The Upper Secondary School Act will be changed on 20 December

If you have a residence permit for studies at upper secondary level, as of 20 December, you will not be able to get an extended residence permit to complete your studies. The possibility of getting an extended residence permit to look for work after completing studies at upper secondary level will remain until 20 July 2024.

The Upper Secondary School Act has made it possible to get a temporary residence permit for studies at upper secondary level, and made it possible to get an extended residence permit to complete one's studies.

As of 20 December, it will no longer be possible to have an application for an extended residence permit for studies at upper secondary level granted.

The Upper Secon­dary School Act will be changed in stages during 2024 and 2025

It is currently still possible for those who have completed their upper secondary school studies to be granted an extended residence permit for up to six months to look for work. However, the possibility to be granted a temporary residence permit to look for work will end on 20 July 2024.

Those who have completed their upper secondary school studies and are able to support themselves as an employee or self-employed person can apply for a permanent residence permit. However, the possibility of being granted a permanent residence permit under the Upper Secondary School Act will end on 20 January 2025.

Read more about extending residence permits for former asylum seekers and their families

Read more about the Upper Secondary School Act

(The information on these two pages will be updated on 20 December.)