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Family Reunification in Finland

One documented route of this kind in Finland, with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.

Family Reunification

Family members of persons lawfully residing in Finland or Finnish citizens can apply for a residence permit on the basis of family ties. Eligible family members include spouses, registered or cohabiting partners, and minor children. Both the sponsor and the spouse must generally be at least 21 years old (with exceptions for Finnish citizen sponsors). Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial resources; income cannot be based on social assistance or unemployment benefits.

Processing time
Varies by application type. Standard: several months. Fast-track (when sponsor holds a fast-track eligible permit): approximately 2 weeks.
Validity
Initial permit: 1 year (or the remaining validity of the sponsor's permit, whichever is shorter). Renewable.
Language requirement
No Finnish/Swedish language requirement to obtain the initial residence permit on the basis of family ties.
Permanent residence
After accumulating the required years of continuous residence on an A permit (standard path: 6 years from 8 January 2026), meeting language (B1 Finnish/Swedish) and work history requirements (2 years), the family member may apply for a permanent residence permit.
Citizenship
After 5 years of continuous residence if married to a Finnish citizen and having lived together for at least 3 years; otherwise 5 years with YKI level 3 language proficiency or 8 years standard residency.

Requirements

  • Sponsor must hold a valid Finnish residence permit (A or P permit) or be a Finnish citizen
  • Genuine family relationship must be documented (marriage certificate, birth certificate, or evidence of cohabitation)
  • Both sponsor and applicant (spouse) must be at least 21 years old when the permit becomes valid (exception: if sponsor is a Finnish citizen, or if the couple has children in joint custody)
  • Sufficient financial resources: sponsor's income must meet the threshold based on family size and region of residence; income cannot derive from social assistance or unemployment benefits
  • Valid passport or travel document
  • Sponsors who have been granted international protection must have resided in Finland for at least 2 years before the family member can apply (from 16 June 2025)

Required Documents

  • Valid passport or travel document required
  • Proof of family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, or evidence of at least 2 years cohabitation) required
  • Evidence of sponsor's income and financial resources (payslips, tax records, employment contract) required
  • Proof of sponsor's valid Finnish residence permit or citizenship required
  • Completed application form (via Enter Finland e-service or paper form) required
  • Passport-size photographs required
  • DNA test results (ordered through Finnish Immigration Service) if documentary evidence of family relationship is insufficient

Official fees

  • Government processing fee (online application, adult) 420 EUR
  • Government processing fee (online application, minor child) 220 EUR
  • Government processing fee (paper application, adult) 470 EUR
  • Government processing fee (paper application, minor child) 250 EUR

Process Steps

  1. 1

    Check eligibility

    Confirm that your family relationship is recognised under Finnish law and that your sponsor holds a qualifying permit or citizenship. Both you and your sponsor must meet the age requirement (21+) unless the sponsor is a Finnish citizen.

  2. 2

    Gather documents

    Collect all required documents: valid passport, proof of family relationship, evidence of sponsor's financial resources, and sponsor's residence permit or citizenship document.

  3. 3

    Submit application

    Submit the application through the Enter Finland e-service (enterfinland.fi) or on paper at a Finnish embassy or consulate in your country of residence. Pay the processing fee at the time of submission.

  4. 4

    Attend appointment in person

    Visit the nearest Finnish embassy or consulate to provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph), verify your identity, and present the originals of all documents.

  5. 5

    Wait for decision

    Migri processes the application. Standard processing takes several months. If the sponsor holds a fast-track eligible permit and you apply simultaneously, the permit may be issued in approximately 2 weeks.

  6. 6

    Collect residence permit card

    If the application is approved, collect the Finnish residence permit card from the Finnish Immigration Service or the diplomatic mission where you applied. You may then travel to Finland and reside there.

Official Sources

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