Residents Permit - Renewal/Citizenship

shellpink4 · Post by **shellpink4** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:20 pm

Hi,

I've just been reading some of the posts on this subject today following reading an article online about those obtaining Finnish Citizenship being required to take a Finnish language test to demonstrate proficiency up to intermediate level.

My family (husband and two teenage sons) came from the UK 29th May 2004 and were finally registered (after much hassle) 11th October 2004, in Sodankyla, Lapland part of Finland. I haven't got a clue what type of permit I have and I cannot see any letter to denote it, as mentioned in other threads. Is that because I am an EU citizen?

Because of the timing of our arrival, I believe our permit has four years. It doesn't state how long it is for on it though. We were told at the Police Station that we didnt have to do anything after the four years..it would just get renewed.

However, knowing that they tried to pull every trick in the book, to keep us from entering the country (despite having jobs etc) and we ended up having to bring in the big guys at Helsinki to assist...I want to ensure that I know the full facts...with plenty of time ahead of me!!

So, what does happen at the end of the four years...do I have to register again...become a citizen and do the test (77 euros a head) or what?

Perhaps some one would let me know...Many thanks...

Kiitoksia avusta!! Michelle x

**Sponsor:**

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:26 pm

Well, do you *want* to come a Finnish citizen?

shellpink4 · Post by **shellpink4** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:43 pm

Hi Hank..

How did I know it would be yourself who was the first to answer me...LOL

I am not having any issue with being a Finnish Citizen..other than the language is still a problem for me. I am not bad, but I doubt at intermediary level...and up here there are no courses to even learn Finnish...we have tried and not got anywhere. So to throw myself into a test is overly daunting! What we know in Finnish is self taught through online boards, dvds, books, the telly and friends...OH and of course the kids!

I suppose the only relevance would be to joining the army... both myself and my husband are over forty so that is out....but whether the kids want to do that or not..I am not sure...

As they would both still be under eighteen IF we registered as citizens...would our parental citizenship...automatically make them citizens...or could they remain residents only? I personally think my eldest son especially will leave Finland as soon as he can. He doesnt really like it much! He is sixteen in december.

Michelle x

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:29 pm

Yeah, well if I was a teenager dragged to the Outer Hebrides I'd be much wanting to bugger off the minute I could

OK, well... probably the Police were trying to protect you from yourselves, as people very seldom settle in upper reindeershagbottom unless they're Laplanders to start with or otherwise touched

However, you don't really *need* to get a Finnish citizenship. EU means you are permanent residents and can vote in say municipal elections etc. and can't be deported or denied a residence except you commit some heinous acts, like claiming Joulupukki doesn't live at Korvatunturi.

About the children, they can be co-applied on the application, magical years are 12 and 15, its a bit like joining/splitting from a religious community age 15 gives some say in the issue. And yes, no, I think your son might be "thanks mom" but then again the Finnish Army isn't *that* bad (except in Sodankylä its either AF base or then jaegers...)

But you could go annoy the local cops and say you want to be a permanent resident "without an end date" - its EU so basically a formality.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:37 pm

Unless you are planning on living here permanently I see no point in transferring your (I assume) Brtish citizenship to Finnish. We are all Europeans. The only difference being you get to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections, and maybe do national service. Since you have only been here a couple of years it is too early to apply anyway. My understanding (Hank?) is that 4 years is the minimum. I lived in France for 20 yrs and never bothered with French citizenship and have been here for 5 years and never bothered with Finnish citizenship. And I am still alive, and working. But then my kids have a Finnish father from whom they have inherited the right to commit military service.

BTW, my "resident's permit" expired about a week ago. I have no intention of renewing it but I will get myself a KELA card with a photo (only 16 euro I believe).

shellpink4 · Post by **shellpink4** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:08 pm

****OK, well... probably the Police were trying to protect you from yourselves, as people very seldom settle in upper reindeershagbottom unless they're Laplanders to start with or otherwise touched Wink****

Hi Hank,

I shall forgive you that comment sweetie - as you're an 'asylum dodgy geezer'....although it does get a bit repeative....each time I enter this forum there is some comment about my choice of living in Lapland - not necessarily by you I might add. Yeah Ok, I probably am touched (a bit ) for living here, but I like it. I never was one to do things by halves!
I wonder if we are the furthest north British family permanently in Finland? I would love to hear from any others who are further up than us - there is a lot more space up there for there to be at least one other family!!

