In Finland, family members are defined as your spouse or common-law partner, or partner in a registered partnership, as well as your own children, adopted children and step-children aged under 18 living in your household.

Registering family members

In order to register your family members with the Finnish authorities, you will need to provide apostilled documents. The minimum requirement to start the registration process is your marriage certificate and birth certificates for children.

Registration of EU citizens’ and family members’ residence cards

Applying for a residence permit on the basis of family ties

See also Immigration formalities.

Social security for family members

With certain exceptions, all permanent residents in Finland are entitled to social security benefits from the Social Insurance Institution or Kela.

Workers and students moving to Finland on a permanent basis are covered by the Finnish social security system. In this case, accompanying family members will usually be covered as well. However, if you are moving to Finland on a temporary basis and are not covered by the Finnish social security system, then your family members will not be covered, either.

For more information, visit the InTo Finland website.

The social security of family members depends on whether they are moving to Finland from another EU/EEA country, a country with which Finland has reciprocal social security agreements or somewhere else. To learn more, check the Moving to Finland pages on Kela’s website.

If you are having a baby

The Finnish state supports families and children both financially and through various services. Go to the Kela website for more detailed information.

Education and day care

Day care services for children are provided by municipalities either through a day care centre or in family day care.

Children aged six can go to pre-school. Pre-school education is provided in day care centres and comprehensive schools.

Comprehensive school usually starts at age seven. The next level after comprehensive school is either upper secondary school or vocational school, followed by polytechnics and higher education institutions, including universities for the arts and sciences.

More information on benefits and services for families.

Another useful source is the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health website.

Spousal employment opportunities

Will your spouse want to work in Finland? For information on finding work in Finland, visit the Ministry of Employment and the Economy website.