Key Takeaways
- An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen can sponsor partner from Finland for an Australian partner visa, either the onshore Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 or the offshore Subclass 309 and Subclass 100, if the sponsor is approved and the relationship is genuine and continuing.
- Finnish passport holders are eligible for the eVisitor, so many Finnish partners are already in Australia when the couple decides to apply, which makes the choice between the Subclass 820 and the Subclass 309 a real decision rather than a formality.
- Finland allowed same sex couples to register partnerships from 1 March 2002 until the end of February 2017, has allowed same sex marriage since March 2017, and lets couples convert a Finnish registered partnership into a marriage, which changes how the relationship is presented in Australia.
- Extracts from the Finnish Population Information System, issued by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, can be ordered in English and can support identity, family relationship and shared address evidence.
- The Finnish police certificate is an extract from the criminal records issued by the Legal Register Centre, and an extract with no entries can be issued in English.
Australians who want to sponsor partner from Finland can do so through an Australian partner visa if the sponsor is eligible and the relationship is genuine and continuing. Because Finnish citizens can visit Australia on an eVisitor and can come on a working holiday, many Finnish partners are already in Australia when the couple starts to think about a partner visa. To sponsor partner from Finland well, the first decision is which visa to use and when to lodge it.
The second decision for many couples is how to describe the relationship. Finland has an unusual legal history for same sex couples. It allowed registered partnerships for 15 years, then opened marriage to same sex couples and allowed registered partnerships to be converted into marriages. A couple whose relationship began under one Finnish system and continued under another must present that history accurately in the Australian application.
This guide is written for the Australian sponsor. It explains who can sponsor partner from Finland, the three situations couples most often find themselves in, how Finnish registered partnerships and marriages are treated in Australia, how the eVisitor and Working Holiday visa affect the choice between the Subclass 820 and the Subclass 309, how Finnish population register extracts can be used as evidence, and how the Finnish criminal records extract works. For the general rules, start with the partner visa pillar guide and the guide to which partner visa pathway fits you.
Can you sponsor partner from Finland?
Yes. You can sponsor partner from Finland if you are an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, you are 18 or over, and the Department of Home Affairs approves your sponsorship. Your Finnish partner must be your spouse or de facto partner, and the Department must be satisfied that you have a mutual commitment to a shared life together to the exclusion of all others, that the relationship is genuine and continuing, and that you live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.
The sponsor's part of the application is assessed on its own. The page on who can sponsor a partner visa and the article on partner visa sponsor requirements explain the rules. The page on proving the sponsor is an Australian citizen explains the documents a sponsor usually provides.
Every sponsor is also subject to the sponsorship limitations in the Migration Regulations 1994, including limits on sponsors who were themselves sponsored as partners within the last five years, sponsors who have already sponsored two partners, and sponsors with certain convictions. The partner visa sponsorship limitations page explains each limit. The article on partner visa sponsorship approval explains how the Department decides the sponsorship.
Three common situations when you sponsor partner from Finland
Most couples who sponsor partner from Finland fall into one of three situations. Each one leads to a different strategy. The examples below are general illustrations, not real clients.
The Finnish partner is visiting on an eVisitor
In the first situation, the Australian wants to sponsor partner from Finland after the couple met in Finland or online, and the Finnish partner is now visiting Australia on an eVisitor. The couple wants to stay together and asks whether the Finnish partner can apply for the Subclass 820 without leaving. The answer depends on the eVisitor grant, the length of the relationship and whether the couple can meet the de facto or spouse requirements before the eVisitor ends.
The couple met during a working holiday
In the second situation, the Australian wants to sponsor partner from Finland after the couple met while the Finnish partner was in Australia on a Working Holiday visa, or while the Australian partner was in Finland on a working holiday. They have lived together, but not always for 12 months, and the working holiday is ending. The questions are whether they qualify as de facto partners, whether to register the relationship or marry, and how to lodge before the Finnish partner's visa ends.
