New Shift in Finland’s International Student Policy: 2026–2027

Article

May 2, 2026

New Shift in Finland’s International Student Policy: 2026–2027

By Nguyen Lam, RAB Co-Founder

From Autumn 2026 to Spring 2027, the Finnish Government is set to roll out a series of pivotal policy adjustments governing international students. From our perspective, several key shifts warrant particular attention, including: [1] Introduction of Tuition Fees for Upper Secondary Education — Effective from August 2026; [2] Opening a new recruitment mechanism for vocational schools — Effective from August 2026; [3] Changes to family reunification policies for students — Draft proposal

1. The "tuition-free" programs will officially come to an end

Starting from August 2026, tuition fees will be applied to individuals from third countries (outside the EU/EEA) — including Vietnamese students — who are enrolled in general upper secondary or vocational education while residing in Finland under a student visa.

Study programs organized on a tuition-free basis will officially come to an end. International students must pay tuition fees regardless of the language of instruction. International citizens residing in Finland under other visa categories must also pay tuition if they wish to study (except for those holding a permanent residence permit). This regulation applies even if the learner pursues multiple programs or studies continuously.

Consequently, two groups are affected by this regulation: international students at the general upper secondary level and those in vocational education (previously tuition-free programs).

This policy reflects the multi-dimensional efforts of the Finnish Government, including quality control for programs attracting young international students and measures aimed at reducing the national budget deficit.

2. A direct recruitment mechanism for vocational schools

Finnish vocational education has, for a long time, operated under a “closed mechanism” for the majority of international students, focusing solely on serving the needs of local residents, EU citizens, and immigrants.

By 2022, Finland “piloted the opening” to attract international citizens to vocational education. At that time, the legal basis was the “education export” policy conducted through recruitment representatives of vocational schools. Alongside the education export model, “tuition-free” study programs also emerged through Finnish language training prior to specialized studies.

The results of this period were quite impressive but also brought about numerous difficulties for the Finnish education sector and related stakeholders. The issue of budget deficit has been a major obstacle for tuition-free programs. Meanwhile, fee-paying programs faced many challenges within the model of collecting training costs on behalf of others, as vocational schools were not yet permitted to collect tuition fees directly from students.

Starting from August 2026, Finland will allow vocational schools to recruit students under a more open mechanism. Regarding tuition, schools will be able to collect fees directly from learners, similar to the model already established and applied at Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences. In other words, vocational schools are now permitted to conduct international recruitment directly. This regulation will officially take effect from August 2026.

It can be said that previously, the requirement to collect tuition fees indirectly was a “bottleneck” in the internationalization roadmap of the vocational system. The upcoming change is predicted to bring many opportunities for learners. This is also an opportunity for Finnish vocational schools to maintain their educational mission while internationalizing and raising the standards of their training programs.

3. Tightening family reunification regulations for students (draft proposal)

One of the most remarkable changes is a draft proposal regarding the family reunification of international students. In many cases, international students arriving in Finland for study programs are already married or have families.

For various reasons, the Finnish Government proposes stricter controls on family reunification conditions for students in the coming period. The Finnish Parliament is expected to begin reviewing this regulation from August 2026. If passed, it is anticipated to take effect from Spring 2027.

The new regulation focuses on two key areas: the “Waiting Period” for family visa applications and the subsequent “Processing Time.” Under the proposed draft, students would be mandated to reside in Finland for at least one year before becoming eligible to apply for residence permits for their family members. Furthermore, once an application is lodged, the processing time could extend up to nine months.

This regulation aims toward the goal of sustainable education, prioritizing students with clear study motivations and strong financial capacity. It should be noted that this draft, if passed, does not prevent family reunification, but students will need to plan accordingly and in line with their family’s circumstances.

In addition to the changes mentioned above, the Finnish Government is also reviewing regulations such as: students receiving social assistance risk having their residence permits revoked; requirements to provide proof of language proficiency when applying for a student residence permit; requirements to maintain financial capacity throughout the duration of study in Finland; monitoring the working hours of international students; and controlling the quality of counseling and the activities of recruitment agents, etc.

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