The Fund for Peace has named Finland one of the most economically stable countries in the world. Many people want to become Finnish citizens because it is a country with low levels of crime and corruption and a highly developed economy. Read on to discover five major routes to Finnish citizenship, the documents required and why your application may be rejected.
About Finland
Finland ranks in the top 20 countries in the world in terms of living standards. Here is why:
- Free education. Finnish citizens study for free at schools and universities considered some of the best in Europe.
- Healthcare. The Finnish government allocates 9% of the annual budget to the healthcare system every year. Finland ranks third in the world for life expectancy, Finns live to be 81 years old, on average.
- State benefits and social security. Citizens of Finland can receive pregnancy, maternity, unemployment, and disability benefits.
- Employment. People with a Finnish passport can work and live in any of the EU countries without restrictions.
- Nature. Forests cover 76% or 230,000 square kilometres of Finnish territory.
- Ecology. Children in Finland learn to care about nature and preserve the environment at an early age. Killing animals, chopping down trees and making fires in undesignated places is forbidden.
- Security. Finland has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
- Visa-free travel. Finnish citizens can travel freely to any EU country.
Moreover, this northern country welcomes people who want to become its citizens.
Helsinki. Photo: Tapio Haaja (Unsplash)
How to Obtain Finnish Citizenship
Finland is a multinational country where anyone can apply for citizenship, including people of Finnish descent and other immigrants. Let's look at the five major routes to become a citizen of Finland.
Citizenship by Birth
Children born to two Finnish citizens automatically become Finnish. The same applies if only the mother has Finnish citizenship.
In the case when only the father is a Finnish citizen, the requirements are the following:
- the father of the child must be married to the child's mother;
- he must officially recognise his children if they were born to an unmarried couple.
If children were born abroad, the rules are the same.
Children under the age of 12 who were adopted by Finnish parents automatically become citizens of Finland.
If adopted children are 12 years old or older, they must apply for citizenship by declaration. In this case, they must meet the requirements listed below.
- Live in Finland for over 10 years, or six, if the person was born in Finland.
- Have a clear criminal record.
Luckily, if you resided in one of the Nordic countries (Norway, Denmark and Sweden) for up to five years, this time will count as living on the territory of Finland. All new citizens automatically become liable for military service.
Old Porvoo. Photo: Tapio Haaja (Unsplash)
Citizenship by Naturalisation
Naturalisation is a way to become a citizen of a country after having lived there for a certain amount of time. This route is popular among students and foreign workers as they often do not have any Finnish roots or investment funds.
Just like many other countries, Finland tries to attract lots of highly skilled foreign workers. The Finnish government is particularly interested in attracting medical staff, chemists and IT specialists to the country.
To naturalise in Finland, you need to live in the country for a total of six years: four of them on a temporary residence permit and two as a permanent resident. You can then apply for citizenship either online, via the EnterFinland website, or in person, at the Finnish Embassy.
Here is the list of required documents for a temporary residence permit:
- a valid travel passport;
- a police clearance certificate;
- a medical certificate confirming that you do not have any serious medical conditions;
- a title deed or a lease confirming you own or rent a property in Finland;
- medical insurance valid for the whole period of your permanent residence permit;
- an application stating the reason you need a residence permit: work, education, or business in Finland.
In addition, you need to submit a certificate of income no less than €1,252 a month, which is the minimum wage in Finland.
After four years of continuous residence in Finland, during two of which you must not leave the country, you may apply for a permanent residence permit. You will need to provide:
- a certificate of income;
- proof that you are not in receipt of any state benefits;
- a document confirming all taxes were paid on time every year that you lived in Finland;
- a title deed or a lease;
- an application fee receipt.
All applicants for a permanent residence permit in Finland must pass a Finnish or Swedish language test. The exam is held four times a year. You can sign up for it via the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education which publishes the dates and locations of the exams. The language exam has three parts: reading, writing, and speaking.
The Kvarken Archipelago. Photo: Hendrik Morkel (Unsplash)
Citizenship by Descent
In 2004, Finland launched a programme granting citizenship to people of Finnish descent. Originally, only people with at least two Finnish ancestors were eligible for citizenship through this programme.
