Permit requirements for applications submitted on or after 16 June 2025
Make sure you meet the following requirements and the general requirements for entry into Finland. See the general requirements for entry into the country on the page First residence permit.
You must have lived together with your partner for at least two years. Show for example your rental agreement as proof of living together. If you and your partner are permanently living in different countries, living together for example during holiday trips is not considered to be sufficient grounds for granting a residence permit.
The requirement of having lived together for at least two years does not apply if you and your partner have joint custody of a child or if there are other serious reasons for an exception. However, you must still meet all the other permit requirements.
A serious reason could for example be that you were living together with your cohabiting partner but your cohabitation was interrupted for a compelling reason. We will use our discretion to decide whether the reasons you have stated are sufficient for making an exception to the two-year cohabitation requirement.
The residence permit application may be submitted at the earliest 9 months before turning 21. If you submit the application earlier, the decision may be negative.
The validity period of the residence permit cannot begin before you and your partner have turned 21.
If you and your partner have joint custody of a child, you can obtain a residence permit as the child’s parent or guardian even if you or your partner are not yet 21 years of age.
If your spouse has a residence permit for studies in Finland, you can submit your application 3 months before you turn 21 or your spouse turns 21 at the earliest.
You must meet the income requirement (requirement for sufficient financial resources). You can prove that you meet the income requirement by submitting evidence of your or your spouse’s salary or income from business activities, for example. Your income cannot be based on social assistance, labour market subsidy or basic unemployment allowance.
