Finland has proposed changes to immigration rules that would allow the government to cancel student residence permits if non-EU students receive basic social assistance.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment opened a public consultation on the draft law on 16 January. The proposal would introduce automated monitoring to check whether foreign students receive support from Kela, the country’s social insurance agency.

The proposed regulation targets those holding residence permits for studies who arrive from outside the EU or EEA.

The goal is to enforce the original permit condition requiring students to support themselves financially throughout their stay.

The draft law follows previous measures tightening conditions for international students. These include higher income thresholds and stricter rules on family reunification.

Under the planned system, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) would receive direct data from Kela on whether a student has applied for or received the basic social assistance, a last-resort benefit for those unable to meet basic expenses such as rent and food.

"Automated post-decision monitoring would be used regularly to determine whether a student receives social assistance," the ministry stated.

The proposal stems from Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government programme, which includes commitments to control education-based immigration. The draft regulation intends to close a perceived gap where students continue receiving benefits without consequences for their permit status.

Between September 2023 and December 2025, Migri reviewed more than 37,000 residence permits. In 333 cases, students had received basic social assistance. In these cases, no permits were revoked, as one-time payments have not previously triggered cancellation.

If the law is passed, this would change. A single instance of receiving the benefit could result in a student's permit being withdrawn.

According to the ministry, there were about 76,000 international students in Finland last year. The current draft would only affect those from non-EU and non-EEA countries.

Feedback on the proposed amendment is open until 27 February through the Lausuntopalvelu.fi portal. The government intends to present the bill during the spring parliamentary session and aims to implement the changes promptly. (HELSINKI TIMES)