However, after some amendments in 2011, any person with at least one Finnish relative can apply for a permanent residence permit in Finland. Applicants for citizenship by descent do not have to first apply for a temporary permit. They skip this step.
These are the basic requirements.
- Have no criminal record and refusals to enter the country;
- Have a Finnish relative of the first or second generation: parents or grandparents;
- Be 18 or older;
- Be able to speak basic Finnish or Swedish.
You can either apply online or at one of the Finnish embassies abroad. If you want to apply in Finland, submit your documents to the Finnish Immigration Service.
Here is the list of documents you need to provide:
- a travel passport valid for the entire period of permanent residence;
- an up-to-date colour digital photo taken in the last six months;
- a colour copy of your ID, including stamps;
- your birth certificate;
- birth certificates of your Finnish relatives;
- a valid visa or resident's card to confirm you can legally stay in Finland;
- proof of your relative's citizenship. You can get this at the archive at their place of residence or in the Finnish Population Information System.
Applicants for citizenship by descent must live in Finland for three years as permanent residents before becoming citizens.
Kuopio. Photo: Niilo Isotalo (Unsplash)
Citizenship by Marriage
You can also get citizenship by marriage. In this case, you are required to live with your spouse for at least four years and live legally in Finland throughout this period. Take note that you will also have to pass the Finnish language exam and get a temporary or permanent residence in Finland.
After that, your Finnish spouse can apply for citizenship on your behalf. The application can take up to 12 months to process.
The list of required documents includes:
- a completed application form downloaded from the Finnish Immigration Service’s website;
- a valid temporary or permanent residence permit;
- an ID or passport;
- your spouse's ID or other document confirming their citizenship;
- a marriage certificate;
- the results of the language exam;
- a statement from your spouse confirming your marriage.
You may be asked to provide additional information such as your medical insurance policy or proof of income.
Business Immigration
In 2018, Finland launched a business immigration programme called the Finnish Entrepreneurship Programme (FEP). It is aimed at attracting foreign entrepreneurs to Finland to create jobs and develop the Finnish economy. FEP participants are eligible for obtaining permanent residence.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Present a business plan that describes the aims, products or services of the business, the target market, competitor analysis and financial forecasts.
- Have business experience.
- Be able to speak basic Finnish or Swedish.
- Demonstrate business potential. The establishment must generate economic benefits to Finland as well as provide new jobs to its citizens.
- Meet the financial limitations. There is a market entry threshold for each business. For instance, it will take from €10,000 to open a restaurant. The amount needed depends on the size of the building, its location and cost of equipment.
When applying for permanent residence, you must submit proof of funds which should be enough to support your whole family. Thus, the applicant’s income must be at least €1200 a month for themselves and €700 for their spouse and children.
Business immigrants have to live in Finland for more than two years to become permanent residents. If the business has made profit five years in a row, you can then apply for Finnish citizenship.
Helsinki. Photo by Tapio Haaja (Unsplash)
Rejection of Application and Citizenship Loss
Let's start with what can make you ineligible for Finnish citizenship. For example, if an applicant:
- has a criminal record;
- has submitted forged documents;
- cannot speak the language or does not have enough knowledge of Finnish society and culture. All candidates for Finnish citizenship must have skills in at least one official language and be aware of Finland's history, culture, and public institutions.
- does not have a permanent place of residence in Finland. Applicants must live in Finland on a legal basis and have lived in the country for a certain amount of time before applying for citizenship.
- is ineligible because of other requirements, for example, age.
On the other hand, if your application package lacks a copy or a certificate, it will still be processed, unlike in many other countries. The immigration officers will just ask you to bring the necessary papers.
However, there is a chance of losing Finnish citizenship even after you obtained it. For instance, if a dual citizen has reached the age of 22 and does not have enough close ties to Finland, they will lose their Finnish citizenship. Close ties are defined as military service in Finland, time of residence in the country before a person turns 22, or the fact of obtaining a passport between 18 and 21 years old.
In a Nutshell
Finland allows dual citizenship, so you do not have to renounce your original citizenship. Finland appeals to many people because the country has a high standard of living, excellent education and marvellous nature.
Cover photo: Helsinki Cathedral, Tapio Haaja (Pexels)
