Hallituksen esitys uudeksi ulkomaanopintolaiksi ja ammattipätevyyslain muuttaminen

Hallituksen esitys eduskunnalle laeiksi ulkomailla suoritettujen opintojen tuottamasta kelpoisuudesta säänneltyyn tehtävään, ulkomailla suoritettujen korkeakouluopintojen tuottamasta virkakelpoisuudesta annetun lain kumoamisesta sekä ammattipätevyyden tunnustamisesta annetun lain muuttamisesta

Hallituksen esitys uudeksi ulkomaanopintolaiksi ja ammattipätevyyslain muuttaminen

OKM066:00/2025 Statute drafting

It is proposed that an act be enacted on the qualifications conferred by studies completed abroad for a regulated task, hereinafter referred to as the Act on studies abroad. It is proposed that the valid Act on eligibility for public posts resulting from higher Education studies completed abroad be repealed. It is also proposed that the Act on the recognition of professional qualifications be amended.

Basic information In progress

Project number OKM066:00/2025

Case numbers VN/34767/2025

Set by Ministry of Education and Culture

Task class Preparation of a government proposal

Term/schedule 17.11.2025 – 2.11.2026

Date of appointment

Relation to the Government Programme

Orpo

Chapter 4 Hyvinvointi syntyy työstä

Subchapter 4.4 Kansainvälinen rekrytointi

Law drafting

Government proposal for acts on eligibility for a regulated position for studies completed abroad, repealing the Act on eligibility for public posts for higher Education studies completed abroad and amending the Act on the recognition of professional qualifications

  • 1

    Under preparation

    Adopted in the plan for the session period on 5.9.2025
  • 2

    Current stage: Estimated week of presentation

    Estimated new week of presentation 24/2026
  • 3

    Submitted to Parliament

  • 4

    Statute adopted

It is proposed that an Act on the qualifications conferred by studies completed abroad for a regulated task be enacted, hereinafter referred to as the Act on studies abroad. At the same time, it is proposed that the valid Act on eligibility for public posts resulting from higher Education studies completed abroad, hereinafter referred to as the old Act on studies abroad, be repealed. It is also proposed that the Act on the recognition of professional qualifications be amended. The new act would rationalise the principles and criteria for decision-making in the Act on studies abroad.

Minister in chargeMinister of Science and Culture Talvitie

Contact person
Henna Närhi, Hallitusneuvos
tel. +358 295 330 006
[email protected]

Contact person
Katri Tervaspalo, Opetusneuvos
tel. +358 295 330 084
[email protected]

Project status

Goals and results

The aim is to make the recognition of foreign qualifications smoother in order to respond to the shortage of skilled labour.

Starting points

The proposal is included in the Government Programme. According to the proposal, an Act on studies abroad would be enacted, which would contain provisions on the eligibility of studies completed abroad for a position or position for which the qualification requirement laid down in the Act is a higher education degree, a certain level of higher education degree or a certain degree or study attainment specified by name. Under the Act, the Finnish national Agency for Education could make a decision on the eligibility of higher education studies completed abroad for a public sector post or position for which the qualification requirement laid down by law is a higher education degree, a lower university degree, a higher university degree or a Master's degree in law. In addition, the competent authority could make a statutory decision on the eligibility of studies completed abroad for a position regulated in Finland in a case other than one covered by the Act on the recognition of professional qualifications. These typically include situations where the education is provided by a country other than another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic area or the applicant is a citizen of a country other than a Member State.

It is proposed that an Act on the qualifications conferred by studies completed abroad for a regulated task be enacted, hereinafter referred to as the Act on studies abroad. At the same time, it is proposed that the valid Act on eligibility for public posts resulting from higher Education studies completed abroad, hereinafter referred to as the old Act on studies abroad, be repealed.

It is also proposed that the Act on the recognition of professional qualifications be amended so that certain provisions of the Act would correspond to the provisions of the professional qualifications Directive. In addition, the amendments would ensure that procedures for the recognition of professional qualifications for unregulated professions based on other Union acts or agreements concluded by the European Union and its Member States with the other Party are implemented and would ensure the application of the Articles on the free movement of workers and the right of establishment contained in the agreements on the Functioning of the European Union and the European Economic area in cases where the applicant's professional qualifications cannot be recognised in accordance with the provisions of the Act on professional qualifications, either automatically or generally.

Developing and statute drafting in the Government

The ministries implement the Government Programme, draft acts and other statutes, and promote reforms through different kinds of projects, working groups and bodies. Information on all this is available on the Government website.

All ministries' projects are available on the Government website valtioneuvosto.fi/en/projects