Finland is planning stricter rules for international students under a proposed immigration reform package that would introduce tougher language requirements, stricter financial checks, and delayed family reunification.
As reported by the Economic Times on Tuesday, the proposals were circulated on May 18 by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Finland) and are open for public consultation until June 29.
If approved, the reforms would be submitted to Parliament in the spring 2026 session, with implementation expected to be phased in during 2027.
A key change would affect family reunification rules. Under the draft, international students would no longer be able to bring family members at the same time as their arrival. Instead, they would need to live in Finland for at least one year before dependants could apply.
Authorities say the move is intended to ensure students are financially secure and reduce cases of hardship linked to inadequate funding or misleading recruitment practices abroad.