The couple are same sex partners with a Finnish legal history
In the third situation, the couple are same sex partners. They may have registered a partnership in Finland before March 2017, converted it to a marriage, married in Finland after March 2017, or never formalised the relationship at all. The question is how the Finnish legal status translates into the Australian categories of spouse and de facto partner.
The sections below deal with each situation. The guide to which partner visa to apply for and the page on the best time to lodge a partner visa are useful starting points for all three.
What the sponsor provides when you sponsor partner from Finland
The Australian sponsor provides proof of their own status, their identity, their police check and their part of the relationship evidence. When you sponsor partner from Finland, the sponsor's documents are usually the simplest part of the application, but they must still be complete and consistent with the Finnish partner's documents.
The sponsor usually provides an Australian passport, a citizenship certificate, evidence of permanent residence or evidence of eligible New Zealand citizenship. The sponsor also provides an Australian Federal Police check and, if the sponsor has lived overseas, may be asked for police certificates from those countries. An Australian sponsor who lived in Finland for 12 months or more should expect to be asked for a Finnish criminal records extract as well. The article on partner visa sponsor documents and the page on sponsor documents for a partner visa explain the list.
The sponsor's own visa and travel history also matters. A sponsor who lived in Finland on a Finnish residence permit, or who travelled between the two countries often, should make sure the dates in the sponsor's forms match the dates in the Finnish partner's forms and in the relationship statement. Inconsistent travel dates are one of the most common reasons for questions when couples sponsor partner from Finland after living in both countries.
Same sex couples and Finnish law: from registered partnership to marriage
Finland allowed two people of the same sex aged 18 or over to register a partnership from 1 March 2002, and that possibility ended on the last day of February 2017, according to Statistics Finland. From the beginning of March 2017, same sex couples have been able to marry in Finland. This history matters for same sex couples who sponsor partner from Finland, because the Finnish partner's legal status may be a registered partnership, a marriage converted from a registered partnership, or a marriage entered into directly.
Australian partner visas are available to same sex couples on the same terms as opposite sex couples. The LGBTI partner visa page explains how My Migration Lawyers approaches these matters, and the page on a same sex de facto visa explains the de facto pathway.
Registered partnerships between 2002 and 2017
A Finnish registered partnership was a formal legal status for same sex couples, and many couples who sponsor partner from Finland still hold one. It is no longer possible to register a new partnership in Finland, but existing registered partnerships continue unless the couple converts them or ends them. The European e-Justice Portal notes that there is no obligation to convert a registered partnership into a marriage.
A Finnish registered partnership is not a marriage under Australian law unless it has been converted into one. A couple who sponsor partner from Finland on the basis of a registered partnership that was never converted will usually apply as de facto partners. The registration is still strong evidence of commitment and of the length of the relationship. The page on an overseas registered relationship and the partner visa explains how a foreign registration is treated.
Converting a registered partnership into a marriage
Couples whose partnership was registered in Finland can convert it into a marriage by notification. Statistics Finland explains that the partnership continues as a marriage from the day on which the Digital and Population Data Services Agency receives the notification. Only partnerships registered in Finland can be converted in this way.
For couples who sponsor partner from Finland, a conversion means the Finnish partner is now married. The date of the marriage for Finnish purposes is the date of the conversion, not the date the partnership was first registered. The Australian application should record both dates accurately: the date the partnership was registered, and the date it became a marriage. The relationship history before conversion is still part of the relationship and should be included in the relationship statement.
Couples who kept the registered partnership
Some couples chose not to convert. If you want to sponsor partner from Finland and your relationship is still a Finnish registered partnership, you have three options: apply as de facto partners using the registered partnership as evidence; convert the partnership into a marriage before lodging and apply as spouses; or register the relationship in an Australian State or Territory. Each option has different evidence consequences. The page on a registered relationship and the partner visa explains when an Australian registration helps.
