Citizenship declaration

Finnish citizenship can be acquired by declaration or on application. A citizenship declaration is a quicker way to become a Finnish citizen, and the processing fee is lower than the fee for a citizenship application.

You can become a Finnish citizen by declaration if you are:

• a former Finnish citizen
• a Nordic citizen
• a young person between 18 and 22 years of age who has lived in Finland long enough
• an adopted child between 12 and 17 years of age
• a child (under 18) who was born abroad outside marriage to a Finnish father, or to 2 mothers and your Finnish mother is your non-birth mother
• an adult (18 or over) whose parent is a Finnish citizen
  • you were born abroad outside marriage to a Finnish father or were born abroad to 2 mothers and your Finnish mother is your non-birth mother
  • you were born in Finland and your Finnish father’s paternity or your Finnish mother’s maternity was established after you had reached 18 years of age.