Finland tightens family reunification rules: age threshold, income requirements, and residency conditions take effect

As of June 16, 2025, Finland has introduced stricter requirements for migrants applying for residence permits under family reunification. The new rules raise the minimum age for spouses, impose financial criteria for protected status holders, and introduce a two-year residency requirement for sponsors.

Minimum age: both spouses must be 21+

Under the amended law, both the applicant and their spouse must be at least 21 years old at the time the residence permit becomes valid.

There is an exception: if the spouses have a child under joint custody, the age requirement can be waived. However, for spouses of Finnish citizens, the threshold still applies to the non-citizen — meaning, for example, a 21-year-old foreign spouse of a 20-year-old Finnish citizen is eligible, but not vice versa.

“This age requirement is meant to protect minors and prevent forced or exploitative marriages,” said Riikka Parviainen, head of the family reunification process.

New income requirements for refugees and those with temporary protection

The new rules introduce stricter income criteria, especially for family members of children holding temporary or subsidiary protection.

Income is required when:

the child holds only temporary or subsidiary protection;

the applicant is a family member other than the parent (e.g. grandparent, aunt).

Income is not required for:

unaccompanied minor refugees;

elderly family members applying within three months of the sponsor being granted asylum.

Two-year minimum residence requirement for sponsors

Sponsors holding refugee or temporary protection status must now reside in Finland for at least two years before initiating family reunification.

Exceptions to this rule include:

cases where the family lived together before arriving in Finland;

situations where it serves the child’s best interest;

humanitarian grounds or force majeure conditions.

Transition rules: who is exempt?

The changes apply only to applications filed on or after June 16. Those submitted before this date will follow the previous regulations. Additionally, permit renewals are not affected if the original permit was issued under old rules.

Background: managing migration, promoting integration

These legislative changes are part of Finland’s broader migration reform strategy aimed at reducing irregular entries, improving integration, and ensuring sustainable public services. The move aligns Finland with a wider EU trend of tightening family-based migration routes.