Starting October 1, 2024, Finland will implement new citizenship regulations, extending the required residency period to eight years, aimed at fostering successful integration into Finnish society.
This change will affect all citizenship applications submitted on or after this date, with a strong emphasis on language proficiency and long-term residency as crucial components of the naturalization process.
Key Changes to the Finnish Citizenship Process
Finland introduced stricter rules for its citizenship process, extending the residency requirement to eight years and prioritizing language proficiency, valid residence permits, and limiting time spent abroad for applicants.
1. Longer Residency Period
Starting in October 2024, the standard residency requirement for Finnish citizenship will increase from the previous norm to eight years. This extension reflects Finland’s focus on ensuring applicants are well-integrated into the country before applying for naturalization.
2. Language Proficiency Benefit
Applicants who demonstrate sufficient language proficiency can benefit from a reduced residency period. Instead of waiting eight years, those meeting the language requirement will be eligible to apply for citizenship after five years of residency, emphasizing the importance of language skills in integration.
3. Valid Residence Permit Requirement
Under the new rules, only the time spent in Finland with a valid residence permit will count toward the required residency period. This means periods without legal residency status, such as while waiting for asylum approval, will no longer be included in the calculation for citizenship.
4. Restrictions on Time Spent Abroad
Applicants can spend up to 365 days outside Finland during their residency period. However, only 90 of those days can be in the year immediately before the citizenship decision. This change helps ensure that applicants maintain a strong connection to Finland while meeting the residency requirements.
Backlog and Processing Times
Currently, the Finnish Immigration Service is handling a backlog of approximately 28,000 pending citizenship applications, with processing times ranging from 9 to 31 months depending on the case’s complexity.
The Immigration Service aims to reduce processing times to one year for most applications by 2027. A new system will be implemented to expedite the processing of applications that meet all requirements upfront.
This includes prioritizing applications from beneficiaries of international protection and stateless persons, starting with those submitted after October 1, 2024.
No Impact on Citizenship Declarations
The new amendments will not affect citizenship declarations for Nordic citizens or former Finnish citizens, who will continue to submit applications under existing rules.
Conclusion
In summary, Finland’s new citizenship rules, effective October 2024, aim to streamline the naturalization process while promoting successful integration. With extended residency requirements and an emphasis on language proficiency, the changes prioritize fairness and transparency for all applicants.