Nationality of child born in Finland

[Ellah]

So Im having a baby with my Finnish boyfriend (note, we are not married). We live here and I am from another nordic country.
Does the baby get Finnish nationality or Icelandic? I know both countries allow for double-nationalities and it's no problem for me to get icelandic nationality for the baby. But I always assumed it would get a finnish nationality as standard, but then I started doubting it since we're not married.

[Ellah]

Eh my pregnant brain isn't functioning too well. But of course Im talking about citizenship.

[onkko]

http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp ... anguage=EN

Birth

A child acquires Finnish citizenship at birth if

the child's mother is a Finnish citizen;
the child's father is a Finnish citizen and the parents are married;
the child's father is a Finnish citizen, the child is born in Finland out of wedlock, and the father's paternity is established;
the child's father, who died before the child was born, was a Finnish citizen and was married to the child's mother at the time of his death; or
the child's father, who died before the birth of the child, was a Finnish citizen and the child was born in Finland out of wedlock and the father's paternity is established

"father's paternity is established" is that you tell to local "lastenvalvoja" that he did it and he says quilty as charged so nothing too complicated.

[Rob A.]

http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp ... anguage=EN

Birth

A child acquires Finnish citizenship at birth if

the child's mother is a Finnish citizen;
the child's father is a Finnish citizen and the parents are married;
the child's father is a Finnish citizen, the child is born in Finland out of wedlock, and the father's paternity is established;
the child's father, who died before the child was born, was a Finnish citizen and was married to the child's mother at the time of his death; or
the child's father, who died before the birth of the child, was a Finnish citizen and the child was born in Finland out of wedlock and the father's paternity is established

"father's paternity is established" is that you tell to local "lastenvalvoja" that he did it and he says quilty as charged so nothing too complicated.

I assume in the modern era they would require bloodtests to make sure no one is "gaming" the system...Yes/No???

[Ellah]

http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp ... anguage=EN

Birth

A child acquires Finnish citizenship at birth if

the child's mother is a Finnish citizen;
the child's father is a Finnish citizen and the parents are married;
the child's father is a Finnish citizen, the child is born in Finland out of wedlock, and the father's paternity is established;
the child's father, who died before the child was born, was a Finnish citizen and was married to the child's mother at the time of his death; or
the child's father, who died before the birth of the child, was a Finnish citizen and the child was born in Finland out of wedlock and the father's paternity is established

"father's paternity is established" is that you tell to local "lastenvalvoja" that he did it and he says quilty as charged so nothing too complicated.

I assume in the modern era they would require bloodtests to make sure no one is "gaming" the system...Yes/No???

Actually it's all coming back to me. We have an older child, born in my homecountry. We tried getting finnish citizenship for her, but we had to have this horrible interview where we were asked how we met and when, how often we had sex and if we had sex around the time I got pregnant and some absolutely CRAZY things like those.... But perhaps that was because she was born abroad. Somehow I just assumed a child born here would get finnish citizenship without problems. But well I dont even care. "My" citizenship is good enough

[onkko]

I assume in the modern era they would require bloodtests to make sure no one is "gaming" the system...Yes/No???

Well law talks about bloodtests if father denies and mother wants to take it to court so i assume no.
Atleast in cases i know, all with 2 locals tho so no foreigners involved, it was simply "i did it".

[Rob A.]

...Actually it's all coming back to me. We have an older child, born in my homecountry. We tried getting finnish citizenship for her, but we had to have this horrible interview where we were asked how we met and when, how often we had sex and if we had sex around the time I got pregnant and some absolutely CRAZY things like those.... But perhaps that was because she was born abroad. Somehow I just assumed a child born here would get finnish citizenship without problems. But well I dont even care. "My" citizenship is good enough

That does sound like a clumsy, 1950s way to go about things... How could they ever be sure someone wasn't twisting things. There must be a more scientific approach now...though I suspect the applicant would have to pay for it....

[Ellah]

...Actually it's all coming back to me. We have an older child, born in my homecountry. We tried getting finnish citizenship for her, but we had to have this horrible interview where we were asked how we met and when, how often we had sex and if we had sex around the time I got pregnant and some absolutely CRAZY things like those.... But perhaps that was because she was born abroad. Somehow I just assumed a child born here would get finnish citizenship without problems. But well I dont even care. "My" citizenship is good enough

That does sound like a clumsy, 1950s way to go about things... How could they ever be sure someone wasn't twisting things. There must be a more scientific approach now...though I suspect the applicant would have to pay for it....

It was propably the most akward moment of my life. But it was just in 2009 In the finnish embassy. However I think they've changed the rules about this now.

[Rip]

I'm British and my son was born in Britain and is a British citizen. Isä is Finnish and we are currently residing in Finland. All my partner had to do in the UK was come with me to the registrar when we had his birth registered and that's it - he's legally the daddy!