How Australia recognises a Finnish same sex marriage
A same sex marriage validly entered into in Finland is recognised as a marriage in Australia. Since the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 commenced, Australian law recognises same sex marriages solemnised overseas that are valid where they took place, subject to the same exceptions that apply to all foreign marriages. The page on same sex marriage and the spouse visa explains how this works for the spouse category.
A couple who sponsor partner from Finland as spouses should provide evidence of the marriage. For a marriage converted from a registered partnership, the Finnish authorities record the conversion rather than issuing a traditional wedding certificate. An extract from the Finnish Population Information System showing the marital status and the date of marriage is the practical evidence. The article on overseas marriages recognised in Australia explains the general rule.
Marriage alone does not prove the relationship. The Department must still be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and continuing. For same sex couples whose relationship was private for some of its history, the page on a private same sex relationship explains how to present evidence when the couple was not public about the relationship with everyone.
Spouse or de facto: choosing the category when you sponsor partner from Finland
The category you choose when you sponsor partner from Finland depends on your legal status at the time of lodgement. If you are married, whether by a wedding or by conversion of a Finnish registered partnership, you apply as spouses. If you are not married, you apply as de facto partners.
The spouse category has no minimum relationship length, which is why some couples who sponsor partner from Finland choose to marry. The de facto category generally requires the couple to have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately before the application, unless the relationship is registered under an Australian State or Territory law or another exception applies. The page on spouse versus de facto partner visas compares the categories, and the page on the legal definition of a de facto relationship explains the test.
A Finnish registered partnership is a foreign registration, not an Australian one. It does not, on its own, satisfy the Australian registration exception to the 12 month requirement. The 12 month period is counted from the start of the de facto relationship, which may have begun well before the Finnish registration. The page on when the 12 month de facto period starts explains how the period is counted.
Couples who met on a Working Holiday visa
Many Australians who sponsor partner from Finland met their partner during a working holiday. A working holiday arrangement between Finland and Australia has been in force since 2002, according to the Embassy of Finland in Canberra. Finnish citizens can come to Australia on a Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417), and young Australians can obtain a working holiday residence permit in Finland.
Working holiday relationships move quickly, and couples who sponsor partner from Finland after a working holiday often face tight deadlines. The couple may move in together within a few months, travel together, and then face the end of the visa before the relationship reaches 12 months. The article on a partner visa from a Working Holiday visa explains the general rules, and the page on working holiday visa holders applying for a partner visa answers common questions.
The 12 month de facto requirement
A couple who met during a working holiday and want to sponsor partner from Finland as de facto partners must usually show 12 months of de facto relationship before lodging. If they have not yet reached 12 months, the options are to wait, to register the relationship in an Australian State or Territory, or to marry. The page on applying before 12 months as de facto partners and the article on the Subclass 820 de facto 12 month rule explain each option.
Relationship registration rules differ between States and Territories, and some impose waiting periods. The page on registering a de facto relationship for a partner visa and the page on the waiting period after registering a relationship explain the timing.
Time spent living together in Finland counts when you sponsor partner from Finland. A couple who lived together in Helsinki and then in Sydney can count both periods, provided the relationship was a de facto relationship throughout. The page on living together overseas for the 12 months explains how overseas cohabitation is assessed, and the page on time apart during the 12 months explains what happens when the couple spent periods apart.
Lodging a Subclass 820 from a Working Holiday visa
A Finnish partner who holds a Working Holiday visa and is in Australia can usually lodge a Subclass 820, provided the visa does not carry a no further stay condition and the application is lodged before the visa ends. A valid onshore application usually brings a Bridging visa A, which keeps the Finnish partner lawful while the Subclass 820 is processed. The page on a Bridging visa A and the partner visa explains how the bridging visa works, and the page on working on a Subclass 820 explains work rights.
Lodging late is a serious risk for anyone who wants to sponsor partner from Finland onshore. If the Working Holiday visa expires before the Subclass 820 is lodged, the Finnish partner becomes unlawful and the Schedule 3 criteria apply. The article on Schedule 3 criteria for the partner visa explains those criteria.
