This is what you should do
1
Make sure you meet the requirements for the residence permit you are applying for.
Make sure you meet the requirements for the residence permit you are applying for.
2
Make sure you have all the attachments needed. If necessary, have them translated and legalised. The processing time may be longer if you have not filled in your application sufficiently.
Make sure you have all the attachments needed. If necessary, have them translated and legalised. The processing time may be longer if you have not filled in your application sufficiently.
3
Fill in your application in the online service Enter Finland or use a paper application form.
Fill in your application in the online service Enter Finland or use a paper application form.
4
Pay for your application in the online service Enter Finland, at a Finnish mission (embassy or consulate) or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service.
Pay for your application in the online 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.
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.
Wait for a decision. The Finnish Immigration Service will contact you if necessary.
7
Read what happens after you have applied. Check the estimated processing time of your application. In addition, you will usually receive automated messages at the different processing stages of your application.
Read what happens after you have applied. Check the estimated processing time of your application. In addition, you will usually receive automated messages at the different processing stages of your application.
General requirements for entry into Finland
Make sure you meet the general requirements for entry into Finland before you submit an application.
You may be granted a residence permit only if you are able to travel to Finland and stay in the country legally. To do this, you must have a valid passport.
Requirements
Make sure you also meet the following requirements:
- Your child is under the age of 18.
- Your child is not married.
- If the child is your biological child, demonstrate your family ties by presenting a birth certificate.
- If the child is your adopted child, present proof of adoption.
- The documents must be legalised, unless they have been issued in the Nordic countries or in an EU Member State.
- If the child is your foster child, present a document given to you by an authority that shows you are the child’s guardian. You also need to show reliable proof that you have actually been responsible for the child’s guardianship already before he/she arrived in Finland. These documents must be legalised, unless they have been issued in the Nordic countries.
Right to work
You have an unrestricted right to work. You cannot start working before you get a residence permit.
General attachments
- 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.
- Colour copy of the passport page containing your personal data and copies of all passport pages with notes
- Colour copy of the passport page containing personal data and of all pages with notes in the passport of the child living in Finland
- Form for clarification of family ties PK3_plus (to be filled in and signed by the child living in Finland)
- Document showing that you are legally staying in the country where you submit the application
- Form MP_1 (if you already are in Finland and apply for your first residence permit)
- Birth certificate of the child living in Finland, with information on the child’s parents (must be legalised if not issued in the Nordic countries or in an EU Member State)
- Document on the custody of the child living in Finland (must be legalised if not issued in the Nordic countries)
Application-specific attachments
- Certificate of establishment of paternity (if the child is born out of wedlock) (must be legalised if not issued in the Nordic countries or in an EU Member State)
- Decision on adoption (if the child is adopted) (must be legalised if not issued in the Nordic countries or in an EU Member State)
- Divorce certificate (if the parents of the child are divorced) (must be legalised if not issued in the Nordic countries or in an EU Member State)
- Death certificate (if one or both of the child’s parents have died) (must be legalised if not issued in the Nordic countries or in an EU Member State)
Residence permit application on the basis of family ties for a guardian whose child lives in Finland, OLE_PH3
Fill in an electronic applicationPrepare for your life in Finland
Among other things, the authorities may ask you for information about whether you have enough money to live in Finland.
If you were not issued a personal identity code together with your residence permit card, you must visit a service location of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency in person.
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency enters your personal details, information about your family relations and your address in the Population Information System. You can also apply for a municipality of residence at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
For more information, visit the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (dvv.fi)