Late on 16 September the Finnish Government submitted Bill HE 161/2026 to Parliament, proposing extensive amendments to the national law that implements the EU Students & Researchers Directive. The draft would raise the monthly maintenance requirement, shorten the period during which graduates can remain in Finland to look for work, and introduce mandatory Finnish- or Swedish-language proficiency for degree-level entrants. Under current rules, third-country students must show €560 per month in living expenses; the bill would align the figure with Kela’s updated cost-of-living index at €790 and require proof of funds for the entire academic year, not just the first six months. Family-reunification rights would also change: dependants could only apply after the principal student has completed a full year of studies and demonstrated sufficient income for the entire family. For researchers, the reforms mainly affect short-term mobility. Stays of up to 90 days, now visa-exempt under certain bilateral agreements, would be subject to a fast-track notification procedure and proof of comprehensive health insurance – a move officials say is necessary to close “regulatory gaps exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.” The Interior Ministry argues that tighter financial and language criteria will curb drop-out rates and labour-market mismatch, noting that 28 % of non-EU students switched to low-skilled jobs within a year of arrival in 2025. Universities Finland (UNIFI) counters that the measures risk undermining the Government’s own talent-attraction targets and could push applicants towards Sweden or Estonia, where financial thresholds are lower. International employers that use Finland as an R&D hub should therefore prepare for longer lead times and higher relocation costs once the bill enters into force – expected in January 2027 after a six-month transition.
Source: Finlex – HE 161/2026
