Finland is planning stricter immigration rules that could lead to the cancellation of residence permits for non-EU international students who receive basic social assistance from the state. The proposal is contained in a draft law released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, which was opened for public consultation on January 16.
Under the proposed changes, Finnish authorities would introduce automated monitoring to determine whether foreign students on study-based residence permits receive welfare benefits from Kela, the country’s social insurance agency. Students found to have received basic social assistance could have their residence permits revoked.
The rule would apply to students from outside the European Union and the European Economic Area, who are already required under existing regulations to prove they can financially support themselves throughout their stay in Finland. The draft law seeks to strengthen enforcement by extending checks beyond the permit approval stage.
According to the ministry, basic social assistance is intended as a last-resort benefit for individuals unable to meet essential needs such as food and housing. If the new law is enacted, even a single instance of receiving such assistance could trigger permit cancellation, a shift from current practice.
Official data show that between September 2023 and December 2025, the Finnish Immigration Service reviewed more than 37,000 student residence permits, with 333 cases involving students who had received social assistance, none of which led to cancellations. Public consultation on the proposal remains open until February 27, after which the government plans to submit the bill to parliament during the spring session.
