A Student’s Residence Permit Secured

Our client came to us after being informed that the Finnish Immigration Service was considering cancelling a continuous residence permit that had already been granted on the basis of studies. This type of situation is among the most stressful a student can face, because it places not only future plans but also legal residence itself into question. Once a cancellation process is initiated, the burden shifts heavily onto the individual to prove that the original grounds still exist and that the interruption identified by the authority does not amount to misuse or abandonment of the permit.

In this case, Migri’s concern was triggered by information in the KOSKI system showing that our client had registered as absent from studies for the academic year 2024–2025 at Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences. At the time the authority sent the request for clarification, there were also no newly registered credits visible for the ongoing semester. Consequently, the Finnish Immigration Service began assessing whether the client was still residing in Finland for the purpose for which the residence permit had been granted.

Our response focused on restoring the full context that was missing from the authority’s initial assessment. The absence from studies was not a sign of disengagement but the result of personal reasons and the completion of a study-related traineeship. We demonstrated that the client had continued to advance academically throughout the permit period and had already completed a substantial number of credits. We also provided confirmation from the educational institution showing that the client had returned to active studies, registered as present for the autumn semester, and enrolled in a full course load that would significantly advance progress toward graduation.

It was essential to show that the legal threshold for cancellation was not met. The law requires that a residence permit be withdrawn only when the individual is no longer staying in Finland for the purpose for which the permit was issued or when study progress is clearly insufficient. In this case, the documentation demonstrated the opposite. Our client was studying, progressing, and realistically on track to graduate within the target timeframe set by the institution. Temporary absence, when properly justified and followed by renewed academic activity, does not extinguish the grounds of a study-based residence permit.

The final decision confirms this assessment. The Finnish Immigration Service decided not to cancel the continuous residence permit granted on 8 June 2023. In its reasoning, the Finnish Immigration Service explicitly acknowledged that our client is residing in Finland for the intended purpose and that the studies can be considered to be progressing sufficiently. The decision also notes that, based on the submitted explanations and study plans, the client is likely to complete the degree within the institution’s target time.

When the full picture is presented early, unnecessary cancellations can be avoided and stability preserved. For our client, the decision means continuity, peace of mind, and the ability to continue studies in Finland without disruption. For us, it is another reminder that timely intervention and precise legal work can make all the difference when a residence permit is put at risk.