If they are accepted as father and son by UK authorities I would expect the Finnish will accept the UK designation directly. Actually if you are living here, the population registration here shows they are father and son it just might be he is officially marked as Finnish citizen already.

In the earlier case the the child and father were probably at the point of embassy visit not yet officially recognized as related - or at least nobody had not issued a document stating that and having the sufficient layers of stamps so that Finnish authorities could consider it legally valid...?

[Ellah]

In the earlier case the the child and father were probably at the point of embassy visit not yet officially recognized as related - or at least nobody had not issued a document stating that and having the sufficient layers of stamps so that Finnish authorities could consider it legally valid...?

Im not quite sure what you mean. But in our case my boyfriend was officially registered as our daughters father in Iceland. She was around 18 months when we went to the embassy of Finland in Reykjavík and applied for the citizenship for her. The lady in the office believed us and was very ashamed of the papers we had to fill out and the questions we were asked. First she gave us the papers with the questions and left the office so we could ponder over them, she came back 5 minutes later to find us lying on the floor laughing over those horrible questions.
But she said it was standard to make some kind of reliable "story" on our relationship so officials in Finland wouldn't think Im trying to sneak a citizenship for my kid.
After this my boyfriend was recognized as our daughters father for the first time in Finland. But we never finished the citizenship application.

[anna80]

Hi,

My (EU citizen) and my finnish boyfriend daughter was born here in Finland, in 2009. He´s been recognize as the father of the child (and my daughter as the Finnish citizen) after confirming my words (we didn´t have to answer any stupid questions). They just simply ask if he´s the daddy.
Then just the signature and that´s it. No pain, no sweat!

regards
Anna

[Rip]

But in our case my boyfriend was officially registered as our daughters father in Iceland.

I stand corrected in my assumption then (I did not pay attention all of the post you had written)- although I do bit wonder if possibly the embassy staff made a mistake there (The situation would hardly be an everyday occurrence there, small country and everything), as it would seem to violate the general principle, that the Finnish authorities respect the legal decisions made by foreign competent authorities in their own territories. Strange.

[Tiwaz]

Oh my gosh, that's disgusting! How humiliating and outdated is that? I'm British and my son was born in Britain and is a British citizen. Isä is Finnish and we are currently residing in Finland. All my partner had to do in the UK was come with me to the registrar when we had his birth registered and that's it - he's legally the daddy! We've been talking about getting our son dual citizenship (i.e.applying for Finnish citizenship) but if they're going to start asking questions like that (based upon what assumption that the woman is being dishonest?!) they can stuff it! In that case, I'm sure my son can apply for dual citizenship when he's old enough to decide whether he wants it for himself!

Why should that kid get citizenship just like that?
Father and mother both must state that they are confident that child is his. It has high importance, because Finnish citizenship follows principle of jus sanguinis.

If parents can't say that yes, they had sex at time of conception and yes they are sure that it is his... Well, does not raise much credibility here. I mean... Hello! If you are parents of the kid, odds are that you DID have sex. It is considered rather natural part of reproduction.

Interview is there also to make clear to potential daddy-to-be that they are going to put their head in the noose. Once paternity is established, you are responsible for kid. Period. In case of breaking up, daddy has to shovel up cash to support the kid.

[CH]

A friend of mine got the same type of questions here in Finland (did you have sex around the time of the conception, is she sure there was no-one else who could be the father), when she and her boyfriend went to recognize the paternity (both Finnish natives). But this was in the middle of the 90's, so it has probably changed as now most (?) of the births here are to non-married couples. But in the end... what should they ask? They could of course do a DNA test, but now they take your word for it that yes, your boyfriend did the dirty deed, and no there was no other potential fathers (when they would do blood test/dna test to figure out who the father is).

[Rosamunda]

Oh my gosh, that's disgusting! How humiliating and outdated is that? I'm British and my son was born in Britain and is a British citizen. Isä is Finnish and we are currently residing in Finland. All my partner had to do in the UK was come with me to the registrar when we had his birth registered and that's it - he's legally the daddy! We've been talking about getting our son dual citizenship (i.e.applying for Finnish citizenship) but if they're going to start asking questions like that (based upon what assumption that the woman is being dishonest?!) they can stuff it! In that case, I'm sure my son can apply for dual citizenship when he's old enough to decide whether he wants it for himself!

I'm British and my SO is Finnish and our 3 children were born in France. They were given Finnish citizenship automatically when we arrived in Finland and were registered in the KELA system. If you are "official" residents (ie in the system and you and your child have KELA ID) then it is possible that he has been given Finnish citizenship already. I think it is unlikely that any questions would be asked.

So, when my eldest turned 18 he automagically received his conscription papers and his ballot paper.

There is one BIG advantage to having Finnish citizenship and you'll find out what that is next time you have to renew your son's GB passport!