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Last modified: 2026-10-02

# Studying in Finland as a Russian Citizen: Residence Permit via Moscow, Passports, the Closed Border and Payments in 2026

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A Russian citizen can apply to a Finnish university: the Finnish National Agency for Education states that nationality and country of residence cannot be used as grounds for not processing an application or not admitting an applicant. The differences start after admission. The student residence permit is applied for online in Enter Finland, and identity is verified in Moscow with an appointment through VFS Global; since 1 June 2026 Finland has not accepted non-biometric Russian passports; the land border with Russia has been closed since 15 December 2023, so entry is possible only through airports and seaports. English-taught programmes charge Russian citizens tuition (from $11,298, or €10,000, a year), while Finnish- and Swedish-taught programmes are free. Degrees from five Finnish universities are recognised in Russia without a procedure.

| At a glance | Position on 2 October 2026 |
| --- | --- |
| University admission | General rules; nationality cannot be a ground for refusal |
| Stay document | Residence permit for studies, decided by Migri |
| Identity check | Moscow, booked through VFS Global; missions in St Petersburg, Murmansk and Petrozavodsk are closed |
| Passport | Biometric only since 1 June 2026, except applicants under 18 and holders of an earlier Finnish permit |
| Entry | Students and applicants travelling to an entrance exam are exempt from the restrictions; the Border Guard decides |
| Travel | Airports and seaports only |
| Funds for the permit | $10,846 (€9,600) in your own account for studies of a year or longer |
| Recognition in Russia | Aalto, Helsinki, Oulu, Tampere and Turku are on list No. 186-r |

The University of Helsinki main building lit in blue and white for the centenary of Finnish independence, December 2017. Photo: Htm / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suomi100_University_of_Helsinki_main_building_2.jpg), [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0).

## What this guide covers and where the rest lives {#section-1}

This page collects what changes for a Russian citizen specifically: which route is open after grade 9 or grade 11, how to sit entrance tests without travelling, where to file the permit and how to get there, how to hold funds and pay from Russia, and how to get a Finnish degree recognised at home. The Studyinfo calendar and application steps are in [applying to universities in Finland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-universities-in-finland), the full Migri checklist is in [the student residence permit for Finland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-residence-permit-finland), university choice is in [universities in Finland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-finland) and budgeting in [the cost of studying in Finland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-finland). If you are comparing neighbours, see [studying in Poland as a Russian citizen](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-in-poland-for-russian-citizens), where the entry rule for students is stricter, and the level guides to a [bachelor's in Poland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-poland) and a [master's in Poland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-poland). An English-speaking alternative with a visa filed at visa centres in Russia is a [bachelor's degree in Ireland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-ireland); the wider comparison is in [studying abroad as a Russian citizen](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-for-russian-citizens).

## Can Russians study in Finland? {#section-2}

Yes. The Universities Act and the Universities of Applied Sciences Act leave selection to the institutions, but, as the Finnish National Agency for Education (OPH) explains, admission rules do not allow nationality or country of residence to be used as a reason not to process an application. Neither Studyinfo rules nor Migri requirements contain a separate ban on Russian citizens.

The constraints appear elsewhere. Universities must comply with EU sanctions and export-control rules. Aalto University, for example, applies its export control, sanctions and research security policy to all members of its community, including students at every level, and expressly lists bachelor's and master's admissions among the activities it covers; the policy concerns dual-use items and technology and research projects. Aalto also screens scholarship holders against EU sanctions lists. The university does not publish how the policy applies to individual programmes, so if you are heading into engineering, materials physics or cybersecurity, ask the admissions office before applying whether the programme involves such a check and whether laboratory access is restricted.

## Routes after grade 9, grade 11, college or a degree {#section-3}

| Starting point | Realistic route | What a Russian citizen should note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grade 9 | Finnish general upper secondary school (lukio) or vocational education | Teaching is almost always in Finnish or Swedish; Migri notes that students from outside the EU may be charged; no permit is issued for basic (nine-year) education |
| Grade 11 | Bachelor's at a university or a university of applied sciences (UAS) in English, Finnish or Swedish | The certificate qualifies if it gives access to higher education in Russia |
| Vocational college | Bachelor's on the same basis as a school leaver | The programme must accept the college diploma as an eligibility document |
| Bachelor's degree | University master's | The degree field must match the programme |
| Bachelor's plus work experience | UAS master's | Relevant work experience is mandatory, usually two years |

For a grade-9 student, Finland is a language route: the joint application to upper secondary and vocational schools for 2027 runs from 16 February to 16 March 2027, and without Finnish or Swedish a place in lukio is practically out of reach. If your child is 15 or 16 and has no Finnish, compare other countries using [studying abroad after grade 9](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-after-9th-grade).

