Amendments to the Aliens Act will enter into force on 1 September 2024. This page may contain outdated information after the amendments have entered into force. We will update the page as soon as possible. Read more about the amendments to the Aliens Act:
- Information on the stricter residence permit requirements
- Stricter identification requirements regarding residence permit applicants

Residence permit application on the basis of adoption

Apply with this application for a residence permit for a child who is being adopted from abroad (international adoption).

Expected processing time

1 month
Electronic application fee

First permit 240 € / extended permit 180 €
Paper application fee

First permit 270 € / extended permit 250 €

Adoption

Please notice that an adopted child of a Finnish citizen does not need a residence permit if Finnish citizenship is granted to the child before he or she arrives in Finland. In this situation, the child only needs to have a passport.

However, if the adoption process has two stages and the child is granted Finnish citizenship after he or she arrives in Finland, you need to apply for a residence permit for the child. The adoption process has two stages for example in India, Philippines and Thailand. This means that the child’s custody is transferred first, and the adoption is confirmed in Finland.

An adopted child also needs a residence permit if neither of the parents is a Finnish citizen.

This is what you should do

1

Ensure that the adoption meets the requirements for a residence permit.

2

Make sure you have all the attachments needed. If necessary, have them translated and legalised.

3

Fill in your application.

4

Pay for your application in the e-service Enter Finland, at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

5

If you are abroad, visit a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate). If you are already in Finland, book an appointment at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.

6

Wait for a decision. The Finnish Immigration Service will contact you if necessary.

7

Read what happens after you have applied.

Make sure the adoption meets the following requirements before you apply for a residence permit

1

The child has a valid passport.

The child can only get a residence permit if he or she is able to travel to Finland and stay in the country legally. For this reason, the child must have a valid passport.

2

The adoption must be valid in Finland.

General attachments

The child’s valid passport accepted by Finland (um.fi). Present your passport when you submit your residence permit application
A passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police (poliisi.fi), or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop
- The passport photo must be no more than 6 months old.
The child’s birth certificate (must be legalised if not issued in the Nordic countries or in an EU Member State)
Adoption decision made in the child’s home country (must be legalised if not issued in the Nordic countries or in an EU Member State)
Permit from the Finnish Adoption Board
Confirmation of foreign adoption by the Helsinki District Court if a permit has not been obtained from the Finnish Adoption Board