For partners 
The Finnish authorities plan to extensively revise migration rules concerning international students from countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area. The changes are aimed at ensuring that students are able to independently cover all living expenses and do not depend on the social support system.
- One of the main innovations will be the tightening of financial requirements. To obtain a permit to study, foreign nationals will need to confirm the availability of approximately €20,000 in their accounts (the final amount is still under discussion).
- In addition, it is proposed to expand the powers of migration authorities: monitoring of students' financial situation will be carried out not only at the stage of document processing, but throughout the entire period of study in Finland. Bank account and income source checks are planned to be conducted regularly, which will allow for prompt tracking of changes in the financial standing of foreign nationals.
- Another mandatory condition will be confirmation of language proficiency: applicants will be required to demonstrate a sufficient level of command of the language in which the chosen academic program is conducted.
- The changes will also affect the procedure for the relocation of family members. Relatives of a student will be able to apply for a residence permit only after the student has lived in the country for at least six months — in the opinion of the authorities, this will allow for a more objective assessment of the actual costs of living and adaptation.
- Furthermore, from autumn 2026, the residence permit may be revoked in the event that a student applies for social support.
