Finns began to migrate to the Ingrian region when the area was annexed by Sweden under the terms of the Stolbova Peace in 1617. In 1712 Sweden lost the area to Russia.
During the time of Stalin tens of thousands of Ingrians were expelled to Central Asia and Siberia.
When Germany occupied the area during World War II many Ingrians were sent to Finland. The interim peace agreement of 1944 obliged Finland to return the Ingrians to the Soviet Union, where they faced deportations.
The first Ingrians were allowed to return to their home area in 1956. The migration to Finland began in 1990 when President Mauno Koivisto noted that they are Finns.
There are more than 25,000 Ingrians in Finland who immigrated under "returning migrant" status. At least 22,000 who would like to move are still in the former Soviet Union.
The immigration process takes about eight years.
Getting a residence permit requires ethnic Finnish origin, the availability of a place to live, and knowledge of the language. Would-be migrants are also subject to a background check.
Most of the migrants settle in the Helsinki and Turku regions, or in Southeastern Finland.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 22.4.2004
