Authorities in Finland have stated that they may withdraw residence permits from international students who receive social assistance from the country’s social insurance agency, as reported by the Helsinki Times.
Under existing rules, foreign students are not eligible for social assistance, as they are required to demonstrate that they have sufficient financial means to support themselves for the duration of their stay in Finland.
If approved, the proposed change would represent a significant tightening of enforcement. In effect, a single instance of receiving basic social assistance could be considered sufficient grounds for the withdrawal of a student’s residence permit.
According to the authorities, the proposed withdrawal of residence permits forms part of a wider amendment to Finland’s immigration rules. Crucially, the measures would apply exclusively to students from outside the European Union (non-EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).
According to the Ministry of the Interior, Finland hosted approximately 76,000 international students last year. Figures released by Migri show that between September 2023 and December 2025, the agency reviewed more than 37,000 student residence permits. In 333 cases, students had received basic social assistance. None of the permits were revoked, as one-off payments have not previously met the threshold for cancellation.
However, new proposals are in place to monitor this through an automated monitoring system that will be used on these international students.
The proposed regulation forms part of a broader shift towards tighter immigration controls for international students. In recent months, the Finnish government has raised income thresholds for student residence permits and introduced stricter rules on family reunification. Officials say the latest proposal is designed to ensure that student permits are used strictly for their intended purpose, while safeguarding the integrity of Finland’s immigration system.
Under the planned system, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) would receive automated data directly from Kela on whether a student has applied for or received basic social assistance. The benefit is intended as a last-resort safety net for individuals unable to cover essential living costs such as rent and food.
“Automated post-decision monitoring would be carried out on a regular basis to determine whether a student is receiving social assistance,” the ministry said.
The proposal is rooted in Petteri Orpo’s, the prime minister of Finland’s government programme, which includes commitments to tighten controls on education-based immigration. The draft regulation seeks to address what authorities describe as a gap in the current system, where students may receive social assistance without any impact on their residence permit status.
What this means for Nigerian students in Finland
For Nigerian students studying in Finland, the proposed changes signal a much tougher approach to enforcing financial self-sufficiency rules tied to student residence permits.
Under the draft amendment, Nigerian students, classified as non-EU and non-EEA nationals, would be directly affected. If the proposal is approved, receiving social assistance from Finland’s social insurance agency (Kela), even once, could lead to the withdrawal of a residence permit. This represents a clear shift from the current system, where one-off payments have not been considered grounds for cancellation.
In practical terms, this means Nigerian students must be especially cautious about their finances. While social assistance in Finland is designed as a last-resort safety net for essentials such as rent and food, accessing it would increasingly be treated as evidence that a student no longer meets the core condition of their permit: the ability to support themselves independently throughout their stay.
The introduction of automated monitoring heightens the risk. Under the proposed system, the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) would receive real-time data from Kela on whether an international student has applied for or received basic social assistance. This removes discretion and delays that previously worked in students’ favour, making enforcement faster and more systematic.
