Finland Family Reunification Income Requirement 2026: Net Income, Kela Benefits, Family Size and Municipality Groups
Explains how Finland calculates sufficient financial resources for family reunification using net income, 2026 municipality-group thresholds, employment/business income, accepted and excluded Kela benefits, child-related derogations and worked examples.
Short answer
Finland's family-reunification income requirement is calculated from monthly net income after tax and compulsory pension/insurance contributions, not gross salary. Income can come from employment or business activity of the applicant or the family member in Finland. Certain expense-compensating benefits such as child benefit, child-care allowance, child-maintenance allowance, study grant and housing allowance can count. Social assistance, labour-market subsidy, basic unemployment allowance and the general social security benefit replacing the latter benefits from 1 May 2026 cannot form the basis of the required income. Thresholds vary by municipality group. In Helsinki's group, the first adult requires EUR 1,210 net/month, the second adult +610, the first child +610, the second child +480 and the third and each later child +360. In the second municipality group the corresponding figures are EUR 1,090 / 550 / 550 / 430 / 320; in other municipalities EUR 1,030 / 520 / 520 / 410 / 310.
1. Core rule: the calculation uses net income
Gross salary alone does not determine family-reunification eligibility. Migri uses the amount left after taxes and compulsory pension/insurance contributions.
A EUR 3,000 gross salary therefore cannot be assessed in isolation; actual net pay, family size and municipality group must be calculated together.
2. 2026 thresholds by municipality group
| Family member | Group 1 — Helsinki | Group 2 | Group 3 — other municipalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st adult | EUR 1,210 | EUR 1,090 | EUR 1,030 |
| 2nd adult | +EUR 610 | +EUR 550 | +EUR 520 |
| 1st child | +EUR 610 | +EUR 550 | +EUR 520 |
| 2nd child | +EUR 480 | +EUR 430 | +EUR 410 |
| 3rd and each later child | +EUR 360 | +EUR 320 | +EUR 310 |
3. What income can be used?
Employment income and business income are the main qualifying sources. Income may come from the sponsor or applicant; the key question is whether the family's livelihood in Finland is reliably secured.
For business owners, company turnover or account balance alone is not the same as personal net income available to support the family.
4. Which Kela benefits count and which do not?
Migri can count certain expense-compensating social benefits, including child benefit, child-care allowance, child-maintenance allowance, study grant and housing allowance.
Social assistance, labour-market subsidy, basic unemployment allowance and the general social security benefit replacing the latter benefits from 1 May 2026 cannot form the basis of the required income.
5. Practical 2026 calculation examples
Helsinki, two adults: EUR 1,210 + 610 = EUR 1,820 net/month. Helsinki, two adults + one child: EUR 1,210 + 610 + 610 = EUR 2,430 net/month.
Migri's official example for Tampere is EUR 2,620 net/month for two adults and two children. For the third municipality group, the official example for two adults and four children is EUR 3,100 net/month.
6. Different calculation for a student sponsor
A student sponsor's own income requirement can differ from the standard first-adult family amount. Migri's official Kuopio example uses EUR 800/month for the student plus EUR 550/month for the second adult, total EUR 1,350/month.
The family table should therefore not always be applied mechanically from the first-adult figure; the sponsor's permit ground matters.
7. Can families with children receive a derogation?
Migri states that a case-by-case derogation can be possible for families with children when income is slightly below the threshold, but this is not automatic.
The assessment is based on exceptionally weighty reasons or the best interests of the child and should be supported by a written explanation and evidence.
8. What evidence matters in the income file?
Checklist
- Employment contract
- Recent payslips
- Incomes Register data
- Tax decision/tax card where relevant
- Financial statements and accounting for business income
- Entrepreneur salary/dividend/personal-income evidence
- Kela decisions for accepted benefits
- Housing-allowance decision if relevant
- Bank statements as supporting evidence
- Family-composition and municipality-group calculation
- Explanation/new contract if income source is changing
9. Common income-calculation mistakes
Checklist
- Treating gross salary as net income
- Using the wrong municipality group
- Adding adult/child amounts incorrectly
- Counting social assistance or basic unemployment allowance as qualifying income
- Treating company turnover as personal income
- Using one unusually high month as sustainable income
- Confusing a future job offer with current income
- Assuming a child-related derogation is automatic
- Using the standard first-adult amount for a student sponsor
- Failing to check whether a Kela benefit is in an accepted category
Common questions about this topic
Is family-reunification income calculated gross or net?
Net income after taxes and compulsory pension/insurance contributions.
How much net income is needed for two adults in Helsinki?
Under the standard family table: EUR 1,210 + EUR 610 = EUR 1,820 net/month.
Can housing allowance count?
Migri lists housing allowance among expense-compensating benefits that can be taken into account; the actual benefit and decision should be documented.
Can unemployment benefits meet the family income requirement?
Social assistance, labour-market subsidy, basic unemployment allowance and the general social security benefit replacing the latter from 1 May 2026 cannot form the basis of the requirement. Other benefits must be assessed by category.
Official sources
The following official or public sources were checked for this guide. Current authority instructions always take precedence.
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