Application for an extended permit on the basis of domestic violence

Requirements

You must meet the following requirements to be granted a residence permit:

• You have had a residence permit on the basis of family ties.
• Your situation is particularly difficult, because your spouse has committed acts of violence or abuse against you or your child while you we living a family life together. For more information on domestic violence, visit the website of the police (poliisi.fi).
• You meet the general requirements for a residence permit.

Income requirement

You must have sufficient financial resources, meaning that you have sufficient funds for living in Finland during the entire period of validity of your residence permit. 

• You must have at least EUR 1,000 per month at your disposal. For a one-year stay, you need at least EUR 12,000.
• You must have the necessary funds in your own bank account.
• Sponsorship agreements provided by relatives, friends or employers are not acceptable. The money must be in your own bank account.
• You must have sufficient financial resources from other sources than benefits paid by the society.
• You can secure your financial resources, for example, through earned income or income from your business. 
• Attach proof of sufficient financial resources to your application.
• In exceptional cases, an exception to the income requirement may be made if there are serious grounds for such an exception. Your personal situation and circumstances will be taken into account as a whole when we make the decision.

This is what you should do

Attachments

General attachments

• Valid passport accepted by Finland (um.fi). Present your passport when you submit your residence permit application
• Colour copies of the passport page containing personal data and of all passport pages that contain notes
• A passport photo complying with the photo guidelines issued by the police, or a photograph retrieval code you received from a photo shop
  • The passport photo must be no more than 6 months old.

Application-specific attachments

• Proof of sufficient financial resources, for example an employment contract or a bank statement showing that you have savings
• Possible proof of domestic violence, for example a statement from a shelter

Right to work

If you are granted a residence permit on the basis of domestic violence, you are allowed to work and there are no restrictions on your right to work.