Finland spouse and partner visa

Finland treats as spouses a husband or wife, a registered partner, including same-sex partners, and a cohabiting partner who has lived with the sponsor in a marriage-like relationship for at least two years or shares custody of a child. Cohabitation is proven with documents such as a joint lease or a population register entry; holidays together while living in different countries do not count. Neither partner may be married to someone else.

Partners who do not live together are not family members under Finnish law, but an established relationship, for example with a plan to marry in Finland, can lead to a temporary B permit if the applicant has own funds.

Both partners must be at least 21 when the permit is issued; you may apply at most nine months before the 21st birthday. A partner under 21 who shares custody of a child can apply as the child’s guardian instead.

Spouses of Finnish citizens need no secure income. Secure means of support usually means net income, after tax and pension and insurance contributions, at the level of Migri’s guideline: in 2026 EUR 1,210 a month for a single adult in the capital region (EUR 1,090 or 1,030 in other areas), with higher amounts for each additional adult and child. Wages, business income, assets and pensions count; social assistance, labour market subsidy, basic unemployment allowance and, from 1 May 2026, the general social security benefit cannot be the basis. The guideline can be departed from for compelling reasons or in a child’s best interests.

Family members usually apply for the first permit abroad, in their home country or another country of legal residence. The application is made online in Enter Finland and completed at a Finnish mission, or a VFS Global centre acting for it, within three months; children must be present in person.

Foreign marriage and birth certificates must be legalised, with an apostille where the issuing country is party to the Hague Apostille Convention, and translated into Finnish, Swedish or English; a translation made abroad must also be legalised.

Migri normally gives you a Finnish personal identity code with the positive decision. After moving, book a visit to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) to register your address and, if you qualify, a municipality of residence, which opens access to municipal health, social and integration services. Bring your passport, the residence permit card and your employment contract or proof of studies.

A permit is refused if the conditions are not met or if Migri concludes that the marriage was entered into mainly to obtain a residence permit and the couple does not intend to live together. Signs that can raise doubts include a marriage after a very short acquaintance or several short marriages of one partner.

A negative Migri decision comes with appeal instructions. The appeal goes to an Administrative Court, which can uphold the refusal or send the case back to Migri; further appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court needs leave to appeal. If you applied from abroad, you wait abroad while the appeal is pending.