The list of European Union and Schengen Area Member States enabling unmarried partners, one of whom is a resident of theirs, to reunite, is expanding.
In a government meeting held on August 6, Finland has decided to permit lovers to reunite if one of them is
- a Finnish citizen living in Finland,
- an EU/Schengen citizen living in Finland
- a family member of an EU/Schengen citizen living in Finland
- third-country national residing in Finland with a Finnish residence permit
“You can also come to Finland on the basis of a social relationship. In practice, a social relationship refers to a relationship. In principle, border control relies on the passenger’s own declaration of social status; in individual cases, more detailed information can be requested. In addition to the social partners of Finnish citizens, entry into the country on the basis of a social relationship is also permitted for social partners of EU / Schengen citizens living in Finland and their family members, as well as third-country nationals residing in Finland with a Finnish residence permit,” the government’s updated information on ‘Who can enter Finland’ explains.
Those who wish to travel to Finland to meet their lover, must contact the Finnish embassy in their country of residence, and require further advice on the procedures that should be taken.
For months now, couples separated by the EU entry ban have been campaigning on Twitter under the hashtags #LoveIsEssential and #LoveIsNotTourism, demanding from the EU bodies and the governments of each Member State to waive the ban for them.
The movement has since attracted attention from several officials, including European Parliament Members, several of whom signed an open letter to the German Minister of Interior Horst Seehofer, raising the issue.
Countries as Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands have since reopened their borders to this category of travellers. Switzerland is the sixth and most recent EU/Schengen country to undertake such a move.