Family & Spouse Visas in Finland
Sponsoring a partner, children, or parents
A person living in Finland on a residence permit may generally bring a spouse, a registered partner, a cohabiting partner in an established relationship, and minor children. Family reunification is subject to a secure income requirement expressed as published monthly amounts by household size, with exemptions in certain cases, and family members of a specialist or Blue Card holder are handled through the same fast track as the sponsor.
| Who may be sponsored | Spouse or partner and children under 18 source |
| Income requirement | Published monthly amounts scaled to household size source |
| Work rights | Family members generally receive the right to work |
| Application | Lodged by the family member, in person at a Finnish mission |
Who counts as a family member
Finnish law recognises the spouse or registered partner, a cohabiting partner where the couple has lived together for a qualifying period or has a child together, and unmarried children under eighteen. Adult children and parents fall outside the core definition and are admitted only in narrow circumstances.
A child born in Finland to a permit holder is not automatically a citizen; a residence permit is applied for on the child's behalf.
The income requirement
The sponsor must generally show a secure income at published monthly levels that rise with each additional adult and child in the household. The requirement is assessed on the household as a whole and is intended to demonstrate that the family will not need income support.
Exemptions exist, most notably for family members of Finnish citizens in certain situations and for some categories of protection. Applicants outside those exemptions should treat the published figures as a threshold to be evidenced with contracts and payslips rather than as an indicative guide.
Process and timing
- The family member normally submits the application themselves and attends a Finnish mission in person to identify themselves and provide biometrics.
- Applications for the family of a specialist, EU Blue Card holder or growth entrepreneur can be processed within the fast track alongside the sponsor's own.
- Ordinary family reunification cases outside the fast track are commonly measured in months.
- A first family permit is usually issued for the same duration as the sponsor's permit.
- Marriages and births abroad must be evidenced with legalised and translated documents, which is the most frequent cause of delay.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.