The remigration period for Ingrian Finns ends on 1 July 2016. The Finnish Immigration Service estimates that approximately 3,000 Ingrian Finns will use their remigration right by the deadline. In 2012, some 800 returnees came to Finland.
Remigration of Ingrian Finns, i.e. persons of Finnish origin, is a residence permit criterion created in the early 1990s for Ingrian Finns living in the area of the former Soviet Union.
The exact remaining number of returnees is difficult to predict, as the life situation of many Ingrian Finns may have changed in such a way that they do not want to use their remigration right.
The remigration right may be used by those persons who have registered for the returnee queue by 1 July 2011. The returnee queue was closed on that date and a five-year transition period began. Persons registered for the returnee queue thus have until July 2016 to apply for a residence permit.
Returnees must be of Finnish origin
A returnee residence permit may be applied for if the applicant himself/herself, one of his/her parents or at least two of his/her four grandparents are or have been of Finnish origin.
Finnish origin means ethnic background and membership in a particular group of people. It does not mean the same as Finnish citizenship. The current returnees are usually children and grandchildren of persons of Finnish origin.
Language proficiency requirement for remigration
In order for an Ingrian Finnish returnee to obtain a residence permit for Finland, he/she must have sufficient knowledge of Finnish or Swedish. Language proficiency can be demonstrated by taking a language examination organised by the Finnish Immigration Service or an examination for the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) in Finnish or Swedish.
A clear majority of Ingrian Finnish returnees receive a positive decision on their residence permit application. Lack of language proficiency was the main reason for negative decisions previously. Since July 2011, when the returnee queue closed, applicants have, however, had to demonstrate language proficiency before submitting a residence permit application.
To improve language proficiency, returnees have the opportunity to participate in free remigration training for one academic year prior to taking the language examination. Without remigration training, few would meet the requirements for a residence permit.
Further information for the media
Senior Adviser Janne Paananen, Immigration Unit,
tel. +358 (0)71 873 0431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi
