This post contains affiliate links.
Note: Some older guides still quote €560/month for Finland — that figure is stale. Finland’s Immigration Service (Migri) raised the requirement to €800/month, confirmed via Finnish university guidance pages that cite Migri directly.
Non-EU/EEA students need a residence permit to study in Finland, and part of the application requires documenting enough money to cover accommodation, food, and other living costs for your stay.
What the requirement actually is
- Minimum €800 per month at your disposal to cover living costs.
- For studies lasting one year or longer: you must show €9,600 in your bank account at the time you submit your application — the full-year equivalent of the monthly figure.
- For studies shorter than one year: the €800/month figure applies for the actual length of your stay instead of the lump-sum annual amount.
- This is a living-cost figure only — it doesn’t include tuition, which non-EU/EEA students at many Finnish universities pay separately (EU/EEA study is generally free).
How to prove it
The standard evidence is a bank statement in your own name, generally covering the past three months, submitted as part of your online application through Finland’s Enter Finland portal. Finnish universities note that actual living costs in cities like Helsinki typically run higher than this minimum — commonly cited student budgets in Helsinki run €1,000–1,300/month once accommodation, food, transport, and other costs are added up, so treat the €800 figure as the immigration minimum, not a realistic full budget.
Other things to know
- Applications are submitted and tracked through Enter Finland (enterfinland.fi), Migri’s own online portal.
- Student benefits in Finland — subsidized housing, discounted public transport, and student meal programs — meaningfully lower real costs below market rate, even though they don’t change the immigration proof-of-funds figure itself.
- Universities routinely publish their own budget breakdowns alongside the Migri minimum — a typical Aalto University estimate splits roughly €450 accommodation, €300 food, €25 phone, €45 local travel, and €200 other per month.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to study in Finland?
A minimum of €800/month, or €9,600 for a full year of study — confirmed via Finnish university guidance that cites Migri, the Finnish Immigration Service, directly.
Does this include tuition?
No. This is a living-cost figure only. Non-EU/EEA students at many Finnish universities pay tuition separately from this residence-permit financial requirement.
Is €800/month enough to actually live on in Finland?
It’s the immigration minimum, not a comfortable budget — Finnish universities themselves note that real living costs, especially in Helsinki, commonly run €1,000–1,300/month. Budget above the minimum if you can.
Where do I submit my proof of funds?
Through Enter Finland (enterfinland.fi), Migri’s official online application portal, alongside the rest of your residence permit application.
Verify details on the official site: Aalto University — Study in Finland, citing the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri). Figures checked via official university guidance, September 2026; always confirm the current amount directly on migri.fi before applying.
See the full Proof of Funds Requirements by Country comparison, or check Sweden’s and Norway’s similarly Nordic requirements.
