Moving to Finland

uno1212 · Post by **uno1212** » Sat Mar 21, 2015 3:40 pm

Hi All,

I need some advise. Me and my boyfriend are both eu citizens. My Boyfriend has moved to Finland since January. The plan was for me to come over after a few months. I've been reading up on residents permits and it has me worried.. We have been together 2 years and lived together for 1.5 years. He owned his own home here so we lived there together. Technically I have no proof we lived there together as all bills were in his name. If I go to Finland it looks unlikely I will get work,even though I will be applying for work. This isn't an issue as he earns enough to support us both. My question is would it be difficult for me to get a residents permit after the 90 days if I'm not working and we cannot prove we've lived together? Or do I even need to do that since I'm an EU citizen. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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rinso · Post by **rinso** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 7:34 am

Yes, without registration you're in limbo. You can live here, but on the administrative point it will give some headaches.
Especially Kela can be a pain in the ... even if you're "in the computer".
Marriage seems to be the easiest solution.

uno1212 · Post by **uno1212** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 12:17 pm

Thanks for the advice guys.I think marrying someone for this purpose is a bit of a drastic move and would not be an option for me. I do have some bank statements with our previous joint address on them and proof of lodgements of rent to his account. But are they not strict on the living together for 2 years thing? As we have only lived together for 1.5 years. I have a decent job here and do not want to give everything up if there us the possibility of me not getting a residents permit.

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 4:49 pm

the possibility of me not getting a residents permit.

As EU you don't get a residence permit, but you have to get registered with the police (getting into the computer).
The requirement is that you're self supporting and don't become a burden for society.
The catch is that the police decides what self supporting means in your case. There are no fixed number for that.
So yes, they can refuse to register you. And since there are no hard requirements it is difficult to appeal.

uno1212 · Post by **uno1212** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 9:23 pm

Thanks for taking the time out to send me a pm! For some reason I cannot reply to it. Yes I understand what you are saying, I'm going for a week in April so we will look into it then. I would imagine with his income that we would be looked upon favourably, then again I could be wrong! I wouldn't be a burden in the state in regards to claiming social welfare, but I worry about healthcare. If we decided to have kids etc

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 7:34 am

but I worry about healthcare. If we decided to have kids etc

And you should be. There is a recent topic about a hospital bill of 300.000,- euro.
You're in big trouble if that is not covered.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:21 am

Combination of being an prospective immigrant, not willing to get married and wanting to get kids would sound like "I like to hit myself with a baseball bat to knee caps and head!". Unnecessary pain that can't be justified by reasonable grounds. One might consider living here on limbo for half a year with out kids (or pregnancy) acceptable risk(*), but even then I'd give the "marriage" option a second thought.

I think there was a some relevant recent court case indicating that one could count as a (EU) cohabitation time also the time one was as living here without a registration. Anybody else same recollection?

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:51 pm

Umm.... I don't think who you work for is going to get you any special favours. So you should forget that notion. There are lots of people working for lots of companies in Finland. Unless your boyfriend is some super duper specialist, no one could do the job, thing.

Immigration only cares for the income as a means to be able to sort you.

Bradley Whipp · Post by **Bradley Whipp** » Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:59 pm

Hello

I am a white 16 year old male, born in South Africa and have been raised and am currently living in Zambia. I applied to and went and wrote, my entrance exams at the University of Metropolia, this April. I loved Finland and am certainly going to be going back. However due to the fact that I am under 18 and hence a "child", what will be the restrictions and limitations to my activities in Finland, that I can do without a Guardian. In my past trip to the Land of Finns, I found out that I am able to travel from Africa to Finland unaccompanied, provided I have a certificate of birth and a letter of permission from both my parent's. Also I asked an official at Metropolia and they stated that one can stay at the University provided student accommodation, even though I am under 18, I am referring to the HOAS accommodation, though it is not recommended. But the location to the University, coupled with aspect of interaction's with other students is very appealing. Though is it possible, if HOAS accommodation is unavailable, for myself without a Guardian, to access the private market for accommodation, live their on my own, pay the rent every month on my own ( if need be) etc...? Also the transport system within Greater Helsinki at seemed very well done and managed, and it was requested by a lady at the R-Kioski, that if I come to Finland for studies that we get a monthly Helsinki card, as it'll be cheaper than paying in Euros every time the card becomes empty. She did say that as a student one would get a discount, she never stated how much that discount would be, nor did she specify, if myself being a minor would be able to access that. Also, if in the unlikely event that I would have to renew my resident permit in Finland, be it at the Embassy, Immigration services, or police station, could I do it on my own, or would I require one or both of my parents or a guardian.

My brother is also very interested in Finland and shall, most likely be accompanying me. My brother's application for his university (HAMK), was sadly not successful, and this raises the question of him being able to go to Finland. As it is his intention to access his university none the less, using Open University or the Path Way system ( which was recommended by the student administration at HAMK, as there was nothing they could do for him, during this session of applications for the University). I found on the Finnish Immigration website that there are "exceptional situation's" were by a applicant may be granted a residency permit. Does an acceptance to the University through Open University or the Path way system fall into the category of "Exceptional Situations"? Or, if my brother was to get a job offer, by a Finnish Company ( as he has a number of Professional Auto CAD qualifications), would that fall into the category of "Exceptional Situations" ? Or, if I did require a Guardian, which is a position my brother could for fill as he is 19 years old, and he got into the University, using the Path Way system or Open University and I also got my Letter of Acceptance, would that be in the Category of "Exceptional Situations"?

A common statement used by the Finnish Immigration service was that the Applicant, must be able to sustain themselves while they Live in Finland. This shall we hope, not be an obstacle for us and we have already set aside the 8000 euros required, to be kept in the bank account of the applicant, so that aspect of it need not be considered, it is satisfied.

THANK YOU, to whoever took the time to read through my essay of a dilemma, and any and ALL assistance shall be most welcome and most grateful for.

Bradley Whipp · Post by **Bradley Whipp** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:33 am

Ok will be done

kudzu · Post by **kudzu** » Tue Apr 21, 2015 12:04 pm

When I first came to Finland, I stayed as a "tourist" for a while as I did not think I would be able to register my rights to residence. Me and my girlfriend had been living together, but I was never on the lease so there was no proof. When I eventually decided to register my residence I did not meet the two years cohabitation requirement, nor did I think I had enough money in my bank account at the time to me the sufficient funds option (I don't think there was even 3000euros in there at the time). I asked the Poliisi how I should go about the registration process. I was told that I should register as a person with sufficient funds. I was also told that my girlfriend could write and sign a paper stating that she would also help support me. She did that and submitted her work contract to show proof of employment and income, while I submitted my bank statement. I ended up with a positive result and was granted my right to residence.

Now, I don't know if this is generally an accepted method, but I do know one person who I believe used their boyfriend as proof of sufficient funds so it has happened. I know when it comes to EU citizen that there can be some flexibility with requirements, so it can come down to whoever your dealing with. It's possible that had applied somewhere different and dealt with someone else that my application would have been rejected. Anyway, just wanted to throw my experience out there as an option to consider.

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