Kela OT 3e: Student Financial Aid for a Degree Abroad

What is Kela OT 3e - student financial aid for a degree abroad?

Form OT 3e is Kela's English application for Finnish student financial aid (opintotuki) for students pursuing a degree abroad. You can apply for the study grant, the housing supplement and the government guarantee for a student loan, either for your entire period of study or for a period you choose. As printed on the form, it does not concern studies abroad towards a degree being completed in Finland, and aid can be granted no earlier than the beginning of the month in which the application is received.

The five pages cover the applicant and bank account, what you apply for, your studies and the institution (including whether it is under public supervision and what the corresponding Finnish degree would be), your housing abroad, your periods of residence and ties to Finland, your parents' income if you live with a parent or are under 18, your own income and other benefits, and the enclosures Kela needs.

FileIt walks you through OT 3e in plain English, checks your personal identity code, shows only the questions that apply to you, checks that longer answers fit their boxes, and prints everything into Kela's own PDF, saved in your vault. As printed on the form, you can file it online at www.kela.fi/english or post it to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA. FileIt never sends anything to Kela.

Who fills it: Students completing a whole degree at a foreign educational institution
Given to: Kela — online at www.kela.fi/english, or by post to PL 10, 00056 KELA
Aid applied for: Study grant, housing supplement, loan guarantee
Signatures: Signed by the student
Edition: OT 3e 06.25
Pages: 5

Who needs to fill out Kela OT 3e - student financial aid for a degree abroad?

Finnish students starting or continuing a full degree at a university or college abroad.
Students abroad who need the housing supplement for rent or maintenance charges abroad.
Students who want the government guarantee for a student loan while studying abroad.
Students under 18 studying abroad, whose decision is notified to a guardian unless they choose otherwise.

When to use Kela OT 3e - student financial aid for a degree abroad

When you have been admitted to a degree programme abroad, before or at the start of the academic year — aid starts at the earliest from the month the application is received.
When you change the period of aid you want, or apply for aid you didn't apply for before.
Not for exchange or other studies abroad that count towards a degree completed in Finland — the form says it doesn't cover those.

What you need before you start

Your personal identity code, contact details and bank account (IBAN and BIC).
The name of the institution, the degree pursued, its Finnish equivalent, and the study and academic-year dates.
Your housing arrangements abroad and, for the housing supplement, the rent and the address of the home.
Your periods of residence in Finland during the 5 years before your studies, or your other close ties to Finland.
Details of any income, grants or benefits from abroad.
Enclosures: certificate of admission, certificate of public supervision, attendance and credits certificates, and form OT 10e for foreigners applying for the first time.

What’s on Kela OT 3e - student financial aid for a degree abroad

The 2025 edition has 5 pages. FileIt asks for it in 11 parts, and it is signed by Student:

1 ApplicantStudent
2 Bank account numberStudent
3 ApplicationStudent
4 StudiesStudent
5 Housing detailsStudent
6 Periods of residence in Finland and abroadStudent
7 Parents and parental incomeStudent
8 Own income and other benefitsStudent
9 EnclosuresStudent
10 Additional informationStudent
11 SignatureStudent

How to fill out Kela OT 3e - student financial aid for a degree abroad, step by step

1 1–2. Applicant and bank account

Your details, marital status (and your spouse's identity code or name and date of birth), who should receive the decision if you are under 18, and the IBAN and BIC of your account.

2 3. Application

Choose the entire period of study or a specific period, and tick study grant, housing supplement and/or loan guarantee.

3 4. Studies

The institution, whether it is under public supervision, the degree you pursue and its Finnish equivalent, your right to pursue studies, when you accepted the offer of admission, start and graduation dates, the academic year, and previous higher education.

4 5. Housing details

Where you live during your studies and since when, whether the home is owned by or rented from your parent, and, for the housing supplement, the rent and the address. Housing supplement is not available for owner-occupied homes.

5 6. Residence in Finland

Whether you had a municipality of residence in Finland for at least 2 of the 5 years before your studies, or otherwise what close ties you have to Finland.

6 7–8. Parents' income, own income and benefits

Part 7 only if you live with a parent or are under 18: whether your parents are separated, a parent's new spouse, and whether your parents' combined income has fallen by at least 20%. Part 8: income from outside Finland, other benefits, and grants or scholarships from abroad.

7 9–11. Enclosures, additional information, signature

Tick what you enclose, add details in section 10 with the section number, then give the place and date and sign.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using OT 3e for an exchange that counts towards a Finnish degree.
Applying for the housing supplement without giving the rent and the address of the home abroad.
Applying for the housing supplement for a home you or your spouse own — the form says it isn't available for owner-occupied homes.
Forgetting the certificate of admission or of public supervision.
Not mentioning grants or scholarships from abroad.

After you fill it out

Sign the application (by hand, or with FileIt's e-signature when you file it online).

File it online at www.kela.fi/english or post it with the enclosures to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA. FileIt doesn't send it.

Send the certificate of attendance later if you haven't registered yet, as the form allows.

Keep the PDF and enclosures in your FileIt vault.

Fill out Kela OT 3e - student financial aid for a degree abroad online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 84 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kansaneläkelaitos / Kela) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Kela OT 3e - student financial aid for a degree abroad now — it’s free

Kela OT 3e - student financial aid for a degree abroad: frequently asked questions

What is Kela form OT 3e?

It is Kela's English application for Finnish student financial aid for students pursuing a degree abroad: study grant, housing supplement and loan guarantee.

From when can I get aid?

The form says financial aid can be granted no earlier than the beginning of the month in which your application is received.

Does OT 3e cover exchange studies?

No. The form says it does not concern studies pursued abroad towards a degree being completed in Finland.

In which languages can I send certificates?

Finnish, Swedish or English, as printed in section 9. You can translate the certificates yourself.

Can I fill in OT 3e online?

Yes. FileIt lets you fill it in online for free and prints your answers into Kela's official PDF. You can sign by hand or with FileIt's e-signature, then file it with Kela yourself.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kansaneläkelaitos / Kela): https://www.kela.fi/benefit-forms/OT3e.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.kela.fi/financial-aid-for-students
Edition shown on this page: OT 3e 06.25 (checked 2026-10-01).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kansaneläkelaitos / Kela) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-10-01.