Finland has unveiled a legislative proposal that could significantly tighten the conditions for international students from outside the European Union and European Economic Area, potentially leading to the automatic cancellation of residence permits for those who claim basic social assistance.
The draft law, opened for public consultation on January 16 by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, is designed to strengthen enforcement of the long-standing requirement that international students must be financially self-sufficient during their stay in Finland. Authorities say the proposal addresses gaps in the current system that have limited their ability to act when students rely on public welfare.
Under the proposed framework, an automated monitoring system would be introduced to track benefits data from Finland’s social insurance institution, Kela. This information would be directly shared with the Finnish Immigration Service, Migri, enabling officials to identify residence permit holders who receive basic social assistance and initiate a review process without delay.
According to the ministry, the new mechanism would allow for “automated post-decision monitoring” to be used on a regular basis to determine whether students continue to meet the financial requirements tied to their permits. Crucially, the proposal would allow a residence permit to be withdrawn even after a single instance of receiving social assistance, a marked departure from existing rules.
Currently, while international students are required to demonstrate sufficient financial means, permits cannot be revoked solely on the basis of one-time welfare payments. Government officials argue this has created a loophole that undermines the principle of self-support underpinning education-based immigration.
The proposal aligns with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s broader government program, which aims to tighten immigration pathways linked to education and reduce reliance on public benefits. Official figures cited by the ministry show that between September 2023 and December 2025, 333 students received basic social assistance. Despite this, none lost their residence permits under the current legal framework.
Finland hosted approximately 76,000 international students last year, the majority of whom would not be affected by the change. The proposed rule would apply exclusively to students from outside the EU and EEA, reinforcing the distinction between different categories of international residents.
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Public feedback on the draft legislation is open until February 27. The government plans to submit the bill to parliament in the spring, with the automated monitoring system expected to be implemented shortly after legislative approval, should the proposal pass.
