Finland Processes Student Residence Permits Within 30 Days Despite Increasing Number of Applications
Key Points
1. Finland is processing student residence permit applications more quickly than last year.
2. By the end of last month, Finland had received a total of 9,293 first-time student residence permit applications.
3. The largest number of student residence permit applications came from Nepal, Bangladesh, China, India, and Sri Lanka.
Finland has seen a rise in the number of first-time residence permit applications from students seeking to study in the country.
Despite this increase, Finland has been processing these applications within 30 days, which is faster than in 2023, when the average processing time was 38 days.
According to data from the Finnish Immigration Service, 9,293 residence permit applications had been received by the end of July 2024, compared to 8,762 in 2023.
During the same period, 8,159 applications were processed, with approximately 96 percent of foreign students being granted residence permits.
By the end of July 2024, decisions had been made on 8,159 first-time applications submitted by students, with 96 percent receiving residence permits. About 94 percent of first-time student applicants received a decision within 30 days or less, compared to an average of 38 days in 2023.
Finnish Immigration Service
Top 5 Countries with the Most Applications
According to the Finnish Immigration Service, the highest number of student residence permit applications came from nationals of the following countries:
- Nepal
- Bangladesh
- China
- India
- Sri Lanka
Typically, students apply for their initial residence permit from their home country after securing a place of study and planning to move to Finland. These applications mainly come from non-EU citizens.
Anu Tarén, who manages the processing of residence permits for students and researchers, noted that automation has significantly contributed this year, handling 19 percent of all positive decisions.
Tarén also mentioned that this advancement has greatly sped up the processing of applications. With automated decisions, specialists can devote more time to applications that require detailed review—those that the automated system cannot yet handle. As a result, the overall processing speed for student applications has improved.
An automated decision occurs when the Finnish Immigration Service’s system automatically issues a permit if the applicant meets all legal requirements. This system only approves permits, and while it generates the decision, an official still performs additional processing tasks.
Potential Delays in Student Start Dates Due to Backlogs at New Delhi and Abu Dhabi Embassies
However, the Finnish Immigration Service warned that some students might experience delays in starting their studies due to backlogs at the New Delhi and Abu Dhabi embassies, among others. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there have been delays in student identification at these embassies, meaning some applications may not be processed until August or September.