Ministry of the Interior launches a reform of the Nationality Act
Finland will tighten the naturalisation requirements during this government term in line with the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government. The plans involve changes to the legal provisions specifying requirements for the period of residence, integrity and livelihood, and the introduction of a citizenship test. The objectives set out in the Government Programme will be implemented in stages in three projects set up by the Ministry of the Interior.
The objectives put forward in the Government Programme include tightening the naturalisation requirements and encouraging integration.
- Finnish citizenship is not something that can be granted automatically. It will require successful integration, says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.
The Ministry will set up three projects to amend the Nationality Act in line with the Government Programme. The first project will concern the programme entries on the period of residence. This will involve, as a key amendment, extending the general requirement for the period of residence in Finland from the current five years to eight years.
In addition, only time lived in Finland under a residence permit would be taken into account when calculating the approved period of residence. The number of days which the applicant can spend abroad during the period of residence would be reduced. The plans also include abolishing the derogation from the period of residence concerning beneficiaries of international protection, and reviewing the other grounds for derogations from the period of residence. The government proposal on the period of residence would be submitted to Parliament during the 2024 spring session.
Stricter requirements for integrity and livelihood
Further amendments to the Nationality Act set out in the Government Programme include tightening the integrity requirement, investigating the possibility of including a national security assessment in the naturalisation process, and introducing a stricter livelihood requirement. Applicants would also be required to actively help authorities in establishing their identity.
In line with the Government Programme, the Ministry will examine the possibility of revoking citizenship in situations where citizenship has been acquired by providing false information, concealing a relevant circumstance or otherwise acting fraudulently. The Ministry will also look into the Danish approach to revoking citizenship in situations where a person with a dual citizenship participates in the activities of an armed terrorist group abroad.
The government proposal would submitted to Parliament during the 2024 autumn session.
Introducing a citizenship test
Previously, Finland has not required applicants to pass a citizenship test for naturalisation. However, many European Union countries have a citizenship test in place.
The Ministry will launch a study to explore the types of citizenship test that could be introduced in Finland and options for the body to administer the test. A cross-administrative working group will be established to carry out the study.
Based on the working group's report, the Ministry will draft the required amendments to the Nationality Act. In addition, the project will review the dual citizenship system in accordance with the Government Programme. A government proposal on the citizenship test would be submitted to Parliament during the 2025 spring session.
Inquiries:
Roope Jokinen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 362, [email protected]
Hanna Pihkanen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 488 217, [email protected]
requests for interviews with the Minister: [email protected]