Finland may tighten checks on intl students

Finland is planning to strengthen monitoring of residence permits issued to international students, with a proposal that could allow authorities to revoke permits if students receive social assistance. The reform aims to prevent misuse of education-based permits and applies to students arriving from outside the EU and EEA, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The proposal, released for public consultation on January 16, seeks to expand automated post-decision monitoring after residence permits are granted. Under the plan, the Finnish Immigration Service would regularly check whether foreign students receive social assistance, a benefit meant as a last-resort form of financial support. Automated checks through welfare data According to the ministry, the Finnish Immigration Service would receive information on students’ social assistance directly from Kela, the national social insurance institution. This would allow authorities to identify cases faster and ensure students continue to meet the conditions of their permits, especially the requirement to support themselves financially. “Automated post-decision monitoring would be used regularly to determine whether a student receives social assistance,” according to the official announcement. At present, while authorities already obtain information on students who receive social assistance, a single payment has not automatically led to permit cancellation. The proposed amendment would make the rules clearer and more binding. Background and data on monitoring Between September 2023 and December 2025, the Finnish Immigration Service processed more than 37,000 residence permits through post-decision monitoring. In 333 cases, a student had been granted social assistance. As of last year, Finland had around 76,000 foreign students. The ministry said the proposal is part of the government programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, which aims to ensure that education-based immigration is controlled and that students can sustain themselves during their stay in Finland. Consultation timeline and next steps The proposal will remain open for comments until February 27, 2026, through the Lausuntopalvelu.fi service. The government plans to submit the proposal to parliament during the spring session of 2026. If approved, the amendments would enter into force as soon as possible.