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Extended residence permit on family ties in Finland

Apply in Finland before your family-ties permit expires, no earlier than three months ahead. The fee is 230 euros online in 2026. Income rules and work rights.

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Apply for the extended permit on family ties from inside Finland, before your current permit expires, and no earlier than three months before it does. The application costs 230 euros online or 430 euros on paper in 2026, according to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) fee list. Migri states that you "should not apply for an extended permit earlier than 3 months before your current residence permit expires", and that if you apply after it has expired, "you may get a negative decision on your application." A late application also ends your right to work on the day the old permit expired.

Who this applies to

This page covers family members who are not EU, EEA or Swiss citizens and who already hold a fixed-term residence permit in Finland. Three situations need different handling:

  • Same family tie, sponsor holds a residence permit. You apply on the same ties with form OLE_JATKO_PERHE, online in Enter Finland or on paper. The income requirement applies.
  • Same family tie, sponsor is a Finnish citizen. You use the same application, and spouses and children of Finnish citizens are exempt from the income requirement.
  • Changed family tie, or a first permit that was not based on family ties. Migri's extended permit application page states that you then "must choose an application form based on what these family ties are", and the 2025 amendments described below can apply to you.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a residence permit, and their non-EU family members use the residence card route instead.

Changed family ties and the 2025 amendments

The family reunification amendments in force since 16 June 2025 apply to extended permit applications submitted on or after that date if the previous permit was based on different family ties or was not based on family ties at all. One of the amendments is a requirement that both spouses are at least 21 when the permit becomes valid, with exceptions such as parents with joint custody of a child. If you are still married to the same sponsor, these amended provisions do not change your extension.

If the relationship has ended or the sponsor has left Finland, the family tie behind the permit may no longer exist. Migri lets you submit several applications on different grounds, such as work or studies, and gives a separate decision on each. Filing before the current permit expires keeps your right of residence and right to work in force during processing.

The first permit for a spouse is covered in the spouse visa route into Finland.

Fees in 2026

The fee is per applicant, children included, and Migri states: "We will not start processing your application until you have paid the fee." From Migri's processing fees page:

ApplicationOnline (EUR)Paper (EUR)
Extended permit, family ties, adult230430
Extended permit, family ties, minor230430
First permit, family ties (for comparison)750800

Fees for every application type are listed in Finland residence permit cost by application type. Extensions on other grounds, such as work, are covered in residence permit extension in Finland.

Income requirement at extension

When you apply for an extended family-ties permit, Migri states that it "will get information about your salaries and benefits from the Incomes Register", so you do not attach pay or benefit certificates. Family members of residence permit holders are among the groups the income requirement applies to, and spouses and children of Finnish citizens are exempt.

The monthly net amounts in force since 1 November 2024 depend on the municipality and the size of the family. Migri's income requirement page for family members sets these figures:

Family memberHelsinki metropolitan area (EUR/month)Other large municipalities (EUR/month)Other municipalities (EUR/month)
First adult1,2101,0901,030
Second adult610550520
First child610550520
Second child480430410
Third and each further child360320310

The Helsinki metropolitan area means Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen. The "other large municipalities" group includes Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Kuopio and Lahti among others. Two adults and two children in Tampere add up to 1,090 + 550 + 550 + 430 = 2,620 euros net per month.

Income that counts and income that does not

Employment income, business income and benefits that compensate for expenses, such as child benefit, child care allowance, child maintenance allowance, study grants and housing allowance, count. Social assistance, labour market subsidy, basic unemployment allowance and the general social security benefit do not count. Migri may make an exception if there are exceptionally weighty reasons or if it is in a child's best interests.

Right to work during processing

The family-ties permit gives an unrestricted right to work. Migri states: "You may also continue working while your application for an extended permit is being processed if you applied for it before your previous residence permit expired." If you apply after it expired, the same page states that "you are not allowed to continue working" (Migri, extended permit on family ties).

Permit length and identification

Migri's extended permit page for family members states: "A residence permit on the basis of family ties is usually granted for 4 years at a time." The decision can be shorter in individual cases.

If you apply in Enter Finland and identify yourself with strong electronic identification, such as Finnish online banking credentials, you may not need to visit a service point. Enter Finland tells you after submission whether a visit is needed.

Permanent permits for children from 8 January 2026

Since 8 January 2026, a child under 18 living in Finland may be granted a permanent residence permit without meeting the period-of-residence requirement if a parent or guardian holds a permanent residence permit, a P-EU permit or Finnish citizenship. For a child in that situation, a permanent permit application can replace another fixed-term extension.

Common problems

The income calculation is the most frequent problem. A household that counts labour market subsidy, basic unemployment allowance or the general social security benefit towards the total will fall short, because Migri excludes those. Add up the table for your municipality group and family size using only the income types Migri counts.

Applying after the card's expiry date is the second problem. The right to work stops, and the application may be refused.

Paying the paper fee is the third. A paper application costs 200 euros more per person than an online one, which for two adults and two children comes to 800 euros extra.

The law behind it

Extended permits, the income requirement and the right to work during processing are governed by the Aliens Act (ulkomaalaislaki 301/2004), available in English translation on Finlex. For how the permit letters A, B and P work, see Finland residence permit types.

The date that matters falls on the expiry date printed on your current residence permit card: an application filed after that date stops your right to work that day and may be refused.

Frequently asked questions

How early can I apply for an extended family-ties permit in Finland?

Three months before your current permit expires is the earliest Migri recommends. Apply before the expiry date to keep your right of residence and right to work in force while the application is processed (Migri, extended permit).

How much does an extended residence permit on family ties cost in 2026?

Each applicant, children included, pays 230 euros online in Enter Finland or 430 euros on paper. Migri starts processing only after the fee is paid (Migri, processing fees).

Does the income requirement apply when extending a family-ties permit?

It applies to family members of residence permit holders, and Migri reads your salaries and benefits from the Incomes Register when you extend. Spouses and children of Finnish citizens are exempt (Migri, income requirement).

Can I keep working while my extended family-ties permit is processed?

Yes, if you applied before your previous permit expired. An application filed after expiry means you are not allowed to continue working while it is pending (Migri, extended permit on family ties).

How long is an extended family-ties permit valid?

Migri states that a family-ties permit "is usually granted for 4 years at a time", and a decision can be shorter in individual cases. A child whose parent holds a P or P-EU permit or Finnish citizenship can apply for a permanent permit instead (Migri, extended permit for a family member).

Sources

Last updated: October 2026

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