Government bills15
- HE 161/2026 vpIn progress
Tightening student residence and family reunification
Students coming from outside the EU and EEA would no longer be able to bring their families to Finland when their studies begin, but would first have to reside in the country for at least one year. At the same time, sufficient language proficiency would be made a requirement for a student's residence permit, and income thresholds would be laid down directly by decree.
18 Sep 2026 · no votes yet - HE 13/2026 vpPassed
Securing general support during training
Jobseekers will receive general support during labour market training and supported study without a separate waiting period. At the same time, the Act will allow provisions to be laid down by decree on taking capital gains from business assets into account in general support.
22 Apr 2026 · passed without a vote - HE 108/2025 vpPassed with amendments
Tightening job search obligations and sanctions
Meetings for jobseekers in the employment services will be made more flexible, and applying for jobs referred by the authorities will become immediately mandatory. At the same time, unemployment security sanctions will be tightened so that entitlement to benefits will be lost for a fixed period as early as the first failure to comply.
16 Dec 2025 · 5 votes112 jaa48 ei - HE 26/2024 vpPassed with amendments
Preventing lane-switching for asylum seekers
Asylum seekers who receive a negative decision will no longer be able to apply from within Finland for a residence permit on the grounds of work or studies; instead, they must leave the country and apply for the permit from abroad. At the same time, grounds for refusing a residence permit will be tightened, and identity verification with a national passport will be required.
2 Jul 2024 · 3 votes99 jaa79 ei - HE 176/2022 vpPassed
Reforming study and job search
Unemployed people will be able to complete short-term and part-time studies more freely without losing their unemployment benefit. At the same time, a full job-seeking requirement will be imposed on those studying independently on unemployment benefit who hold a vocational qualification.
15 Dec 2022 · passed without a vote - HE 15/2020 vpPassed
Easier combination of work and adult education
Adult education allowance is reformed to make combining work and study more worthwhile and flexible than before. The amount of the allowance will be adjusted directly on the basis of monthly wage data from the incomes register.
2 Jun 2020 · passed without a vote - HE 58/2020 vpPassed with amendments
Flexibility in unemployment and start-up grants
The maximum duration of start-up grants would be temporarily extended to 18 months, and the conditions of unemployment security for jobseekers would be eased due to the coronavirus pandemic. Jobseekers would not lose their unemployment benefit because of errors in using online services, failure to implement plans, or delays in studies.
29 Apr 2020 · passed without a vote - HE 27/2020 vpPassed
Easier unemployment security for laid-off workers
Laid-off workers will receive unemployment benefits without their possible studies or business activities being investigated separately. The amendment will speed up benefit payments and streamline the work of authorities during the coronavirus crisis.
2 Apr 2020 · passed without a vote - HE 59/2018 vpPassed
Easier studying on unemployment benefits
Unemployed jobseekers aged at least 25 will be able to study for up to six months without losing their unemployment benefit. The studies will also count towards the activity required under the activation model for unemployment security.
11 Dec 2018 · 1 voteOnly vote · 2 luvun 10 a §, mietintö / Anna Kontula
139 jaa24 ei - HE 133/2018 vpPassed
Facilitating vocational rehabilitation for youth
Young people aged 16–29 will be able to access Kela's vocational rehabilitation and receive a rehabilitation allowance without an illness or injury diagnosis if their functional capacity is impaired. The reform will particularly help young people outside education and employment to receive early support for life management and employment.
28 Nov 2018 · passed without a vote - HE 21/2018 vpPassed with amendments
Streamlining residence permits for researchers and students
Entry and residence permits for researchers, higher education students and trainees from outside the EU will be streamlined. At the same time, their mobility between EU countries and their opportunities to stay in Finland to work will be facilitated.
5 Jul 2018 · passed without a vote - HE 58/2018 vpPassed
Extending student financial aid to adults
People past compulsory school age will receive student financial aid and school transport subsidy to complete basic education studies. The reform will improve income during studies, especially for adults outside the labour market and immigrants.
29 Jun 2018 · passed without a vote - HE 57/2018 vpPassed
Clarifying vocational education regulation and funding
Withdrawals of the right to study in vocational education and training and education provider licences can be targeted at specific competence areas rather than an entire qualification. In addition, discretionary additional funding can be granted to education providers more flexibly in the middle of an operating year.
29 Jun 2018 · passed without a vote - HE 139/2017 vpPassed
Provider supplement for student parents
Students caring for a minor child will receive a monthly provider supplement to their study grant. At the same time, the criteria for extending the period of student financial aid and for full-time study will be clarified.
14 Dec 2017 · 1 voteOnly vote · Lausumaehdotus, mietintö / Li Andersson
98 jaa83 ei - HE 121/2017 vpPassed with amendments
Facilitating business start-ups while unemployed
An unemployed person will be able to start business activities and receive unemployment benefits for the first four months without an assessment of whether the activity is full-time. At the same time, conditions for the mobility allowance will be improved and eligibility extended to short part-time work.
29 Nov 2017 · passed without a vote