Education
More Than 2,000 Foreign Students Have Lost Their Residence Permits in Finland
Finland has cancelled the residence permits of more than 2,000 non-EU/EEA students since 2022, with insufficient study progress and financial difficulties among the reasons behind the decisions.
More than 2,000 international students who came to Finland from outside the European Union and European Economic Area have had their student residence permits cancelled since 2022, according to recent reporting by Helsingin Sanomat and information from the Finnish Immigration Service, Migri.
Migri has increased its post-decision monitoring of international students. The purpose is to check whether students continue to meet the conditions under which their residence permits were granted — including actually progressing with their studies and having sufficient financial resources.
The issue has become increasingly important as Finland has tightened the rules surrounding international students.
Study progress and finances under scrutiny
A student residence permit is not simply a permanent right to remain in Finland. Migri states that students must continue to meet the conditions of their permit during their stay.
For example, students must have sufficient money to support themselves. At present, Migri requires a student to have at least €800 per month, or €9,600 for one year, available for living costs when applying for a study residence permit.
Migri also carries out post-decision monitoring to determine whether the conditions of a residence permit are still fulfilled. If the requirements are no longer met, the authority can begin considering withdrawal of the permit.
Financial support is becoming a bigger issue
The Finnish Government is also moving toward stricter rules for international students who rely on Finnish basic social assistance.
In April 2026, the Government proposed legislation under which receiving basic social assistance could become an independent reason for cancelling a student's residence permit. The proposed rules concern students from outside the EU and EEA.
According to the Government's proposal, Migri's automated monitoring covered more than 37,000 student residence permits between September 2023 and December 2025. In 333 cases, students had received basic social assistance.
The proposed change was expected to come into force in autumn 2026, subject to Parliament's approval.
Families could also be affected
The consequences can extend beyond the student.
Many international students have brought spouses and children to Finland. Government documents note that family members' residence permits are connected to the student's situation, meaning that cancellation of the student's permit can also affect the family's right to stay.
The number of family members accompanying international students has also increased significantly. In 2024, nearly 7,900 first residence-permit applications were submitted by family members of students, compared with 1,109 in 2021.
Finland is tightening the system
The changes are part of a broader tightening of Finland's immigration rules.
The Government has proposed additional measures concerning international students, including stronger requirements relating to financial resources and language ability. It has also proposed changes to family reunification rules for international students.
At the same time, research shows that international students are making a substantial contribution to Finnish higher education. A VATT study reported that in the 2023–2024 academic year, higher-education students with study-based residence permits completed a median of about 64 credits, compared with 54 among other students.
What does this mean for international students?
The current direction is clear: Finland expects non-EU/EEA students to genuinely study, make adequate academic progress and maintain sufficient financial resources throughout their stay.
However, the figure of more than 2,000 cancelled permits should not automatically be interpreted as 2,000 people already deported from Finland. Residence-permit cancellation and removal from the country are separate legal processes, and individual circumstances can affect the outcome. Migri says that before cancelling a permit it considers the circumstances of the case and gives the affected person an opportunity to be heard.
For international students and their families, the message is increasingly important: having a student residence permit does not guarantee the right to remain in Finland if the conditions of the permit are no longer fulfilled.
Sources
- https://migri.fi/post-decision-monitoring-of-residence-permits
- https://migri.fi/residence-permit-application-for-studies
- https://www.kela.fi/ajankohtaista/hallitus-esittaa-etta-ulkomaalaisen-opiskelijan-oleskelulupa-voitaisiin-peruuttaa-jos-han-saa-toimeentulotukea
- https://valtioneuvosto.fi/-/1410877/hallitus-esittaa-kansainvalisten-opiskelijoiden-toimeentulohaasteisiin-puututaan