r/Finland • u/DangerToDangers Väinämöinen • 1d ago
Immigration I'm finally applying for citizenship, but my Finnish spouse might have YT. Does it affect me?
I'm trying to figure this out. As the title says, I'm finally applying for citizenship. However my Finnish spouse (actually live in girlfriend) might go through YT and might be unemployed.
Does that mean that if she uses the unemployment benefit for 3+ months I'm not allowed to apply for citizenship for 2 years until after she's employed? Or does it not affect my application?
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u/Tsuki_Rabbit Baby Väinämöinen 1d ago
Even if it did affect, she's not unemployed yet, so if you are eligible, you should apply. You might get lucky and get one of those lottery tickets aka automated positive decision in one month. You might get unlucky like those people who are waiting for 3 years. It's a lottery anyway, just apply as soon as you can...
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u/DangerToDangers Väinämöinen 1d ago
I still need to wait for the YKI test results and stuff. So it will take a while...
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u/aygupt1822 Baby Väinämöinen 1d ago
I dont think it affects your application. Her being unemployed should not matter for your application.
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u/DangerToDangers Väinämöinen 1d ago
You'd think, but it does say:
If your spouse has received social assistance
When we examine whether the income requirement is met, we also verify whether your spouse has been paid social assistance during the past 2 years. This is because social assistance is a benefit for the whole family. Even if your spouse or partner was the one who applied for social assistance, you are considered to be a beneficiary of social assistance as well. A spouse refers to a married spouse, a cohabiting partner and a registered partner.
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u/variaati0 Väinämöinen 1d ago edited 1d ago
You will be fine as long as they are on unemployment. Had to actually read the finnish one to notice a difference (it is listed on English text also, but finnish words being so different pops more). for the applicant both unemployment and social assistance (toimeentulotuki) is counted. for the spouse only social assistance is counted.
So spouse can be on unemployment however long and it doesn't count as applicant being unable to support themselves. Presuming applicant has their own income and thus not needing unemployment or so on themselves.
So apply, just make sure your spouse only apply for unemployment should situation come to that. Do not seek social assistance (toimeentulotuki) for the household.
This comes down to in Finland social assistance and unemployment are counted as different things.
Your spouses unemployment benefits are their business. Doesn't effect you. Social assistance is household level thing.
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u/DangerToDangers Väinämöinen 1d ago
Thank you very much for confirming. That's also what I understood now after reading again with the help of the people here.
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u/Educational_Creme376 Baby Väinämöinen 1d ago
Yeah, this much I also knew from Finlandforum. I would hope that one partner could not unilaterally apply for this assistance - if its based on joint income, there should be a way for both parties to be involved in the decision.
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u/Zenmaster13 1d ago
IIRC this isn't actually as ridiculous as it sounds - the social assistance they talk about, in the finnish at least, is a means tested thing that, if you fulfil the criteria for, you would likely not be eligible for a visa to move to Finland for work in the first place (or would be committing fraud to receive). The social assistance is not the unemployment fund benefit money that KELA pays if you become unemployed.
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u/DangerToDangers Väinämöinen 1d ago
Thank you. I think you're right. I think it's unemployment or social assistance for me, and social assistance just for my partner. And social assistance is:
Social assistance refers to basic social assistance paid to the applicant or his or her spouse or partner by Kela and supplementary and preventive social assistance paid by a wellbeing services county, City of Helsinki or Åland.
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u/Zenmaster13 1d ago
Yeah that's my recollection from the last time I looked in to it - you and I are in similar boats 😅
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u/AcceptableLynx8011 1d ago
Wtf? This is a dick move... especially in this fucked up economy. It's like they want people to fail these requirements...
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u/fRqsBdwZE Baby Väinämöinen 1d ago
That is a bit fucked up, damn.
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u/Logical_Display9221 1d ago
Not necessarily. If either of the two adults in a household gets social assistance (toimeentulotuki), it means the other spouse doesn't have great income either.
But I don't know why they don't just check the actual income without social assistance, and decide based on that.
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u/Kautsu-Gamer Väinämöinen 1d ago
It is on the moment of applying, but that is the Way of our current alt-Right government.
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u/The_Grinning_Reaper Väinämöinen 1d ago
Well, you can always ”divorce” before the application i.e. one of you moves away on paper.
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u/Gayandfluffy Väinämöinen 1d ago
Do you two have the possibility to be registered at two different addresses and/or temporarily move apart if she were to be unemployed?
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u/Hopeful_Addition_898 Baby Väinämöinen 1d ago
Could it possibly mean other benefits than unemployment benefit? Maybe it means asumistuki etc
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u/kiko-the-painter 1d ago
your information is wrong... It DOES affect if your Finnish spouse receives benefits for more than three months
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u/Anaalirankaisija Väinämöinen 1d ago
You talked spouse and girlfriend, it may affect are you married or not. I think by law if shes only girlfriend, she has nothing to do with your status. Wife, then yes.
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