Number granted Finnish citizenship more than doubles

From January to June of this year Finnish citizenship was granted to 4,554 persons. Of the total, 4,086 obtained citizenship by application and 468 by declaration[1]. The number more than doubled compared to the same period last year, when 2,220 people were granted Finnish citizenship.

The number of those applying for citizenship also grew markedly: citizenship applications grew by around 42 percent (1–6/2012: 3,708 persons, 1–6/2011: 2,605), and citizenship declarations by around 77 percent (1–6/2012: 440, 1–6/2011: 248).

Growth due to legislative amendment in autumn

The increased number of applicants is largely due to the amendment made to the Finnish Nationality Act, which entered into force on 1 September 2011. This shortened the period of residence required for citizenship from six to five years, which is reflected in the higher number of citizenship applications.

On the other hand, the rise in the number of citizenship declarations has been accelerated by the fact that, since the beginning of last September, all former Finnish citizens have been able to regain citizenship by declaration, without having to move back to Finland.

Due to the legislative amendment and growth in the number of citizenship applications and declarations, in early 2012 the Finnish Immigration Service employed temporary extra resources for decision-making on citizenship issues. This and continuously greater efficiency in decision-making also markedly increased the number of citizenship decisions: the number of application decisions more than doubled and the number of declaration decisions rose by around 60 percent.

Russians the largest group – one EU country also amongst leaders

The largest groups among those who sought citizenship by application were Russians (1,065), Iraqis (275), Estonians (210), Somalis (209) and Afghans (182).

The largest groups among those who obtained citizenship by application were Russians (1,402), Estonians (284), Somalis (192), Afghans (162) and Iranians (159).

Citizens of Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were new to the ten largest groups of applicants. Citizens from a single EU country, Estonia, are among the ten largest groups from year to year, in terms of both citizenship applicants and recipients.

Swedes (127), Canadians (25), Australians (23), citizens of the United States (19) and Germans (12) made most citizenship declarations as former Finnish citizens. The same groups of former citizens headed the number of those receiving positive decisions in early 2012.

The majority of decisions were positive

Approximately 90 per cent of the decisions issued on citizenship applications during the first half of 2012 were positive. Positive decisions on citizenship by declaration totalled approximately 91 per cent.

More detailed statistical report on the Internet

A more detailed review of the January–June 2012 citizenship statistics can be found in Finnish on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service at www.migri.fi > Quick links > Statistics > Statistics on Citizenship.

Further information for the media

Ulla Vainikka, Head of Section, Nationality Unit,
tel. +358 (0)71 873 0431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi

[1] Former Finnish citizens, young people aged 18 to 22 who have spent a major part of their youth in Finland, and the illegitimate children of a Finnish father, are among the groups that may obtain Finnish citizenship by declaration, which is less onerous than by application.