm really looking forward to coming & studying in Finland, and I hope I get my first RP!!

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