Immigration

Finland | Changes to Finnish Citizenship Act in January 2027

Summary

The Finnish government has introduced changes to the Finnish Citizenship Act that will take effect on January 1, 2027. Acquiring Finnish citizenship will require applicants to have sufficient knowledge of Finnish society. In practice, applicants will need to complete and pass a citizenship test, in addition to meeting the other requirements for Finnish citizenship. The test requirement will apply to applications submitted on or after March 1, 2027, and to applicants aged 18–64.

The detail

The Finnish Citizenship Act has been reformed in three stages, and the Finnish government has now introduced the final part of the reform, which will take effect on January 1, 2027. The previous reforms focused on extending the required period of residence in Finland and tightening the requirements concerning national security, integrity, sufficient financial resources, and proof of identity.

Beginning in 2027, acquiring Finnish citizenship will require applicants aged 18–64 to have sufficient knowledge of Finnish society. Applicants can meet this requirement by completing and passing a citizenship test. The test will be mandatory for applications submitted on or after March 1, 2027, although exemptions may be granted in certain cases due to health, disability, or other serious reasons. Applicants can also demonstrate sufficient knowledge of Finnish society by completing the matriculation examination in Finnish or Swedish, or by earning a higher education degree in Finland in either Finnish or Swedish.

The test will cover topics such as key Finnish legislation, fundamental and human rights, Finnish history and culture, and equality. The test can be taken in either Finnish or Swedish. The questions will be based on learning materials that will be published on the Finnish Immigration Service’s website at a later date. The materials will be publicly available to all applicants.

What this means

Citizenship applications submitted on or after March 1, 2027, will need to meet the following criteria:

1. The applicant has satisfactory oral and written skills in Finnish, Swedish, Finnish Sign Language, or Finland-Swedish Sign Language. Language skills must be demonstrated with an appropriate certificate.
2. The applicant must generally have lived in Finland for the past eight years, although eligible individuals may qualify with a shorter period of residence.
3. The applicant must not have a criminal conviction and must also not be subject to a restraining order.
4. The applicant has met their payment obligations (e.g. taxes, fines, child maintenance payments).
5. The applicant has sufficient financial resources.
6. The applicant has sufficient knowledge of Finnish society, meaning the applicant has passed the citizenship test. Sufficient knowledge can also be demonstrated by completing the matriculation examination in Finnish or Swedish, or by earning a higher education degree in Finland in either Finnish or Swedish.

More information on how to prepare for the test, as well as where and how applicants can take it, will be made available later in 2026.

Actions to consider

Employers should consider communicating the updated Finnish citizenship requirements to employees, as the legislation has undergone significant changes in recent years. This can help ensure that employees are aware of the current eligibility criteria and understand the importance of applying only once all requirements have been met. Submitting an application prematurely may result in a negative decision.

At the same time, citizenship application processing times currently vary considerably, ranging from approximately 12 to 34 months. Employers and employees should take these timelines into account, particularly where citizenship is needed for personal or professional reasons. The new requirement may also increase application volumes in the months leading up to March 2027. Candidates who already meet the current criteria may therefore benefit from applying as soon as possible.

Vialto will continue to monitor developments in the Finnish citizenship process, including the implementation of the citizenship test and the publication of supporting guidance and study materials. We will provide further updates as additional information becomes available.

Contact us

For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:

Jenni Merta
Senior Manager

Lena Nymark-Akerele
Director

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