Finland complicates the procedure for obtaining citizenship

17.10.2023 The Finnish Government intends to complicate the procedure for obtaining citizenship.

According to Interior Minister Marie Rantanen, successful integration should be a prerequisite for obtaining citizenship.

It is planned to increase the period of residence in the country required to obtain citizenship from five to eight years. A language proficiency exam is being introduced. In addition, the timeliness of payment of taxes and other government fees will be checked.

Changes related to the increase in the minimum period of stay in the country are planned to be put into effect in the autumn of this year, and the parliament is expected to begin discussing the bill on the citizenship exam in the spring of 2025.

According to the statistics of the Migration Service, last year Finland processed 10,700 applications for citizenship, of which 9,500 positive decisions were made.

Link to source: https://yle.fi/a/74-20055172