Residence Permit
Residence permit should be applied if the intended stay in Finland is longer than 90 consecutive days. Residence permits are issued among others to students, employees and persons, whose close relatives live in Finland. Below the most common application categories are explained. Information about other types of categories and application forms are available at the website of Finnish Immigration Services.
Application Process
Application hours
Residence permit applications can be submitted from Monday to Thursday 9.00-11.00. The applicant has to submit all required documents together with the application form. Missing documents might slow the process considerably.
Application fees
Application fees must be paid in cash in Nepalese rupees according to each month's exchange rate.
Also children who travel with their parents' passport must pay fee and fill up forms.
Processing time
The processing time depends on the type of permit applied. Average processing time for students and workers is two months, for family members six months.
Decision making
The decisions are made in the office of Finnish Immigration Service. The Embassy receives the applications and sends them to the Finnish Immigration Service for processing.
After the decision is made by the Finnish Immigration Service the Embassy calls to the applicant or his/her representative to receive a written decision. There is a right to appeal about the decision.
If residence permit is granted
Applicant or his/her representative must come to Embassy with passport to pick up the residence permit sticker.
General Requirements for all Residence Permit Applications
- Personal appearance of the applicant - all applicants are interviewed
- Originals and one photocopy of each document must be presented
- All applicants or their representative must fill out the residence permit application form
- Valid passport (valid at least up to applied duration of stay)
- Photocopies of all relevant pages of the passport
- Two colour photographs. It is important that the photo fulfills the requirements. See the exact quality requirements from the link below.
- Note that additional documents not mentioned here may be required
All forms are available at the Embassy of Finland and at the Finnish Immigration Service's webpage.
Required Supporting Documents by Residence Permit Category
Residence permit for student
- Form OLE_OPI
- Study and work certificates from SLC level up to date
- Acceptance letter from the educational institution
- A deposit of equivalent of € 6.000 on applicant's own account
- If studies last more than two years a health insurance covering up to € 30 000 valid min. of one year from the date student expects to arrive to Finland. If studies last less than two years, insurance coverage must be up to € 100 000
- IELTS or TOEFL results
Residence permit for scientific research
- Form OLE_TUT
- TEM 054 from the employer
- Study and work certificates from higher secondary level up to date
- Hosting agreenment from the receiving research institution
- Health insurance recommended
Residence permit for an employed person
Residence permit for work purpose can be submitted by the employer to the local employment office or the local police in Finland or it can be submitted by the employee abroad to the Embassy. All required documents should be submitted at one time; i.e. if the application is submitted to the Embassy, the employer must send the original form of the employment office to the applicant, whether the employment office has made the decision or not. Required documents:
- Form OLE_TY1
- TEM 054 from the employer
Residence permit for a spouse of a foreigner
- Form OLE_PH1 for the applicant
- Form PK1_plus from the family member in Finland
- Original, and legalised translation of marriage certificate (for legalisation see other services)
- Photocopies of all relevant pages of the inviting family member's passport
Residence permit for spouse of a Finnish citizen
- Form OLE_PH2 for the applicant
- Form PK2_plus from the family member in Finland
- Original, and legalised translation of marriage certificate (for legalisation see other services)
- Photocopies of all relevant pages of the inviting family member's passport
Residence permit for child and other family member
- Form OLE_PH4, and from the guardian form PH4_plus
- Original and legalised translation of birth certificate mentioning both parents' names, place and date of birth
