Residence Permit Cancelled and Deportation Ordered — Administrative Court Overturned the Decision

Sometimes a negative immigration decision is not the end of the case.

Our client had been studying in Finland with a student residence permit when the Finnish Immigration Service decided to cancel his residence permit and deport him to Nepal.

The reason was insufficient progress in his studies. Migri calculated that the client should have completed at least 95 ECTS credits during the relevant period, while his studies were 31 credits below that level. The client had also been absent from his studies for the academic year 2024–2025 and had worked during that period.

Migri therefore concluded that the purpose of his stay in Finland was no longer sufficiently connected to studies.

We appealed the decision to the Helsinki Administrative Court.

The appeal explained that the absence from studies had been temporary. The client had registered as absent for one academic year in accordance with the university’s rules, returned to his studies afterwards, paid his tuition fees and continued progressing toward his degree.

During the appeal process, something particularly important happened:

The client continued studying — and his situation changed significantly.

By 29 May 2026, he had completed 195 ECTS credits out of the 240 ECTS required for his Bachelor of Engineering degree. After returning to his studies, his progress had been considerably faster than before.

Even Migri acknowledged during the appeal proceedings that, based on the new information, it was possible that the client could complete his degree within the planned study period.

The Administrative Court ultimately made an important distinction.

It agreed that at the time Migri made its original decision, the client’s studies had progressed too slowly and Migri had grounds to consider cancelling the permit.

But the court also had to consider the client’s situation as it stood during the appeal.

And that situation was now very different.

With 195 of 240 credits completed, the Administrative Court found that the client’s studies could no longer be considered to be progressing insufficiently.

As a result, on 10 September 2026, the Helsinki Administrative Court:

cancelled Migri’s decision in its entirety.

The cancellation of the student residence permit was overturned.

The deportation decision was overturned.

Our client can continue his studies in Finland.

This case is a good example of why an appeal should not simply repeat what was already said before Migri. An appeal process can include new evidence, updated circumstances and developments that may materially change how the case must be assessed.

In this case, the client did exactly what mattered most: he returned to his studies and demonstrated through actual results that he was still genuinely pursuing his degree.

From a cancelled residence permit and deportation order to 195 completed credits and a successful appeal.

If your residence permit has been cancelled or you have received a deportation decision, contact us as early as possible. The facts that exist today, and the steps you take while the case is pending, can make a significant difference.