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A person who wishes to come to Finland and live in the same household with a family member residing here must have a residence permit. The permit can be granted on the basis of family ties.
The circle of family members is defined in the law and may not correspond to those whom people generally think of as family members. The Finnish idea of family is more restricted than in many other countries.
The notion of family member is also different when it comes to a family member of an EU citizen or an equivalent person, or a family member of a non-EU citizen. As for the definition of a family member, the family members of a Finnish citizen have the same status as family members of a non-EU citizen. In other words, the wider definition of a family member of an EU citizen does not apply to them.
In the application procedure, a family member living in Finland and with whom the applicant is planning to continue family life is called a sponsor.
In addition to Finland, the Member States of the European Union (EU) include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Similar regulations on the right of free movement that apply to citizens of EU Member States also apply to those of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Hence, the citizens of these States are equated with EU citizens.
Congestion in applications
for family reunification for Somalis (9.6.2010)
Congestion in processing of
family reunification applications (5.5.2010)
