Finland plans to revoke foreign student permits over social assistance

Finland has proposed changes to immigration rules that would allow the government to cancel student residence permits if non-EU students receive basic social assistance. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment opened a public consultation on the draft law on 16 January. The proposal would introduce automated monitoring to check whether foreign students receive support from Kela, the country’s social insurance agency. The proposed regulation targets those holding residence permits for studies who arrive from outside the EU or EEA.