## The Russian attestat: what a Finnish university checks {#section-4}

The University of Helsinki, like other Finnish universities, lets applicants apply to English-taught bachelor's programmes with education completed abroad if it gives eligibility for higher education in the country where it was completed. The Russian certificate of secondary general education meets that condition. The university's general eligibility rules contain no separate requirement for Unified State Exam (EGE) scores: what matters is the programme's selection method (an entrance exam, the SAT, certificate grades or a mix), which is stated in the programme card on Studyinfo.

Russian-language documents are submitted with an official translation into English, Finnish or Swedish. The certificate and its grade supplement are uploaded to the application; if results are not ready, many programmes allow you to apply in your final school year and submit the document by a deadline the university sets. Russia and Finland are parties to the Hague Convention, so when legalisation is requested the certificate is apostilled.

## Entrance tests without travel {#section-5}

This point matters for Russian citizens: universities of applied sciences select for English-taught bachelor's programmes through the joint International UAS Exam, which is taken remotely on your own computer under proctoring software. For the spring 2027 round, pre-identification is scheduled for 10–12 March and the exam for 23 March 2027 from 12:00 Finnish time, with results no later than 14 April. It has a common part (reasoning and English) and field-specific sections such as mathematics. The exam rules contain no country restrictions, and passports from any country are accepted.

If a university runs an in-person exam, travelling to it is also covered: the Finnish Border Guard lets Russian citizens enter for an entrance exam, an aptitude test or a language test that forms part of degree studies. The purpose is shown with an invitation from the institution.

## Passport, residence permit and where to file {#section-6}

Passport. Since 1 June 2026 Finland has not accepted Russian passports without a chip. There are three exceptions: applicants under 18, people granted a Finnish residence permit before that date (who may also extend it on the old passport), and special cases decided individually. The transition period to 31 December 2026 only covers passports that already hold a valid Finnish visa, or a visa or residence permit of another EU or Schengen state, issued before 1 June 2026; it rarely helps a new student.

Filing. The OLE_OPI form is completed in Enter Finland after you accept the study place; you then verify your identity and give biometrics. For Russian citizens this happens in Moscow: the Embassy of Finland books residence-permit appointments through the VFS Global visa centre. The Consulate General in St Petersburg and the offices in Murmansk and Petrozavodsk are closed. The Migri fee is $678 (€600) online, or $452 (€400) for applicants under 18. Migri decides most student applications in about a month. Step by step: [the student residence permit for Finland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-residence-permit-finland).

## Travel and the border {#section-7}

Finland has restricted the entry of Russian citizens since 30 September 2022; the government extended the decision on 6 July 2023 and it remains in force until further notice. Students are among the exempt groups: those coming for short-term studies (under 90 days), for degree studies or part of a degree, and for an entrance exam. The Border Guard specifies that the right to study should, as a rule, be in Finland, and that courses at adult education centres and similar short non-degree courses are not a ground for entry on a short-term visa. Entry is decided case by case at the border check.

All land crossing points on the Russian border have been closed since 15 December 2023, and the Finnish interior ministry confirmed in June 2026 that the border remains closed. The only way in is through open crossing points at airports and seaports, usually with a connection in a third country; check that country's entry and transit rules in advance.

## Money: the Migri account and paying from Russia {#section-8}

Migri requires $10,846 (€9,600) in your personal account on the day you apply for studies of a year or longer, plus the tuition fee if it has not been paid. You need a six-month statement; sponsorship letters from parents are not accepted, and a large deposit without an explained origin will trigger a request for documents. The account can be in any country, but the money must be genuinely usable in Finland, which is the main practical issue for a Russian applicant because transfers from Russian banks abroad do not always go through.

The Bank of Russia confirms that residents may send money abroad, including tuition paid to a foreign institution's account, through banks that are not under sanctions and money-transfer companies, but warns that foreign correspondent banks may refuse payments. The Studyinfo application fee ($113, €100) can be paid only by Visa or Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Finnish online banking, and some universities, such as Metropolia and UEF, take tuition only through Flywire. Check your payment route before you apply. Legal options are compared in [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

After arrival, students open an account with a Finnish bank. The EU ban on new deposits above €100,000 from Russian citizens (Article 5b of Regulation 833/2014) does not apply to holders of an EU residence permit, but the bank decides whether to open the account.

