Kansalaisuus

Application for Finnish Citizenship

You can apply for Finnish citizenship if you are over 18, have had permanent residence in Finland for a sufficient amount of time and still do reside in Finland. Proof of identity is required. You must also be able to present a plan of how you and your family intend to support yourselves. You also need to have knowledge of the Finnish language, Swedish or Finnish Sign Language. Language skills can be proven to be sufficient e.g. by obtaining level 3 in the National Board of Education Language Exam. More information is available on the website of the National Board of Education (opetushallitus).

More information on the topic in Finnish, Swedish and English.

The application process may take a long time. Obtaining citizenship may be prolonged if you have committed a crime or failed to pay e.g. taxes or fines. More information on these requirements and their practical application and information on the queue situation of the citizenship applications can be found on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service (Maahanmuuttovirasto).

The Finnish Immigration Service produces citizenship application forms, which are available from the Finnish Immigration Service or your local police. Applications must be lodged with the police in person. Proof of identity may be required. Citizenship applications are subject to a charge. The charge is payable beforehand, in connection with lodging the application. More information on citizenship applications and other issues relating to citizenship is available on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service in the following languages:

English
Finnish
Swedish

Forms for applying for citizenship

The Finnish Nationality Act is available at the Finlex website.

Citizenship by declaration

The following persons may receive Finnish citizenship by declaration:

• a child of a foreign mother born outside of Finland whose father was a citizen of Finland when the child was born and fatherhood has been confirmed
• a child of a foreign mother born in Finland whose father was a citizen of Finland when the child was born, but fatherhood was not confirmed until the child was 18 years old or had married before that
• an adopted child 12-17-years-old, of whose foster parents at least one is a Finnish citizen
• a young person (18-22), who has lived in Finland for a long time
• a citizen of a Nordic country or
• a former citizen of Finland

Additional information on the citizenship declaration is available on the pages of the Finnish Immigration Service in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Forms with which you can apply for citizenship or make a citizenship declaration:

Finnish
Swedish
English

The Finnish Immigration Service’s service numbers

Calls are answered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10.00-11.00.

Making the citizenship declaration and requirements (you have not yet left an application), telephone 071 873 3650.

Making the citizenship declaration and requirements (you have not yet left an application), telephone 071 873 3660.

Questions concerning the movement of the citizenship application and declaration (you have already left an application), telephone 071 873 3670.

Multiple nationality (dual nationality)

Finnish legislation recognises multiple nationalities, i.e. in addition to the Finnish nationality you may also have the nationality of some other country. The law of the other nation, however, has an effect on whether or not a person can have another nationality in addition to his or her current one. It is a good idea to confirm the matter at the embassy of the nation in question in Finland. More information on Finnish nationality on the pages of the Finnish Immigration Service in Finnish, Swedish and English.