Finland student immigration policy is set to tighten as the government prepares new restrictions on education based residence permits while also reviewing the country’s health region system, according to Finance Minister Riikka Purra. The changes are currently under internal government negotiations and are expected to be announced before Christmas.
Speaking on Sunday at a Finns Party council meeting in Helsinki, Purra said the planned reforms aim to correct what she described as serious weaknesses introduced by earlier immigration policies. She placed particular focus on changes made in 2022 under former Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s government, which expanded residence permit access for international students and their families.
Under the 2022 reforms, student residence permits were extended to cover the full duration of studies. At the same time, family reunification procedures were simplified as part of a broader effort to attract skilled migrants and international talent to Finland.
Purra argued that the outcome of those changes was poorly anticipated and insufficiently regulated.
She described the liberalisation as reckless, stating that it enabled a single student enrolled in an English language degree program at a regional university of applied sciences to bring family members who immediately became eligible for Finland’s social security system.
“The government is now negotiating measures we have long called for,” Purra said. “Before Christmas, I hope we will be able to announce changes that correct the previous term’s decisions.”
According to Purra, the education based migration route has grown into Finland’s largest immigration channel, overtaking labor based pathways. She warned that the current structure has created vulnerabilities that have been exploited by third party intermediaries operating outside Finland.
Purra said authorities have observed cases involving misleading recruitment practices, abuse of residence permit rules, and reports linked to human trafficking networks targeting prospective students from developing countries.
“The student immigration channel is structurally unsound,” she said, adding that its rapid expansion has placed unexpected strain on public services and welfare systems.
While the government has not yet released detailed policy proposals, expected changes may include stricter financial requirements, tighter family reunification criteria, and increased oversight of education providers offering international degree programs.
In addition to immigration policy, Purra addressed the future of Finland’s health and social services structure, known as the wellbeing services counties or sote regions. The system was introduced under the Marin government and transferred responsibility for healthcare and social services from municipalities to regional authorities.
Finland currently has 21 wellbeing services counties in addition to the city of Helsinki. The model has faced ongoing criticism over funding instability, administrative costs, and uneven distribution of resources.
“There are too many wellbeing services counties,” Purra said, while noting that the number of regions is less problematic than the way they are funded.
A recent government assessment suggested that the system could operate more effectively with between six and eleven regions instead of the current structure.
Purra described the sote reform as a failure, arguing that the funding model does not reflect actual service demand across the country. According to her, regions with ageing populations and rising healthcare needs are underfunded, while other areas receive resources they do not urgently require.
She also rejected proposals from the opposition Centre Party calling for debt restructuring arrangements for counties placed under financial supervision. Purra said the purpose of the review process is to restore control over finances and services, not to excuse long term mismanagement.
The government is expected to submit a formal statement to parliament in early spring outlining steps to address deficiencies in the sote system. However, Purra acknowledged that major changes to the funding model would require years of preparation and are unlikely to take effect before 2029.
Purra declined to comment on the recent controversy surrounding the removal of former Miss Finland Sarah Dzafce from her title after a photograph circulated showing her mimicking an East Asian stereotype. Several Finns Party politicians later shared similar images in what appeared to be a coordinated response.
Asked whether such actions risked escalating racial tensions, Purra said her focus remains on policy and governance.
“The economy has drifted into deep trouble,” she said, blaming long standing structural inefficiencies and delayed decision making. “We are now facing their consequences.”
As Finland moves toward tighter student immigration rules and a reassessment of its welfare and healthcare systems, the coming months are expected to bring some of the most consequential policy changes in recent years.
