Government bills10
- HE 143/2025 vpPassed with amendments
Tuition fees for non-EU students
Tuition fees will be introduced for upper secondary students arriving in Finland from outside the EU and EEA. In addition, commissioned vocational education and training can be sold to employers also for Finnish and other EU citizens.
12 Dec 2025 · 6 votes131 jaa42 ei - HE 232/2021 vpPassed with amendments
Easing residence permits for students and researchers
Students from outside the EU and EEA will be granted a residence permit for the entire duration of their studies at once. The post-graduation or post-research residence permit for jobseeking and starting a business will be extended to two years.
8 Apr 2022 · 3 votes90 jaa58 ei - HE 59/2023 vpPassed
Reforming student healthcare fees and funding
Higher education students from another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom will be exempt from the student healthcare fee, and the costs of their treatment will be billed to their home country. At the same time, the due dates of the healthcare fee for all higher education students will be postponed so that Kela has time to provide advance information about the fee.
1 Dec 2023 · 1 voteOnly vote · Käsittelyn pohja, valiokunnan ehdotus / Laura Meriluoto
85 jaa68 ei - HE 294/2022 vpLapsed
Longer residence permits for researchers
Researchers and doctoral students arriving from outside the EU will be granted longer residence permits than before. A researcher pursuing a postgraduate degree will be able to receive a residence permit for up to five years at a time.
5 Apr 2023 · no votes - HE 54/2022 vpPassed with amendments
More flexible compulsory education rules
Flexibility is introduced to completing compulsory education and related support so that a suitable educational path can be found for every young person. At the same time, foreign minors residing in the country solely for study purposes are excluded from compulsory education and free learning materials.
1 Jul 2022 · passed without a vote - HE 208/2020 vpPassed
Flexibility for student loan compensation and aid
Studies delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic will not deprive students of their right to a student loan compensation or student loan tax deduction. At the same time, the right to student financial aid for British citizens residing in Finland is secured after Brexit.
11 Dec 2020 · passed without a vote - HE 129/2017 vpPassed with amendments
Streamlining startup and specialist residence permits
A dedicated residence permit will be created for startup companies to be established in Finland, and the first residence permit for specialists will be extended to two years. Renewing residence permits will become easier, as it will no longer be necessary to give fingerprints again for an extended permit.
19 Dec 2017 · passed without a vote - HE 79/2026 vpIn progress
Revoking student permits over social assistance
The residence permit of a student from outside the EU may be revoked or not renewed if they resort to social assistance in Finland. Students are required to support themselves on their own income or assets for the entire duration of their studies.
6 May 2026 · no votes yet - HE 36/2016 vpPassed
Abolishing higher education application fees
Applicants to higher education institutions will no longer be charged a separate processing fee when applying on the basis of studies completed outside the EU or EEA. The application process will become free of charge before tuition fees for students from outside the EU and EEA enter into force.
20 May 2016 · passed without a vote - 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