## Costs and where study is free {#section-9}

Since 1 August 2026 Finnish institutions must charge new non-EU students the full cost of education. Russian citizens pay this rate.

| University and level | Annual fee | Intake or year |
| --- | --- | --- |
| University of Helsinki, bachelor's | $14,687 (€13,000) | 2026/27 rates |
| Aalto, bachelor's | $13,558 (€12,000) business and technology; $16,947 (€15,000) arts and architecture | Study rights from 1 August 2025 |
| Tampere University, bachelor's | $11,298 (€10,000) | 2027 intake |
| University of Oulu, bachelor's | $11,298 (€10,000) | 2027/28 |
| Metropolia (UAS), bachelor's | $12,993 (€11,500) | Study rights after 31 July 2027 |

Programmes taught in Finnish and Swedish are free for everyone, Russian citizens included, but you need the language at a level sufficient for study. There are no government scholarships for bachelor's or master's degrees; discounts and waivers are set by each university, and at Aalto they also depend on the sanctions screening. University-by-university details are in [the cost of studying in Finland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-finland).

## Work and life after graduation {#section-10}

With a student permit you can work an average of up to 30 hours a week, more during holidays as long as the annual average is respected. Future earnings do not count towards the funds for a first application. After graduation Migri issues a permit to look for work or start a business for up to two years; you can apply within five years of finishing your studies.

## Is a Finnish degree recognised in Russia? {#section-11}

The list attached to Russian Government Order No. 186-r (as amended on 19 February 2026) includes five Finnish universities: Aalto, Helsinki, Oulu, Tampere and Turku. Their Kandidaatin tutkinto and Maisterin tutkinto are recognised in Russia as bachelor's and master's degrees without a separate procedure. Degrees from other institutions, including every university of applied sciences, go through recognition: you apply via Gosuslugi or the National Information Centre, and Rosobrnadzor decides. If you plan to return, check the list before applying.

## A plan for autumn 2027 {#section-12}

| When | What a Russian citizen should do |
| --- | --- |
| October–November 2026 | Check your passport: it must be biometric; shortlist up to six programmes |
| November–December 2026 | English certificate and document translations; check how you will pay the application fee |
| 7–21 January 2027 | Joint application to English-taught programmes in Studyinfo, fee $113 (€100) |
| 10–23 March 2027 | Identification and the online International UAS Exam if you apply to a UAS |
| By 6 July 2027 | Results; accept the place by 13 July |
| July 2027 | First-year payment, funds in your own account, Enter Finland application and VFS Global appointment in Moscow |
| August 2027 | Migri decision; travel via an airport or seaport |

## Common mistakes {#section-13}

- Filing a permit application with a non-biometric passport. After 1 June 2026 it is refused unless you fall under an exception.
- Looking for an appointment in St Petersburg. The missions there are closed; identity checks happen only in Moscow.
- Planning the journey through a land crossing.
- Showing a parent's account with a sponsorship letter instead of your own account with a six-month statement.
- Leaving payments to the last minute: the application fee and tuition are accepted only through certain channels.
- Travelling for an adult-education or other short non-degree course on a short-term visa and counting on the student exemption. Such courses are not a ground for entry.
- Choosing a university without checking list No. 186-r if you plan to work in Russia.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Can Russian citizens study in Finland in 2026?

Yes. Finnish universities assess applications from Russian citizens under the general rules, and according to the Finnish National Agency for Education nationality cannot be a reason for refusal. The university decides on admission, Migri on the residence permit, and the Finnish Border Guard on entry.

### Where does a Russian citizen apply for a Finnish student residence permit?

The application is completed online in Enter Finland, and identity is verified in Moscow by booking through the VFS Global visa centre via the Embassy of Finland's link. The missions in St Petersburg, Murmansk and Petrozavodsk are closed. Migri decides on the permit, usually within about a month.

### Can I get into a Finnish university after grade 11 without travelling for an exam?

Often, yes. Universities of applied sciences select for English-taught bachelor's programmes through the International UAS Exam, which is taken remotely; in 2027 it is scheduled for 23 March. Other programmes select on the SAT or grades. The university makes the admission decision based on the selection results.

### Can a Russian citizen study in Finland for free?

Yes, programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish charge no tuition to anyone, but you need the language at study level, and non-EU applicants still pay the $113 (€100) application fee. English-taught programmes charge Russian citizens tuition; discounts and scholarships are decided by each university under its own rules.

### How do I get to Finland if the border is closed?

Land crossings on the Russian border have been closed since 15 December 2023, so entry is through airports and seaports, usually with a connection in a third country. Students are exempt from the entry restrictions on Russian citizens, but the final decision is taken by the Border Guard officer at the crossing point.