The eVisitor and the onshore question
Finnish passport holders are eligible for the eVisitor (Subclass 651). Finland is listed in the Migration (Specification of eVisitor eligible passport) Instrument (LIN 23/064) 2023. The Department describes the eVisitor as allowing visits as often as the holder wishes in a 12 month period, with stays of up to three months each time.
An eVisitor is a visitor visa. It is granted for tourism or business visits, not as a step towards a partner visa. Couples who want to sponsor partner from Finland while the Finnish partner is visiting must look carefully at the grant notice, the length of stay and the timing of the partner visa. The guide to a partner visa while on a tourist visa and the page on a partner visa from a tourist visa explain the risks.
Condition 8503 and the eVisitor
Before you sponsor partner from Finland onshore, the first thing to check is whether the eVisitor grant notice includes condition 8503, the no further stay condition. If it does, the Finnish partner generally cannot be granted a Subclass 820 while in Australia unless the condition is waived, and waivers are only available in limited circumstances. The article on Subclass 820 and condition 8503 and the article on the partner visa 8503 waiver explain the condition and the waiver.
If the grant notice does not include condition 8503, the Finnish partner may be able to lodge a Subclass 820 while the eVisitor is still in effect. The application must be lodged before the eVisitor stay ends. The page on lawyer advice for a partner visa on a visitor visa explains why advice before lodgement matters.
Schedule 3 if the eVisitor expires
If the Finnish partner stays in Australia after the eVisitor stay has ended, the partner becomes unlawful. A Subclass 820 lodged by an unlawful non-citizen must meet the Schedule 3 criteria, which require compelling reasons in most cases. The Schedule 3 waiver page explains how these applications are argued. It is far better to sponsor partner from Finland while the Finnish partner still holds a visa.
Being honest about the purpose of the visit
An eVisitor applicant states the purpose of the visit. A Finnish partner who visits Australia to see their partner should say so. Telling the Department that the visit is purely for tourism, when the real purpose is to stay and apply for a partner visa, can create a credibility issue later. The article on visitor visas during partner visa processing explains how the Department views visits.
When the Subclass 309 is the better way to sponsor partner from Finland
The offshore Subclass 309 is often the better way to sponsor partner from Finland when the eVisitor carries condition 8503, when the couple is not ready to lodge before the eVisitor ends, or when the Finnish partner needs to return to Finland for work, study or family reasons. The Subclass 309 is lodged online while the Finnish partner is outside Australia, and it must be granted while the partner is outside Australia.
The Subclass 309 visa page explains the offshore visa, and the comparison of the Subclass 820 and Subclass 309 explains the practical differences. A Finnish partner with a pending Subclass 309 may still visit Australia on an eVisitor, but must be outside Australia when the Subclass 309 is granted. The page on visiting Australia while a Subclass 309 is processing explains the rules.
The onshore Subclass 820 suits couples who are already living together in Australia and whose Finnish partner holds a visa that allows the application. The Subclass 820 visa page explains the onshore visa, and the article on onshore versus offshore partner visas compares the two.
Finnish population register extracts as evidence
Finland keeps a central Population Information System, maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, known in Finland as DVV. The agency issues certificates from the system, including a standard certificate and a certificate of person and family relationship information. According to the Finnish Government's public service portal, standard certificates are available in Finnish, Swedish or English, and family relationship certificates are available in several languages including English.
For couples who sponsor partner from Finland, these extracts are useful evidence. They are official, they come from a central register, and they can be issued in English. The content depends on the purpose of the certificate, so the Finnish partner should order the version that shows the information the Department needs.
Identity and family relationship information
When you sponsor partner from Finland, a Population Information System certificate can confirm the Finnish partner's identity details, marital status and family relationships. This is particularly useful for showing that the Finnish partner is not married to anyone else, that a previous marriage or registered partnership has ended, or that a registered partnership was converted into a marriage. The page on partner visa documents explains the civil documents the Department expects.
