ÅA Survival Guide 2015-2016

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S t a t e Regu l a t i on s and I n s u r an ce s
3. State
Regulations and
Insurances
Here is a quick guide to the bureaucratic
procedures you need to know about depending
on the duration of your stay in Finland.
Remember that this is a guideline, if you
feel unsure or need more information about
the different procedures please contact the
authorities in question (which are mentioned
in the chapters). Also check the website of the
Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs .
International students studying for a degree or
participating in an exchange programme that
exceeds three months need a Personal Identity
Number in Finland.
3.1 Residence Permits
Citizens of Nordic Countries
Citizens of Nordic countries do not need to
register their right to reside in Finland due to
inter-Nordic agreements, nor do they need to
provide proof of funding for their stay in Finland.
However, Nordic citizens studying in Finland for
three months or more should notify the Local
Register Office (magistraten/maistraatti) as
soon as possible after arrival in order to obtain
a Personal Identity Code in Finland
)
For the registration, a passport or other photo
identification is needed. More information about
the civil registration process is found in chapter
3.2.
Citizens of EU/EEA-countries and Switzerland
Citizens of EU/EEA-countries and Switzerland
must register their right to reside (uppehållsrätt/
oleskeluoikeus) in Finland if the intend to stay
longer than 3 months. International students
studying for a degree or participating in an
exchange programme that exceeds three
months also need a Personal Identity Code in
Finland. The application for a Finnish Personal
Identity Code can be filed at the local police
station. You register at the local police authority
in Finland. A registration fee of 50€ will be
charged at the police station. This registration of
your right to reside as a student (uppehållrätt för
studerande/opiskelijan oleskeluoikeus) will thus
be your equivalence of a residence permit for
students. For the registration you will need:
• A completed application form (can be
collected at the local police station)
• A valid passport or other ID accepted by
the authorities
• The acceptance or appointment letter
issued by the university
• A copy of your lease
Please see end of chapter for contact information
to the Åbo and Vasa police stations.
Citizens from non-EU/EEA-countries
If your stay in Finland lasts for more than three
months, a residence permit ( uppehållstillstånd/
oleskelulupa ) must be obtained from the
Finnish diplomatic mission in the student’s or
researcher’s home country before arrival to
Finland. Generally, the residence permit is valid
for up to one year and can be extended at the
local police station in Finland. An application
for an extension of the residence permit should
be made well before the current permit expires.
It usually takes one to two months to process
the first application. However, extension of the
residence permit may take longer.
Please note that you need to provide proof of
funding and proof of valid health insurance
each time you apply for a residence permit. See
below for further details on how to apply for
a residence permit. Please see chapter 3.3 for
information on insurance.
How to Apply for a Residence Permit
The first application for a residence permit must
be made to the diplomatic mission representing
Finland in your home country. The application
for a Finnish Personal Identity Number can