Finland Tightens Student Permit Rules to Combat Exploitation
Finland has recently introduced a significant proposal aimed at revoking Finland student permits for non-EU students found receiving basic social assistance during their stay. This move highlights a concerted effort by the Finnish government to ensure international students uphold the existing financial self-sufficiency requirements.
Automated Monitoring to Ensure Compliance
To enforce these new regulations, authorities plan to implement an automated monitoring system. Consequently, this system will meticulously track any benefits students receive from Kela, Finland’s national social insurance agency. This data will then be directly shared with the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri), streamlining the review process and enabling officials to efficiently address potential violations.
Furthermore, these stringent new rules will specifically target students from outside the European Union and European Economic Area who possess residence permits for study purposes. Officials assert that this measure aims to close a long-standing loophole. Previously, this loophole allowed some students to continue accessing social assistance without facing consequences regarding their visa status. Therefore, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment stated, “Automated post-decision monitoring would be used regularly to determine whether a student receives social assistance.”
Government’s Stance on Education-Based Immigration
This critical proposal aligns with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government program, which prioritizes tightening education-based immigration policies. Essentially, the program seeks to reduce reliance on public benefits, fostering a more self-reliant international student population. For instance, between September 2023 and December 2025, Migri reviewed over 37,000 residence permits. During this period, 333 students reportedly received basic social assistance. However, under current rules, their permits could not be revoked due to one-time payments.
In contrast, if the proposed law gains approval, even a single instance of receiving social assistance could directly lead to the withdrawal of a student’s residence permit. Last year, Finland hosted approximately 76,000 international students. Notably, these planned changes will exclusively impact individuals originating from non-EU and non-EEA countries.
Next Steps for the Legislation
The Ministry is currently accepting public feedback on the draft legislation until February 27, via the Lausuntopalvelu.fi portal. Ultimately, the government intends to present the bill to parliament during the upcoming spring session, with implementation of the new system expected shortly thereafter. This proactive approach underscores Finland’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of its student immigration system.
