Period of residence
A requirement for becoming a Finnish citizen is that you live in Finland and that the total time you have lived in Finland (your period of residence) is long enough. Exceptions to the period of residence requirement may be made in individual cases. As a general rule, only legal residence in Finland counts towards your period of residence.
You have lived in Finland long enough if
- you have lived in Finland for the last five years without interruption (continuous period of residence); or
- you have lived in Finland for a total of seven years after you turned 15 (accumulated period of residence), with the last two years without interruption.
The start date of your period of residence depends on the permit you had when you moved to Finland. If you move away from Finland, your period of residence will be interrupted. If you had a temporary residence permit before you got a continuous residence permit, a half of the time you lived in Finland with a temporary residence permit is included in your period of residence. In such a case, you need to have had a continuous residence permit for at least one year immediately before the Finnish Immigration Service makes a decision on your citizenship application. The time you have lived in Finland with a temporary residence permit can only be included in your continuous period of residence.
Normal holiday trips are allowed during your uninterrupted residence in Finland. For example, if you spend three weeks or a month abroad during your summer holiday, your continuous period of residence is not interrupted. If you live abroad repeatedly or for long periods of time after you have moved to Finland, you period of residence may be interrupted. Read more about the rules concerning the period of residence on the page How to calculate the period of residence.
In certain situations, a shorter period of residence is enough
The period of residence required of you is shorter if any of the following conditions applies to you. The required period of residence is different for each of these groups.
- If you have the language skills required for becoming a Finnish citizen, it is sufficient if your permanent residence and domicile has been in Finland
- for the past four years without interruption; or
- for a total of six years after you reached the age of 15, with the last two years without interruption.
- Note! Even if you have lived in Finland for a time longer than this, you still must meet the language skills requirement.
- If your spouse is a Finnish citizen, it is sufficient if you have lived in Finland
- for the past four years without interruption (continuous period of residence); or
- for a total of six years after you reached the age of 15, with the last two years without interruption (accumulated period of residence).
- You also need to live together with your spouse, and you need to have lived with him or her for at least three years. If your spouse has died but he or she was a Finnish citizen, you need to have lived with your spouse for at least three years before he or she died.
- ‘Spouse’ refers to your husband or wife, your cohabiting partner or your registered same-sex partner.
If you are a citizen of Denmark, Iceland, Norway or Sweden, you need to have lived in Finland for the past two years without interruption.
- If you have refugee status in Finland or if you have been granted a residence permit on the basis of subsidiary protection or humanitarian protection, it is sufficient if you have lived in Finland
- for the past four years without interruption or
- for a total of six years after you reached the age of 15, with the last two years without interruption.
- Your period of residence is calculated from the date when you submitted your asylum application or residence permit application in Finland.
- If you have arrived in Finland as a quota refugee, your period of residence is calculated from the date when you moved to Finland.
If you are stateless against your own will, it is sufficient if you have lived in Finland
- for the past four years without interruption or
- for a total of six years after you reached the age of 15, with the last two years without interruption.