The government on Wednesday brought necessary changes to the respective law with the view to ease entry and retention of international students in Finland.
The President approved the amended law on Wednesday, which will enter into force on 15 April 2022, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
Under the new act, the type of permit for students studying for a higher education degree will change from temporary (B) to continuous (A), which will make it easier to obtain a permanent residence permit.
According to the legislative reform, the family members of the student will also receive a continuous (A) permit.
In the legislative reform, the so-called jobseeker’s permit, which is granted to students who have completed a degree and to researchers who have completed their research, will be extended from one year to two years.
The permit would not need to be used immediately, but could be applied for within five years of the expiration of the residence permit.
“With seamless permit practices, the Government wants to make it easier for international students and researchers to stay in Finland. The new law will enable those who have studied here to look for work and will make Finland a more attractive destination for international experts,” said Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen.
Under a new act, students and their family members arriving in Finland from abroad will obtain a residence permit for the entire duration of their studies.
The law will also make it easier to apply for work after graduation. However, students will still be responsible for their livelihood throughout their studies.
It will become easier for students to focus on their studies, as they will be granted a residence permit for the entire length of their studies.
Foreign students’ right to work during their studies will also increase from the average of 25 hours to 30 hours a week.
Students will still be required to provide proof of a secure means of subsistence, but only for one year. However, they will be responsible for their livelihood throughout their residency. The authorities will also monitor the requirement of a secure means of subsistence during the validity of the residence permit.
The amendment will not affect the obligation to pay tuition fees, which would continue to be charged of students arriving in Finland from third countries.
In future, residence permits of the same type will be contained in a single act. As part of the residence permit regulation is based on EU rules, the new act will lay down national provisions on permits for students, researchers, trainees and volunteers so that the act meets the needs of businesses and education better.
Asylum seekers can apply for a residence permit on the basis of studies if the conditions to be granted a residence permit are fulfilled.
Earlier, the government in December 2021, took the initiative to bring amendments to the student residence permits with the view to make it easier for international students to complete their studies with a permit for the entire duration of their studies.
