Sudan → Finland: the Residence permit on the basis of family ties (family reunification) roadmap
Finland's standard route to join a family member is a residence permit on the basis of family ties, issued by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) and applied for through the Enter Finland online portal. The sponsor (a person already holding a Finnish residence permit, or a Finnish/EU citizen) must usually show a secure income that meets a regionally calculated threshold based on Kela social-assistance levels; spouses, registered partners, minor children, and the parents of a minor sponsor qualify. The application-fee figures here are confidence-rated lower: Migri raised fees on 1 January 2026 and publishes them per category, so the exact family-ties amount should be reconfirmed on the official fee page before relying on it.
Moving from Sudan
- You apply for the Residence permit on the basis of family ties (family reunification) at the Finland consulate, embassy, or visa application centre that serves Sudan, confirm the office and the current appointment wait for your region.
- Qualifications and work experience earned in Sudan usually need a credential assessment or recognition before they count toward Finland's requirements.
- Budget for certified translation and apostille or legalisation of your Sudan documents (degree, police certificate, civil records).
- Check whether a Sudan passport needs a short-stay visa for any in-person biometrics or interview steps.
General guidance for any Sudan to Finland applicant; the eligibility and fees below are set by Finland.
At a glance
Who qualifies
- There must be a qualifying family relationship: spouse or registered partner, a minor child of the sponsor, or the parent/guardian of a minor sponsor living in Finland (cohabiting partners qualify only under specific conditions such as a shared child or 2 years of cohabitation)
- The sponsor (family member in Finland) must already hold a valid Finnish residence permit, or be a Finnish or EU citizen
- Secure income (toimeentuloedellytys) is normally required: net income meeting a threshold set by region and household size, derived from Kela basic social-assistance and housing-cost levels (e.g. EUR 1,210/mo for the sponsor plus EUR 610 for one child in the Helsinki metropolitan area)
- Income must come from work, business, or qualifying assets, not from social assistance, labour-market subsidy, basic unemployment allowance, or the general social-security benefit
- Genuine, subsisting family relationship; marriages of convenience and false information lead to refusal
- Valid passport and required supporting documents (marriage/birth certificates, proof of income); applicant verifies identity in person at a Finnish mission or service point
Your step-by-step roadmap
Prepare and submit the application
- The applicant creates an Enter Finland account and completes the residence-permit application on the basis of family ties
- Pay the processing fee and upload supporting documents (passport, proof of family relationship, sponsor's proof of income)
- The sponsor in Finland may complete their part of the application via their own Enter Finland account
Identity verification and biometrics
- Book and attend an appointment at a Finnish embassy/consulate (or VFS partner) abroad, or a Migri service point if already in Finland
- Prove identity, give fingerprints for the residence-permit card, and present original documents
Migri assessment and decision
- Migri verifies the family relationship and assesses whether the income requirement is met
- Additional clarification or an interview may be requested; the legal maximum processing time is 9 months
- A decision is issued and the residence-permit card is produced and delivered
Arrival and extension
- Enter Finland and register your municipality of residence and personal identity code
- Apply for an extended permit before the first permit expires, continuing to meet the income condition
Permanent residence and citizenship
- After the required continuous residence, apply for a permanent (P) permit
- Later, if eligible, apply for Finnish citizenship once the residence and language requirements are met
Government fees
Timeline & path to citizenship
Timeline: Migri must decide family-ties applications within a legal maximum of 9 months, and in 2026 about 76% of decisions were issued within 4 months, though current backlogs mean some applicants wait longer.
Citizenship: Permanent residence is available after 6 years of continuous residence (a 4-year fast track remains if you earn at least EUR 40,000/year, hold a recognised master's/postgraduate degree plus 2 years' Finnish work, or have high Finnish/Swedish proficiency plus 3 years' work), under rules tightened on 8 January 2026; Finnish citizenship normally requires 8 years' residence, reduced to 5 years with sufficient Finnish or Swedish (YKI level 3+), with a mandatory citizenship test expected from 2027.
This is general information to help you plan, not legal advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration professional.