If either partner was previously married or in a registered partnership, the Department will want proof that the earlier relationship ended. The article on a partner visa after divorce explains what is needed. A Finnish certificate showing the current marital status, together with the divorce or dissolution decision, is usually the clearest evidence.
Household evidence from shared Finnish addresses
If the couple lived together in Finland, a Population Information System certificate showing the shared registered address can support the nature of the household. It is not enough on its own, because a registered address is not the same as proof of a shared life. It works best alongside leases, utility accounts and correspondence. The page on household evidence for a partner visa and the article on the nature of the household explain how household evidence is assessed.
Certificates ordered for use abroad are mailed on paper, and the Finnish public service portal notes that the agency can also provide EU translation forms and Apostilles. The Department of Home Affairs generally accepts clear colour scans uploaded to ImmiAccount. The page on certified copies and the partner visa explains when certification is needed.
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The Finnish police certificate
The Finnish police certificate is an extract from the criminal records, called a rikosrekisteriote in Finnish, issued by the Legal Register Centre, known as Oikeusrekisterikeskus. Canada's immigration department describes the Legal Register Centre in Hämeenlinna as the issuing authority and notes that the extract can be applied for online through the Legal Register Centre's website.
The language of the extract depends on whether it contains entries. Canada's immigration department records that an extract with no entries can be written in English, French, German or Spanish. An extract with entries must be translated, because the Legal Register Centre does not translate extracts that contain entries. For couples who sponsor partner from Finland, this means a clear extract can usually be provided in English without a separate translation.
The Finnish partner will usually need a police certificate from Finland, and from every other country where they have lived for 12 months or more in total in the last 10 years since turning 16. A Finnish partner who has already been in Australia for 12 months or more on a working holiday will also usually need an Australian Federal Police check. The page on the police check for a partner visa, the article on partner visa overseas police certificates and the article on the partner visa AFP police check explain each certificate.
Police certificates have a limited life for visa purposes, so couples who sponsor partner from Finland should time them carefully. The page on police certificate and health check validity explains when to apply so the certificate is still current when the case officer needs it. The article on partner visa character requirements explains how the Department assesses character.
Finnish and Swedish documents and translation
Finland has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish, and Finnish documents may be issued in either. Every document that is not in English must be accompanied by an English translation when you sponsor partner from Finland. The guide to partner visa evidence translation explains the standard.
Many Finnish documents can be obtained in English directly, which makes it easier to sponsor partner from Finland. Population Information System certificates can be ordered in English, and a criminal records extract with no entries can be issued in English. Ordering English versions at the start reduces translation costs and avoids delays. Messages and emails between the couple in Finnish should be translated where they are relied on as evidence. The page on translating messages for a partner visa explains how to present them, and the page on couples who speak different languages explains how language differences are viewed.
Relationship evidence when you sponsor partner from Finland
Strong relationship evidence is what decides most applications to sponsor partner from Finland. The Department assesses the financial aspects of the relationship, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment. These four aspects are explained in the article on the partner visa four pillars.
Couples who moved between Finland and Australia
Finnish and Australian couples often live in both countries at different times. Their evidence is split between Finnish and Australian bank accounts, leases and service providers. Each period should be documented in its own right, and the relationship statement should explain how the couple moved between the two countries.
In Feng (Migration) [2025] ARTA 2425, an offshore partner visa case where the evidence included joint bank statements, evidence of communication and periods of cohabitation, the Administrative Review Tribunal remitted the matter to the Department. The case shows that periods of living together, even if they are interrupted, are important evidence when properly documented. The article on intermittent cohabitation explains how interrupted periods of living together are presented.
Shorter relationships
Working holiday relationships are often shorter than the relationships the Department usually sees. A short relationship is not a reason to refuse, but it needs strong evidence across all four aspects. In Forbes (Migration) [2025] ARTA 1193, an onshore partner visa case where the length of the relationship and the four aspects were in issue, the Tribunal remitted the matter. The article on a partner visa for a short relationship explains how to approach this.
