asuinmaan

Asuinmaa is a Finnish noun meaning the country of residence or domicile. The term is used primarily in administrative, legal, and formal contexts to indicate the country where a person lives and intends to remain, i.e., their habitual residence. It is distinct from citizenship and from more cultural notions of homeland, as a person may reside in a country without holding its citizenship, or may have multiple connections to different countries.

Etymology and forms: asuinmaa is a compound of asua, to reside, and maa, country. The genitive form asuinmaan is used to show possession or relation, for example in a phrasing such as “asuinmaan lainsäädäntö” (the laws of the home country) or in document sections that specify a person’s home country.

Usage: in Finnish official forms, documents, and administrative procedures, asuinmaa designates the country of permanent residence. It is commonly presented alongside kansalaisuus (citizenship) and asuinpaikka (place of residence). In international and tax contexts, the concept aligns loosely with notions like habitual residence or domicile, though exact criteria vary by jurisdiction and are not identical across systems.

Examples: “Hänen asuinmaa on Suomi.” “Hakijan asuinmaa on Suomi, ja hän hakee oleskelulupaa.” These examples illustrate the typical factual role of asuinmaa in describing where a person primarily resides.

See also: kotimaa, kansalaisuus, asuinpaikka, oleskelulupa.