Residence permit for a spouse
family ties
Spouses of Finnish citizens or of people living in Finland on a residence permit can apply for a residence permit based on family ties. Both spouses must be at least 21 when the permit becomes valid. When the sponsor is a residence permit holder, the family usually must meet a net monthly income requirement that depends on the municipality.
Life in Finland
Money
3
Currency
Euro
EUR
Euro
Cost of living
91
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
12.64–37.5%
Income tax (national)
VAT 25.5%
State tax 37.5% above EUR 52,100; plus municipal tax (set by each municipality, roughly 4.7-10.9%) and optional church tax.
Living
1
Happiness
#1 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Married spouses (and, under separate pages, cohabiting partners) of Finnish citizens or of foreign nationals with a Finnish residence permit.
Eligibility
Family relationship
Marriage to a Finnish citizen or to a person residing in Finland with a residence permit (cohabiting partners have separate rules).
Minimum age
Both spouses must be at least 21 years old when the residence permit becomes valid.
Official wording
Both spouses at least 21 years old when the residence permit becomes valid.
Income requirement (sponsor holds a residence permit)Spouses of residence permit holders
Show net monthly income at or above the threshold for your area, if your spouse holds a residence permit.
Net monthly income by area (first adult / second adult)
From 1 November 2024- Helsinki region, 1st adultnet per month
- EUR 1,210
- Helsinki region, 2nd adultnet per month
- EUR 610
- Second group, 1st adultnet per month
- EUR 1,090
- Second group, 2nd adultnet per month
- EUR 550
- Third group, 1st adultnet per month
- EUR 1,030
- Third group, 2nd adultnet per month
- EUR 520
- Thresholds are added together for the household.
- Applies to spouses of residence permit holders.
- Areas are Helsinki region, second municipality group and third group.
Official wording
Net monthly income thresholds by area (from 1 November 2024): Helsinki region EUR 1,210 for the first adult and EUR 610 for the second adult; second municipality group EUR 1,090 / EUR 550; third group EUR 1,030 / EUR 520. Thresholds are added together for the household.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementCountable income
- Document checklistValid passport
- FeesSpouse residence permit - online
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 1 more requirement
- 4 documents
- 2 fees
- 6 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Finland
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to Finland
- Visit & tourismSchengen tourist & business visa
- StudyResidence permit for studies
- Work permitsResidence permit for a specialist (erityisasiantuntija), including the fast-track service
- Permanent residencePermanent residence permit
- CitizenshipFinnish citizenship by application
