Requirement for sufficient financial resources
Applicants for Finnish citizenship must meet the requirement for sufficient financial resources. The applicant’s financial resources are not considered sufficient if the applicant has resorted to unemployment benefit or social assistance for longer than 3 months in total during the past 2 years. The applicant must provide a reliable account of his or her livelihood in Finland during the past 2 years. Exceptions to the income requirement can be made in certain cases.
Establishment of identity
Applicants who have been issued with an alien’s passport for obtaining a national passport are required to present a valid national passport or similar document to prove their identity.
Integrity requirement
Offences will have a more substantial impact on whether the applicant can be granted Finnish citizenship. The importance of national security will also be emphasised. The waiting periods resulting from offences will be longer. In future, a waiting period of 1–8 years can be imposed in connection with a negative decision. Citizenship is not normally granted during the waiting period.
Loss of Finnish citizenship
The loss of Finnish citizenship will become more common in cases where the person has given false information or otherwise acted fraudulently when applying for citizenship. Serious offences, including terrorist, treason or high treason offences punishable by 6 years of imprisonment, can lead to the loss of citizenship.
You can follow the preparation of the amendments and the schedule for entry into force on the website of the Ministry of the Interior (intermin.fi).
