Student residence permit processing speeds up despite growing application numbers

The number of first-time residence permit applications from students aiming to study in Finland has continued to rise, yet the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has managed to improve processing times significantly. By the end of July 2024, a total

By: helsinkitimes.fi

Aug 27 2024
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Student residence permit proce

The number of first-time residence permit applications from students aiming to study in Finland has continued to rise, yet the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has managed to improve processing times significantly. By the end of July 2024, a total of 9,293 applications had been submitted, up from 8,762 during the same period in 2023.

Typically, students from non-European Union countries apply for their first residence permit after securing a study place in Finland.

The majority of applications this year have come from citizens of Nepal, Bangladesh, China, India, and Sri Lanka.

Swift Approvals for Most Students

By the end of July, decisions had been made on 8,159 of the submitted applications, with an impressive 96% of applicants receiving their residence permits. Notably, 94% of these decisions were made within 30 days or less, a marked improvement from the average processing time of 38 days in 2023.

This accelerated processing is largely attributed to the increased use of automation and continuous improvements in the permit process. Automated decision-making has played a key role, with the system automatically approving applications that meet all legal requirements. Importantly, the automated system only grants permits and does not reject applications, leaving more complex cases to be handled by human officials.

“This year, automation has been responsible for 19% of all positive decisions, significantly speeding up the overall process,” said Anu Tarén, the process owner for student and researcher residence permits. “This allows our experts to focus on applications that require more detailed examination, thus accelerating the processing of all student applications.”

Delays Still Possible for Some Students

Despite these improvements, some students may still face delays in starting their studies. According to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, a backlog in student identifications at embassies in locations such as New Delhi and Abu Dhabi has caused some applications to be delayed, meaning they will not be processed until August or September.

While the overall improvements in processing times are promising, these backlogs highlight the ongoing challenges in managing the growing demand for student residence permits.