Reviewed by Yasir Khan, Founder, LAMTANS Group of Companies, and British Council registered consultant
To study in Finland from Pakistan you apply online for a residence permit before you travel, then prove your identity in person. The Finnish Embassy in Islamabad closed on 16 June 2026, so identity checks now go through Doha. This guide covers the 2026 steps, costs and work rules.
Finland student permit process from Pakistan
- Get accepted by a Finnish higher education institution and obtain your certificate of acceptance.
- Apply for the residence permit for studies in Enter Finland before you enter Finland, and pay the fee. Degree students get a continuous A permit for the whole studies. Purely online distance study does not qualify.
- Prove your identity in person. Finland has no mission in Pakistan. The Embassy of Finland in Islamabad closed on 16 June 2026, and the Embassy of Finland in Doha, with VFS Global Doha, handles identity verification for Pakistani applicants.
- Wait for the decision and collect your residence permit card.
Since 31 March 2026 Pakistani nationals need a visa to travel to Qatar. The Embassy’s notice of 2 July 2026 says applicants currently cannot travel to Doha for identity verification because their Qatar visa applications are still being processed. If you cannot prove your identity within three months of applying, tell Migri through “Send additional information” and contact your institution if your studies are about to start. The Embassy’s news list also says residence permit services in the Middle East were affected by the regional security situation.
Migri said about 75% of first study-permit applications received a decision within 30 days in autumn 2025. Its current processing-time table is undated and not labelled for studies, so we do not promise a timeline.
Fees, documents and proof of funds
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| First permit fee from 1 Jan 2026 | EUR 600 online, EUR 750 on paper (was EUR 450 and EUR 550) |
| Funds | EUR 800 a month; EUR 9,600 in your account for studies of a year or longer |
| Bank statement | Past 6 months, in your own name |
| Not accepted | Sponsorship agreements from relatives, friends or employers (exceptions: under 18 and exchange students) |
- Valid passport with a colour copy, and a photo.
- Certificate of acceptance and proof of paid tuition or a scholarship.
- Bank statement for the past six months and an insurance certificate.
- Translations or legalisation where needed.
A scholarship for living costs is subtracted from the required total. If you pay tuition after applying, your account must hold the first year’s tuition plus living costs, and living-cost funds cannot be used for tuition. You need private health insurance covering medical and pharmaceutical costs from the day you arrive, unless you hold a Kela card, EHIC or GHIC.
Tuition costs
The University of Helsinki charges non-EU students EUR 13,000 a year for English-taught bachelor’s degrees and EUR 13,000, 15,000 or 18,000 a year for English-taught master’s degrees, depending on the programme. The fee is fixed for the whole programme. Other universities set their own fees, so we check each course.
Working in Finland as a student
Students may do paid work in any field averaging 30 hours a week, counted over the calendar year, which is 120 hours a month or 1,560 hours a year. Internships and diploma work that earn credits are exempt from the limit if agreed in advance.
After graduation you can apply for a 24-month permit to look for work or start a business. You need to have held a study permit and have no job yet, or a job that does not earn enough for a work-based permit. You can apply up to five years after graduating, including from abroad. We could not find the fee for this permit on an official page. Family members of an A-permit holder can get an A permit, and the first one lasts at most one year.
English requirements and entry with the HSSC
The University of Helsinki asks master’s applicants for IELTS Academic 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing, or TOEFL iBT 92 with at least 22 in writing. It notes that TOEFL scoring changed in January 2026. The University of Turku asks for IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each part. For TOEFL iBT taken on or after 21 January 2026 it asks for 4.5 overall and 4.0 in each part.
JAMK University of Applied Sciences lists the HSSC with a marks sheet, or the Intermediate certificate, for Pakistan, with at least 45%. Its page does not say whether the HSSC alone is enough. We could not confirm the master’s entry rule for Pakistani degrees, so we check it for each programme.
Dates, scholarships and how we help
The next joint application on Studyinfo.fi runs from 7 to 21 January 2027 for English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes starting in August or September 2027. Some programmes use separate applications from late 2026. Tampere University’s master’s application for autumn 2027 opens on 14 December 2026 and closes on 7 January 2027.
The University of Helsinki offers a few master’s tuition waivers of 50% or 100% and does not give waivers to bachelor’s students. In May 2026 the government proposed that a non-EU student who receives social assistance could lose their permit. We could not confirm that it has become law.
We help with course choice, applications, funds evidence and your Enter Finland file. We cannot promise a visa. Compare other countries on our student visa from Pakistan guide or see all study abroad destinations, including Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to study in Finland?
At least EUR 800 a month. For studies of a year or longer you must have EUR 9,600 in your own bank account when you apply.
Where do Pakistani students prove their identity for a Finnish permit?
At the Embassy of Finland in Doha through VFS Global Doha, because the Islamabad embassy closed on 16 June 2026. Pakistanis need a Qatar visa first.
How much does a Finnish student residence permit cost?
From 1 January 2026 the first permit costs EUR 600 online or EUR 750 on paper.
Can I work while studying in Finland?
Yes, on average 30 hours a week over the calendar year, in any field.
Can I stay in Finland after graduating?
Yes. You can apply for a 24-month permit to look for work or start a business, up to five years after graduation.
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Official sources: Migri: studying in Finland · Migri: permit for studies · Migri: income requirement · Migri: 2026 fees · Doha service notice · Seeking work after graduation · Study in Finland: joint application. Figures checked on 11 October 2026. Several Migri pages are undated, so we confirm each figure before you apply. Reviewed by Yasir Khan, British Council registered consultant, LAMTANS Consultants. Last updated 11 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the latest position at your consultation.