Finland plans to fast-track Residence Permits for international students

Highlights: Finland likely to fast-track Residence permits for international students  

• Finland’s Interior Ministry has put forth a proposal to revise rules for residence permit applicants.
• According to the proposed changes, permanent residency for international students will be simplified.
• Finland aims to bring in more students in highly skilled sectors to address the workforce shortage in the country.
• According to the “Study in Finland” website, nearly 63,000 students submitted applications to study in Finland.

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Finland to speed up residence permits for International students  

Finland has announced that it will fast-track the resident permit process for international students. The Interior Ministry proposed a draft with changes to the new resident permit. If accepted and implemented, the latest changes will positively impact international students. 

 

Under the new rules, international students can obtain residency in Finland without the need to complete the required residency period, unlike the ongoing rule. Finland aims to attract more students in highly-skilled sectors to boost the country’s economy and increase the labor workforce.

Some of the major changes included in the proposal are as follows:

 

Foreign nationals can acquire permanent resident permits if they have:

• An annual income of a minimum of €40,000
• Two years of professional work experience
• Completed postgraduate or master’s degree
• Sound knowledge of Swedish or the Finnish languages, along with 3 years of work experience.

 

Also, read…

Finland updates salary requirements for residence permits from Jan 2025. Check if you're eligible!

 

Finland Registered 63,000 student visa applications in 2024

Last year, in 2024, Finland recorded around 63,000 study permit applications, of which 53,800 were from international students. Nearly 80% of international students looking to study in Finland were from non-EU countries. Business administration, Information and communication technologies (ICT), and Law were some of Finland's most sought-after study programs.

 

Most of the international students who applied for a Finland student visa in 2024 are from the following countries: 

• India
• Bangladesh
• Pakistan
• Nigeria
• Nepal
• Sri Lanka
• Ghana
• Vietnam
• Iran
• Cameroon

 

*Are you looking for step-by-step assistance with overseas immigration? Contact Y-Axis, the world’s No.1 overseas immigration consultancy, for end-to-end support!

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