Students to lose residence permit, if receive social support

The Parliament on Friday amended the respective law with the provision for cancelation of study-based residence permit, if the students receive social assistance.

The Parliament approved the bill by 143 votes to 20, said an official press release.

According to the new law, a residence permit issued to a student may be revoked or a new residence permit may not be issued, if it is found that the student depends on the social assistance.

The amendment will apply to students arriving in Finland from outside the EU and EEA countries.

The government said that the new law will strengthen the credibility of the residence permit system and will ensure that that students have financial capability for their livelihood during the whole study period.

The government also said that the law will prevent situations where international students have difficulties to make ends meet in Finland.

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) will receive information on social assistance of students directly from the Social Insurance Institution-Kela.

Automated post-decision monitoring would be used regularly to determine whether a student receives social assistance.

In that way, the Finnish Immigration Service would quickly become aware of any such cases.

Earlier in January 2026, the government took the initiative to enhance post-decision monitoring of study-based residence permit to check whether international students receive social assistance.