The government has proposed changes to increase the post-monitoring of residence permits for students coming from outside the EU and EEA countries. The proposal aims to establish a practice where relying on Finnish social assistance would more clearly lead to the cancellation of the residence permit or consideration of not granting a new residence permit. The Student Union of the University of Turku does not support the government’s proposal because it weakens the situation of international students who are in the most vulnerable positions, and it contradicts the government’s goal of increasing Finland’s attractiveness.
Students arriving from outside the EU and EEA countries are fundamentally in a financially unequal position compared to Finnish students, and their situation should not be made more difficult. This inequality is increased by factors such as tuition fees, application fees, challenges and restrictions in finding employment, and the lack of student financial aid. A very small number of international students have received social assistance in little over two years (333 individuals), as it has previously sometimes already led to a review of their residence permit. International students therefore rely on the social assistance very cautiously, and the numbers do not indicate misuse of the support. The decision to impose stricter laws targets the vulnerable situations of students who have no alternatives. Students with families are particularly vulnerable, as the change could also cause significant difficulties for their family members if the residence permit of the student is revoked or a new permit is not granted.
The change could damage Finland’s reputation as an international higher education destination. Next autumn, students arriving from outside the EU and EEA will be the first group required to cover their tuition fees without previous scholarship systems. The change will significantly affect these students’ financial situations, and although monitoring students’ financial well-being is important, threatening them with loss of residence permits is a tactic that could harm Finland’s reputation as a study destination and cause us to lose potential highly educated individuals and workers that stay in the country. The Government Programme lists increasing Finland’s attractiveness and adding incentives to stay in Finland to work after graduation, but a significant decline in applicant numbers was already observed at the beginning of 2026. Before implementing new changes in the coming years, we need to reserve sufficient time to evaluate how tuition fees affect international applicant and admitted student numbers, feedback collected from students, and Finland’s reputation as an education destination.
More information
Hanna Kiiskilä
The Specialist in International Affairs
The Student Union of the University of Turku