Finland guide · Residence permit · 3 min read
Finland's student residence permit from Nepal: the funds, the fee and the timeline.
To study in Finland you need a residence permit for studies from Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service. You apply online (€600 from 1 January 2026), show €800 a month for living costs, or €9,600 in your account at application for a programme of a year or more, have health insurance as Migri requires, then prove your identity at the mission Migri names for Nepal. Our students' permits came in 6 to 8 weeks last year.
The short version
- Apply online to Migri as soon as you've accepted your place and paid tuition. Fee €600 (online, from 1 January 2026).
- Funds: €800 a month, or €9,600 in your account at application for a programme of a year or more (about Rs 16.5 lakh).
- Health insurance that meets Migri's conditions for the length of your permit.
- Prove your identity at the mission Migri lists for Nepal, with your passport, after applying online.
- Work while studying: an average of 30 hours a week; after graduating, up to 2 years to look for work.
The requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Acceptance | Your admission letter from a Finnish university or UAS |
| Tuition | Paid for the first year, or covered by a scholarship (with the decision letter) |
| Living funds | €800 a month; €9,600 in your account at application for a programme of a year or more |
| Health insurance | Meeting Migri’s conditions for the length of your permit |
| Fee | €600 online (from 1 January 2026) |
| Identity | Proven in person at the mission Migri names for Nepal |
The money, in rupees
At Rs 171.38 per EUR (18 Oct 2026):
| Item | EUR | Rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Living funds to show | 9,600 | about Rs 16.5 lakh |
| Permit fee | 600 | about Rs 1 lakh |
| Tuition after a 50% waiver on €12,000 | 6,000 | about Rs 10.3 lakh |
The funds must be yours, in an account in your name, and available to you. A sponsor’s money should be transferred to you with a paper trail that shows where it came from.
The steps
| Step | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Accept your place | Spring, after results | In Studyinfo |
| 2. NOC, then pay tuition | Within the university’s deadline | Your bank needs the NOC |
| 3. Move the €9,600 into your account | Before applying | Keep the statement history |
| 4. Buy insurance | Before applying | For the permit length |
| 5. Apply online to Migri | As soon as steps 2 to 4 are done | Pay the €600 fee |
| 6. Prove your identity | Book straight after applying | Passport and documents in person |
| 7. Decision | Often 6 to 8 weeks for our students | Longer in June to August |
| 8. Permit card and travel | Before August | Register your address after arrival |
From our files. Anita Chaudhary from Nepalgunj built her first-year budget around the €800 a month Migri asks you to show. With a 50% tuition waiver, her permit for International Business in Turku was granted in 8 weeks.
Work rights and after
- During studies: an average of 30 hours a week in term, full-time in holidays.
- After graduating: up to 2 years on a residence permit to look for work or start a business.
- Family: family members can apply to join you, with their own income requirement.
Mistakes that slow Finnish permits
- Applying late. Many students wait until June; the queue is longest then.
- Funds that just arrived with no explanation of their source.
- Insurance that doesn’t meet Migri’s terms, for example too short or with too high a deductible.
- Not booking the identity appointment straight after applying online.