Evidence that works for Finnish and Australian couples
Useful evidence for couples who sponsor partner from Finland includes:
- joint leases or a shared registered address in Finland, and shared rental or utility accounts in Australia, explained in the page on joint bills and the partner visa;
- joint bank accounts or regular transfers between Finnish and Australian accounts, explained in the article on partner visa joint bank account evidence;
- travel together within Australia, within Europe and between the two countries, explained in the page on travel together as partner visa evidence;
- evidence that friends and family in both countries recognise the relationship, explained in the article on partner visa social evidence;
- evidence of plans for the future in Australia, explained in the article on partner visa future plans.
The relationship statement and Form 888 statements
A partner visa has one relationship statement. For a couple who sponsor partner from Finland, it should explain how and where the couple met, the working holiday or visiting history, the periods spent in each country, and, for same sex couples, the Finnish registered partnership or marriage history with accurate dates. The guide to the partner visa relationship statement explains the structure.
Form 888 statements come from friends and family who know the couple. Finnish friends can give supporting statements, but the Department requires Form 888 statements from Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens. The article on Form 888 witness statements and the page on what a Form 888 should say explain the requirements.
A previous refusal or a long visitor history
Some Finnish partners have visited Australia many times, or have had an earlier visa refused. Both must be disclosed accurately. In Tang (Migration) [2026] ARTA 374, an onshore partner visa case where the couple married in the applicant's home country, a previous application had been refused, the sponsor had visited regularly and the applicant had arrived on a visitor visa, the Tribunal remitted the matter to the Department. The case shows that a previous refusal and an arrival on a visitor visa do not, on their own, prevent a later partner visa from being properly considered.
The article on a partner visa after a previous refusal and the page on disclosing a visa refusal explain how earlier refusals are handled when you sponsor partner from Finland.
A practical order of steps to sponsor partner from Finland
The order in which you prepare an application to sponsor partner from Finland matters, because some documents take time and some deadlines cannot be moved. The steps below are a general guide.
Step 1: confirm the Finnish partner's visa position
If the Finnish partner is in Australia, check the current visa, its expiry date and whether condition 8503 applies. This decides whether an onshore application is possible and how much time you have. If the Finnish partner is in Finland, the Subclass 309 is usually the starting point.
Step 2: confirm the relationship category
Decide whether you will apply as spouses or as de facto partners. For same sex couples, confirm whether a Finnish registered partnership was converted into a marriage, and on which date. For de facto couples, count the 12 months carefully and decide whether a relationship registration or marriage is needed.
Step 3: order Finnish documents in English
Order Population Information System certificates and the criminal records extract in English where possible. Order them close enough to lodgement that they are still current, but early enough that delays do not push you past a visa expiry date.
Step 4: build the relationship evidence
Gather evidence from both countries across the four aspects of the relationship. Prepare the relationship statement and arrange Form 888 statements from Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens who know you as a couple.
Step 5: lodge and respond
Lodge the application online, pay the application charge, and respond promptly to any request for health examinations, biometrics or further information. The page on what happens after lodging a partner visa explains what to expect, and the guide to the partner visa checklist helps you confirm nothing is missing before you sponsor partner from Finland.
Health examinations and biometrics
The Finnish partner must meet the health requirement and will usually be asked to complete a health examination. The Department gives instructions through ImmiAccount after lodgement. The article on partner visa health requirements and the page on biometrics for a partner visa explain what to expect.
What does it cost to sponsor partner from Finland?
At the time of writing, the partner visa application charge for the main applicant is AUD 11,710. This applies to both the onshore Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 and the offshore Subclass 309 and Subclass 100, and it covers both stages. Additional charges apply for children included in the application. The page on partner visa cost explains the charges.
Other costs to sponsor partner from Finland include the Finnish criminal records extract, Population Information System certificates, any translations, the health examination and, for an onshore application, the cost of remaining in Australia during processing. Government charges usually change on 1 July each year.
What if the partner visa is refused?
