Finland: New Citizenship Requirements

Key Points  

• Finland will introduce new citizenship requirements and timelines beginning 1 October 2024  

Finnish Citizenship Requirements 

The government of Finland will introduce new citizenship requirements beginning 1 October 2024. As a result, the required residence period for Finnish citizenship extends from five to eight years. Additional changes include: 

• Citizenship applications for beneficiaries of international protection will be processed urgently, with decisions made within one year. 
• For children aged 15 or over, spouses of Finnish citizens, stateless persons, and applicants meeting language proficiency requirements, the residence period extends from four to five years. 
• Nordic citizens and spouses of Finnish mission workers abroad remain unchanged at two years. Only periods of residence with a residence permit will be considered, excluding asylum application processing time. The total allowable absence abroad is one year, with no more than three months in the year preceding naturalization. 

Looking Ahead  

Continue to check the government of Finland’s website and Envoy Global’s website for the latest updates and information.