No, the Police were definitely not trying to save me from me....(I needed to be saved from the UK lifestyle if anything)...not Finland. The Police were underhand, rude and doing all sorts of things to stop us signing on the dotted line. Helsinki had to throw the book at them. We had jobs, well orginally my husband did, but they said I had to have a job as well or it was a no go - despite us being married. So I just found something at a local hotel to shut them up. Still there were issues and so it went on...until they talked of deportation! Then we got really angry and it got sorted once and for all with the help of Euro advisors in Helsinki and a lot of hot talk....We got quite worried - as we had five pets to take back if we got deported....and they were one of the most expensive outlays of the move!
Technically .... our first permit should have been "EU=basic formality"...but it wasnt ...so I dont hold that they will treat it that way.

My eldest son doesnt like the cold really thats all...he doesnt like the UK much either...he is just a typical teenager...LOL...My other son who is nearly 14 has embraced it and chats away like any other Finnish kid. The eldest has struggled to learn and use his Finnish but he is getting there.
------
Hi Penelope .....Yes we do plan to live here permanently...(went to the UK this Summer for a couple of weeks and truly cannot imagine going back to live there!) I know its a long way off come the renewal..for me to ask all of this, but as I said in the beginning, I just wanted to be forewarned and forearmed with as much info as poss. I already have my Kela card, but thats reminded me I must get one with a photo on it!! (Thanks!).....Glad to hear that you are still alive there in Espoo...x

So ....do I have to get a form to renew the permit and when should I start it.. about four months ahead of time?

Thanks for both your replies..

Love Michelle x

krash · Post by **krash** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:54 pm

Hi michelle

I moved here 7 years ago and at first the police gave me a resident permit that lasted 5 years. 2 years ago when that ran out i went to the police station and they just "registered" me. Aparently that registration is openeded and doesnt run out and is for EU citizens.

i hope it works out for you!

shellpink4 · Post by **shellpink4** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:58 pm

Thanks Krash!

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:33 am

I don't think you really need to renew anything, though with Big Brother watching you up there I guess you need to be careful. If you want to take Finnish citizenship after the four years are up you will have to take the Language Proficiency test which might require a trip to Oulu. Not sure.

My eldest was about 10 yrs when we arrived in 2001 and he has had the toughest time with the language but has always managed to find friends. His most recent circle of friends (he moved to ylä-äste last year) are FInnish speaking so, at last, he is making real progress. The number of Finnish language lessons per week has no bearing whatsoever on the progress he makes. The middle one who is almost 13 is fairly confident with everyday Finnish. He uses it with his friends and I even "use" him to help me out in difficult lingo situations. The youngest (10 yrs) understands everything, but I rarely hear him use it (except on soccer field: he got a yellow card the other day for swearing at the ref). They are all OK with being here and find the UK crowded and noisy (and too hot, 36 degs for a whole week this July), but then again they have never lived there, so it is not home. I think there is a strong possibility they will study or work back in France but we'll see. They talk about doing military service here and I think they consider Finland to be home.

Anyway, I have to make a trip to the Police Station this week to sort out our papers: all our resident's permits have expired, and one of the kids has lost his. I will get KELA cards with photos but skip the ID cards as we all have passports for travel. That's the "cheap" way to have ID as a new KELA card is 16 euro but the ID cards are 40 euro. (I want to get a Finnish drivers licence too, but have to find my UK one first so I can do the swap. My French one is too precious to hand in: no points, and valid indefinitely! ) So I'll let you know what happens.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:31 am

shellpink4 wrote:I shall forgive you that comment sweetie - as you're an 'asylum dodgy geezer'...

See now I'm a city lad...

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:43 am

Hank W. wrote:
shellpink4 wrote:I shall forgive you that comment sweetie - as you're an 'asylum dodgy geezer'...
See now I'm a city lad...

Hmm a good map update

I seem to be living beyong the Edge... but luckily within the "Wolf perimiter"... with horror I notice that the Idiots dwell rather close

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:46 am

Well you only need to go to Toppari on a Saturday night to find the evidence

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:55 pm

sammy wrote:
Hank W. wrote:
shellpink4 wrote:I shall forgive you that comment sweetie - as you're an 'asylum dodgy geezer'...
See now I'm a city lad...

Hmm a good map update

I seem to be living beyong the Edge... but luckily within the "Wolf perimiter"... with horror I notice that the Idiots dwell rather close

Well consider yourself lucky, I appear to live in whiningmaakeskus

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