If an onshore Subclass 820 is refused, the review deadline is 28 days. The Finnish applicant applies to the Administrative Review Tribunal for review. The article on a partner visa refused onshore and the page on the review deadline for a partner visa refusal explain the process.
If an offshore Subclass 309 is refused, the Finnish applicant may apply to the Tribunal for review in their own name, from outside Australia. The time limit is short and strictly applied, and it runs from when the refusal is taken to have been received. At the time of writing, the Tribunal application fee for a partner visa review is AUD 3,727. The article on the partner visa ART review process explains what happens next, and the partner visa refusals page explains how My Migration Lawyers approaches refused applications.
How My Migration Lawyers helps you sponsor partner from Finland
My Migration Lawyers acts for Australian sponsors in complex partner visa matters, including many sponsor matters where the partner is from Europe and the couple has lived in more than one country. We understand the questions that arise when Australians sponsor partner from Finland: the eVisitor timing, the working holiday deadline, the 12 month de facto requirement and the Finnish legal history of same sex relationships. Our practice is led by Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer.
On a Finnish matter, we start with the pathway. We check the Finnish partner's current visa and its conditions, work out whether a Subclass 820 can be lodged in time, and explain when the Subclass 309 is the safer choice. For working holiday couples, we assess whether the 12 month de facto requirement is met and, if not, what the realistic options are.
For same sex couples, we map the Finnish legal history precisely: the date of any registered partnership, the date of any conversion to marriage, and the date of any marriage. We then present that history in the Australian categories of spouse or de facto partner, using Population Information System certificates and the couple's own evidence. Our LGBTI partner visa work covers these questions.
We present the couple's own relationship evidence in the form the law requires, including evidence from both Finland and Australia, and we plan the Finnish criminal records extract so it is current when needed. If the Department asks for more information, we prepare the response. If the application is refused, we act in the Administrative Review Tribunal. You can read more about our onshore partner visa lawyer service, our offshore partner visa lawyer service, or the partner visa lawyers page.
If you want to sponsor partner from Finland, book a consultation with My Migration Lawyers. You can also call 1300 040 300.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sponsor my partner from Finland for an Australian partner visa?
Yes. You can sponsor partner from Finland if you are an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen aged 18 or over, and the Department approves your sponsorship. Your Finnish partner must be your spouse or de facto partner in a genuine and continuing relationship. You can apply onshore for the Subclass 820 or offshore for the Subclass 309, depending on where your partner is and which visa they hold.
My Finnish partner is in Australia on an eVisitor. Can we apply for a Subclass 820?
Possibly. Check the eVisitor grant notice first. If it includes condition 8503, your partner generally cannot be granted a Subclass 820 in Australia unless the condition is waived. If it does not, your partner may be able to lodge a Subclass 820 before the eVisitor stay ends, provided you meet the spouse or de facto requirements at that time.
We met while my partner was on a Working Holiday visa. Can we apply as de facto partners?
Yes, if you have been in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months before lodging, or an exception applies. Many working holiday couples have not yet reached 12 months. In that case, the options are to wait, to register the relationship in an Australian State or Territory, or to marry. Lodge before the Working Holiday visa ends to avoid Schedule 3.
Does time living together in Finland count towards the 12 months?
Yes. Time spent living together as de facto partners counts wherever it happened, including in Finland. A couple who lived together in Finland and then in Australia can count both periods if the relationship was a de facto relationship throughout. Document each period with leases, shared address records, bills or a Finnish Population Information System certificate showing the shared address.
We have a Finnish registered partnership. Are we married for an Australian spouse visa?
No, not unless the registered partnership was converted into a marriage. A Finnish registered partnership that was never converted is not a marriage under Australian law, so you would usually apply as de facto partners and use the registration as evidence of commitment. If your partnership was registered in Finland, you can convert it into a marriage by notification to the Finnish population register authority.
We converted our Finnish registered partnership into a marriage. Which date is our marriage date?
