How to Get a Residence Permit in Finland After Marriage?

Marriage to a person residing in Finland gives the right to obtain a residence permit in Finland after marriage on the basis of family ties. The conditions vary depending on the partner’s status: if the partner is a Finnish citizen, in some cases the application may be submitted while already in the country, and if the partner holds a residence permit, the first application is usually submitted from abroad.

International Law Firm "Zahist" assists clients in family reunification matters — from verifying marriage documents to submitting the application in Enter Finland. Our experience shows that applicants who prepare a complete set of documents on income and the relationship in advance receive a decision from Migri significantly faster than those who submit an incomplete package.

Who is considered a family member for the purpose of obtaining a permit

Finnish law defines the circle of family members more narrowly than in many other countries, so not every relative can serve as a basis for a residence permit.

A partner in a relationship without official registration of marriage or partnership does not fall under this definition, but may apply for a permit on other grounds.

Main conditions for obtaining a permit after marriage

To obtain a residence permit in Finland after marriage, the applicant must confirm an official marriage or registered partnership, as well as that the partner in Finland already holds a residence permit or is applying at the same time as the applicant.

A marriage certificate issued outside Finland requires legalization if it was not issued in the Nordic countries or the EU.

Why age matters: the 21-year requirement

For applications submitted from 16 June 2025, both spouses must be at least 21 years old at the time the permit takes effect.

The application may be submitted no earlier than 9 months before turning 21; otherwise the decision may be negative before the merits are even considered.

An exception applies to spouses with joint custody of a child — in that case a permit is possible before turning 21, and if the partner holds a permit for studies, the application may be submitted 3 months before the 21st birthday.

Income requirements for family reunification

A family reunification permit requires proof of sufficient financial resources — for oneself and, where necessary, for family members in Finland.

1. Salary of the applicant or the partner under an employment contract.
2. Income from business activity of one of the spouses.
3. Pension, assets, or other stable income, for example rental payments or dividends.

Income may not be based on social assistance, labour market subsidy for the unemployed, or basic unemployment allowance — from May 2026 these benefits are replaced by Kela’s general social benefit, which is likewise not taken into account.

Marriage to a Finnish citizen versus marriage to a permit holder

The first permit application usually must be submitted from abroad by visiting a Finnish mission, and the decision must be awaited outside the country.

An exception applies to family members of a Finnish citizen — in that case the application may be submitted while already in the country, whereas marriage to a holder of an ordinary residence permit does not provide this option.

This distinction is especially important for Ukrainians who are already in Finland under temporary protection and marry a local partner: the partner’s status determines whether it is necessary to leave the country to submit the application.

Specifics of the permit for a cohabiting partner

If the couple has not entered into an official marriage but instead lives together, Migri recognizes such a partnership as a basis for a permit only if there has been continuous cohabitation for at least 2 years.

This requirement does not apply if the partners have joint custody of a child or if there are other serious reasons that Migri assesses individually in each case.

Cohabitation can be proven by a rental agreement in both partners’ names, joint accounts, or official address registration with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

If two years of cohabitation have not yet been completed and there are no serious grounds for an exception, it is worth considering official registration of marriage as a faster path to a permit.

List of documents for submitting an application

The document package confirms the applicant’s identity, the legality of the marriage, and the sufficiency of financial resources for living in the country.

An incomplete set of documents is the main reason for requests for additional information from Migri, which substantially prolongs the processing time of the application.

1. Valid passport and a colour copy of the personal data page.
2. Marriage or partnership registration certificate, legalized if required.
3. Copy of the passport of the partner residing in Finland.
4. Additional form LIITE_PUOLISO completed by the partner.
5. Proof of income or other financial resources.
6. Certificate of divorce or death of a previous partner, if applicable.

Accelerated procedure for certain categories of spouses

If the partner in Finland is applying as a specialist, a senior or mid-level manager, an EU Blue Card holder, or a start-up entrepreneur, the spouse may use an accelerated processing procedure.

In that case a decision may be possible within two weeks; however, the family member’s application must be submitted within two days after the partner’s application and the received fast track ID must be attached.

Application fee and processing times

The fee for a family reunification permit application depends on the method of submission, and the processing time depends on the completeness of the documents and Migri’s workload.

Online submission via Enter Finland is usually processed faster than a paper application, because automated document checks speed up the initial stage of review.

Verification of the genuineness of the marriage and marriages of convenience

Migri has the right to check whether the marriage is genuine and not entered into solely for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit — a so-called marriage of convenience.

Indicators of suspicion may include a large age difference without other shared circumstances, a short acquaintance before marriage registration, or contradictory answers by the spouses during an interview.

Our experience shows that spouses who prepare evidence of a shared household and a consistent relationship history in advance pass such a check without additional requests from Migri.

Extension of the permit after family reunification

An extended permit on the basis of family ties is applied for already in Finland, before the current permit expires, in order to avoid a break in lawful stay.

Migri rechecks whether the marriage continues and whether the spouses still lead a shared family life in the country, as well as whether a sufficient level of income is maintained.

If the marriage has broken down before an extended permit is obtained, this must be reported to Migri — the further right of residence is considered separately, depending on the duration of the marriage and other circumstances.

Typical mistakes when applying for family reunification

The most common mistake is submitting a marriage certificate without proper legalization if the document was issued outside the EU or the Nordic countries.

Another common problem is insufficient proof of income: applicants attach only a salary certificate without showing the stability of the source for the entire period of the permit.

Our experience shows that spouses who consult a lawyer before submitting the application avoid typical refusals due to formal deficiencies in the document package.

What next: registration and the path to a permanent residence permit

After obtaining the permit, you must contact the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) to obtain a personal identity code and a municipality of residence.

We have written in more detail about registration in the DVV system and Kotikunta in a separate article.

The period of residence on the basis of family reunification counts toward the qualifying period for a permanent residence permit (PMJ), and subsequently toward the qualifying period for citizenship as well.

Expert view: how to prepare a strong application

An analysis of our cases shows that decisions are issued more quickly when the applicant submits not only formal documents but also evidence of a genuine relationship: joint correspondence, photographs, and confirmation of visits.

Another important factor is consistency of wording between the applicant’s application and the LIITE_PUOLISO form completed by the partner: discrepancies in the details may trigger additional scrutiny.

We recommend preparing the application together with a lawyer, especially if the marriage was concluded recently or the partners have different citizenships and different prior family statuses.

International Law Firm "Zahist" has offices in several European countries and supports clients in family reunification matters from document collection through to receipt of Migri’s decision.

An individual consultation before filing the application helps prepare a complete set of documents and obtain a residence permit in Finland after marriage without delays caused by formal errors.

Every family has its own relationship history, so an individual approach to preparing the application remains the most reliable way to avoid refusal.

Turning to specialists already at the document-collection stage makes it possible to take into account the nuances of the specific situation and submit an application that meets all of Migri’s requirements the first time