Finland proposes stricter immigration and student visa rules

Finnish political figures are proposing stricter regulations regarding immigration and residence permits. The National Coalition Party has submitted a legislative proposal to the Parliament to tighten conditions for international students and family reunification. Jukka Kopra, chair of the National Coalition Party parliamentary group, stated that students and their families must demonstrate independent means of subsistence to ensure they do not rely on Finnish taxpayers. The proposal includes requirements for language proficiency and suggests that family members may only apply for residence permits after a student has been in Finland for one year.

Separately, Ville Tavio of the Finns Party has proposed a new immigration cap. He suggested implementing an annual limit on non-EU residence permits, set at a maximum of 0.1% of the Finnish population. Tavio argued that current immigration levels are unsustainable for public finances and national cohesion, advocating for a focus on high-productivity labor and domestic birth rates instead.