Applications based on family ties can soon be submitted online
You can soon apply for a residence permit on the basis of family ties in our e‑service Enter Finland. We aim to make it possible to submit applications based on family ties in our e-service during November of this year. The exact date will be announced later.
As a rule, applicants must apply for a residence permit themselves. Only a guardian can apply for a residence permit on behalf of his or her underage child. All adults (who are 18 or older) must log in to the e-service themselves and make their own applications. You commit yourself to this when you accept the terms and conditions of the e-service. Applications are submitted in the e-service together with the necessary attachments.
Identify yourself at a Finnish mission
Even if you apply online, you still need to visit the Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) so we can confirm your identity and take the biometric identifiers required by law. Visit the mission to confirm your identity within a month of submitting the application. Bring with you the original copies of the documents that you have attached to your online application.
The missions can be very busy and may not have any available appointments within a month. Book the first available appointment. You can be required to visit the mission again for an interview.
Check the status of your application in the e-service
An electronic application makes the processing of applications more effective, as information is available in real time. Check the status of your application in the e-service, as you will be notified in the e-service if additional documents are needed. You can also immediately see in the e-service when a decision has been made.
When you create a user account, you are asked to give your e-mail address and your mobile phone number. You will get an e-mail or a text message when you have received a request for additional information or when your decision has arrived. These documents will not be sent directly to your e-mail address or to your mobile phone for data security reasons.
It can take months to process an application made on the basis of family ties
Before you start filling out your application, create a user account in the e-service and make sure that you have all the required documents. The e-service will guide you through filling out the application form. Fill out the form as precisely as possible. If you leave sections empty and we have to send you a request for additional information, this will slow down the processing of your application.
The number of applications for residence permits based on family ties is increasing. The processing of these applications usually takes no longer than nine months, but it can take longer in exceptional cases.
More information can be found on our website: Moving to Finland to be with a family member