### Can my child study in Finland after grade 9?

Not at a university: complete secondary education comes first. After grade 9 a student can apply to Finnish upper secondary school (lukio) or vocational education, but teaching there is almost always in Finnish or Swedish, and students from outside the EU may be charged. The school decides on admission and Migri on the residence permit.

### Is a Finnish degree recognised in Russia?

Bachelor's and master's degrees from Aalto, the University of Helsinki and the universities of Oulu, Tampere and Turku are on list No. 186-r and are recognised without a procedure. Degrees from other institutions, including universities of applied sciences, go through recognition, and Rosobrnadzor decides.

## Sources {#section-15}

- [Finnish National Agency for Education (OPH): can Russian citizenship prevent someone from receiving a study place?](https://www.oph.fi/en/faq/can-russian-citizenship-prevent-someone-receiving-study-place-finland)
- [Aalto: export control, sanctions and research security policy](https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/export-control-sanctions-and-research-security-policy)
- [University of Helsinki: eligibility for higher education](https://www.helsinki.fi/en/admissions-and-education/apply-bachelors-and-masters-programmes/eligibility-higher-education)
- [UAS Info: International UAS Exam, spring 2027](https://www.uasinfo.fi/international-uas-exam/)
- [Studyinfo: application periods](https://opintopolku.fi/konfo/en/sivu/application-periods) and [application fee](https://opintopolku.fi/konfo/en/sivu/application-fee)
- Migri: [residence permit for studies](https://migri.fi/en/residence-permit-application-for-studies), [income requirement](https://migri.fi/en/income-requirement-for-students), [processing times](https://migri.fi/en/processing-times)
- Embassy of Finland in Moscow: [residence permits and VFS Global appointments](https://finlandabroad.fi/web/rus/oleskelulupa-suomeen), [acceptance of Russian passports](https://finlandabroad.fi/web/rus/tarvitsetko-viisumin)
- Finnish Border Guard: [entry restrictions for Russian citizens](https://raja.fi/en/entry-restrictions), [closure of eastern border crossings](https://raja.fi/en/restrictions-at-the-border-crossing-points-on-the-eastern-border-of-finland)
- Tuition: [University of Helsinki](https://www.helsinki.fi/en/admissions-and-education/apply-bachelors-and-masters-programmes/tuition-fees-and-scholarship-programme), [Aalto](https://www.aalto.fi/en/admission-services/scholarships-and-tuition-fees), [Tampere University](https://www.tuni.fi/en/tau/financial-matters/tuition-fees-and-scholarships), [University of Oulu](https://www.oulu.fi/en/apply/how-apply/university-oulu-tuition-fees-and-scholarships-for-international-applicants), [Metropolia](https://www.metropolia.fi/en/study-at-metropolia/tuition-fees), [UEF](https://www.uef.fi/en/tuition-fees-and-scholarships); [Ministry of Education and Culture: tuition fees](https://okm.fi/en/tuition-fees-in-higher-education)
- [Bank of Russia: transfers abroad and tuition payments](https://www.cbr.ru/faq/w_fin_sector/transgranichnie_perevodi/)
- [Russian Government Order No. 186-r as amended on 19.02.2026](http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202602200041); [Rosobrnadzor: recognition of foreign education](https://obrnadzor.gov.ru/gosudarstvennye-uslugi-i-funkczii/gosudarstvennye-uslugi/priznanie-inostrannogo-obrazovaniya-i-ili-inostrannoj-kvalifikaczii/)

Sources checked 01–02.10.2026. Conversions use the ECB reference rate of 01.10.2026: €1 = $1.1298.

If you want to work through your route, send a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply): document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, the university makes the admission decision, and Migri decides on the residence permit.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Applying to Universities in Finland for 2027: Studyinfo Dates, Documents and Steps After School](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-universities-in-finland)
- [Finland Student Residence Permit: Requirements, Funds, Processing Times and Rules for Russian Citizens](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-residence-permit-finland)
- [Universities in Finland: List of Institutions, 2027/28 Fees and How to Choose](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-finland)
- [Cost of Studying in Finland in 2027/28: University Fees, Living Costs and Permit Funds](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-finland)
- [Studying in Poland as a Russian Citizen: Entry Restrictions, the Pole's Card, the Attestat and Payments in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-in-poland-for-russian-citizens)
- [Bachelor's Degree in Ireland: Level 7 or Level 8, Choosing a Programme, 2026/27 Fees and How International Students Apply](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-ireland)

Updated: October 2026