Residency Question

rianne · Post by **rianne** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:20 am

I have a question related to residency based on family that I haven't been able to find an answer to yet.

I'm Canadian (although Finn by background) and my partner and I are considering moving to Finland. He got a job offer and is a British citizen, so from what I understand he'll have no problems moving into the country.
I know residence visas can be granted based on marriage, but if neither of us live there yet can I still get residency for that reason? Or does he have to be there for a while before I can get residency based on him?

Thanks for any help

**Sponsor:**

rianne · Post by **rianne** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:10 am

Never mind, I think I just found my answer.
Found a site saying he needs to be there 3 months before I can apply for residency. Is that accurate?

Kutittaa · Post by **Kutittaa** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:59 am

Well you have to be able to prove that you are of Finnish heritage.

P.S. You ain't going to be in Kansas anymore...

rianne · Post by **rianne** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:36 am

I'm not Finn enough to get in that way, it was my great grandparents who emigrated away. I have family in the country but it's great-uncles and cousins and that sort of thing, nothing direct enough.
I can apply for residency just by being the spouse of a foreigner working in the country, but I was hoping he didn't have to go first and then we wait a few months.

Never been to Kansas, looks boring.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:47 am

rianne wrote:I'm not Finn enough to get in that way, it was my great grandparents who emigrated away.

As the Finnish citizenship flows from blood, not soil, it might still well be that your grandparents were at least born Finnish citizens, and therefore you could qualify.

Regarding for the route you're asking, you can both enter here just by showing your passports at the Schengen control, assuming your husband has good enough job to support you both you can register at the local police station, legally within three months, but for your own benefit ASAP, he as a EU citizen, you as his family member.

He: http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/ ... endocument
You: http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/ ... endocument

lenipoika · Post by **lenipoika** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:19 pm

As long as one of your grandparents was Finnish born you can qualify for a perm resident permit (4 years i think) - under the 'returnee' type permit. You will need to get a birth certificate or such to prove that, but contact your nearest Finnish consulate and they will guide you.

Good Luck!

rianne · Post by **rianne** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 12:12 am

Well I just found out that one of my grandparents was born in Finland!
He died young, I never met him, and his name was Elmer so I assumed he was born here in Canada. Apparently thought Elmer was just the anglicized name he started using after moving here. This makes things much easier.

Thanks for the help:)

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:44 am

That gives you to alternatives to proceed. While it seems clear you qualify based on the ancestry grounds, it is not guaranteed the permit would be processed particularly fast. What is the best course of action, I do not know.

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