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The Finnish government has been monitoring more closely the compliance with the conditions for issuing residence permits to students — as a result, the number of new applications for study in the country has noticeably decreased. However, the number of graduates wishing to stay in Finland has increased!
13,565 applications were received in 2025 — 4% less than the previous year, and the number of rejections amounted to only about 9% of the total number of applicants. The largest growth is observed among international graduates seeking to extend their stay in the country after graduation: the number of such requests increased by 33%. Requests for residence permits from family members also remain at a record high.
Finnish authorities attribute this decline to changes in the economic situation and new legislative amendments: now students who receive social assistance risk losing their visa automatically. The old monitoring system allowed automatic verification of student compliance with requirements. According to official data, from September 2023 to December 2025, the platform processed over 37,000 permits, of which only 333 students applied for social support. New rules will help quickly revoke a residence permit if a student applies for assistance from social services.