The marriage date is the date the conversion took effect, which is the date the Finnish Digital and Population Data Services Agency received the notification. The date the partnership was first registered is still important. Record both dates accurately in the application and explain the history in the relationship statement, because the relationship began well before it became a marriage.
Is a same sex marriage from Finland recognised in Australia?
Yes. Australia recognises same sex marriages validly entered into overseas, including marriages in Finland since March 2017. Your Finnish spouse can apply as a spouse on the same terms as any other married couple. The Department must still be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and continuing, so the marriage should be supported by evidence across the four aspects of the relationship.
Does registering a relationship in Finland avoid the 12 month de facto requirement?
No. The registration exception to the 12 month requirement applies to relationships registered under an Australian State or Territory law. A Finnish registered partnership is a foreign registration and does not satisfy that exception on its own. It is still strong evidence of commitment. Registering the relationship in an Australian State or Territory, or converting the Finnish partnership into a marriage, are the usual alternatives.
How does my partner get a Finnish police certificate?
Your partner applies to the Legal Register Centre in Finland for an extract from the criminal records. The extract can be applied for online through the Legal Register Centre's website. An extract with no entries can be issued in English, so it usually does not need translation. An extract with entries must be translated, because the Legal Register Centre does not translate extracts that contain entries.
Can a Finnish population register certificate be used as evidence?
Yes. Certificates from the Finnish Population Information System, issued by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, can confirm identity, marital status, family relationships and a shared registered address. Standard certificates can be ordered in English. They are useful supporting evidence, but they work best alongside leases, bills and other documents that show a shared life.
Should we lodge the Subclass 309 instead of the Subclass 820?
The Subclass 309 is often better if your Finnish partner's eVisitor carries condition 8503, if you cannot lodge before the eVisitor stay ends, or if your partner needs to return to Finland. It is lodged online while your partner is outside Australia and must be granted while your partner is outside Australia. Your partner may still visit Australia on an eVisitor while it is processed.
Can my Finnish partner work while the partner visa is processed?
Usually yes for an onshore application. A valid Subclass 820 application lodged while your partner holds a substantive visa usually brings a Bridging visa A, which normally allows work once the Subclass 820 application is lodged. For an offshore Subclass 309, your partner is outside Australia and is not working in Australia on the partner visa until it is granted.
Do Finnish documents need to be translated?
Only if they are not in English. Finnish documents may be in Finnish or Swedish, and those need an English translation. Many Finnish documents can be ordered in English, including Population Information System certificates and a criminal records extract with no entries. Ordering English versions from the start avoids translation costs and delays.
Can Finnish friends sign a Form 888 for our application?
Finnish friends can provide supporting statements, but Form 888 statements must come from Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens. Statements from Finnish friends and family can still be provided as additional evidence of the social aspects of the relationship. Choose Form 888 witnesses who know you both as a couple and can describe the relationship from their own knowledge.
How much does it cost to sponsor partner from Finland?
At the time of writing, the partner visa application charge for the main applicant is AUD 11,710, for either the onshore or offshore pathway. You should also budget for the Finnish criminal records extract, population register certificates, any translations and the health examination. Government charges usually change on 1 July each year, so confirm the current charge before lodging.
What happens if the partner visa for my Finnish partner is refused?
If an onshore Subclass 820 is refused, your Finnish partner has 28 days to apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal. If an offshore Subclass 309 is refused, your partner applies for review in their own name, from outside Australia, within a short and strictly applied time limit. At the time of writing, the Tribunal application fee for a partner visa review is AUD 3,727.
Weiwei Zhang is the Principal Lawyer and Managing Director of My Migration Lawyers. My Migration Lawyers is one of Australia's leading immigration law firms, dedicated exclusively to Australian immigration law. The firm represents individuals, families and businesses across all areas of migration law, with particular expertise in complex immigration matters, Partner Visas, Protection Visas, corporate migration, visa refusals, Administrative Review Tribunal reviews, judicial reviews and visa cancellations.
