Citizenship

Current policies in this category for Finland. Each policy page holds the rules in force today plus every recorded version and before/after comparison.

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Policies in this category

Citizenship

Finland Introduces New Civic Knowledge Requirement and Citizenship Test for Naturalisation

From 1 March 2027, citizenship applicants aged 18โ€“64 will generally have to meet a new requirement demonstrating sufficient knowledge of Finnish society and its key principles. The requirement can be met by: passing the new citizenship test; completing a Finnish-language or Swedish-language matriculation examination in Finland; or completing a qualifying Finnish-language or Swedish-language higher-education degree in Finland. Qualifying higher-education studies include a bachelor's or master's degree at a university, or a bachelor's (AMK) or master's (YAMK) degree at a university of applied sciences. The citizenship test will be conducted digitally on site. Applicants can take it in Finnish or Swedish. The questions will be multiple choice and will cover subjects such as key legislation governing life in Finnish society, fundamental and human rights, equality including gender equality, Finnish history and culture. Most questions must be answered correctly to pass. The Finnish Immigration Service will publish official learning material before the first test. The first test is expected to take place in March 2027. Further information about preparation, test locations and practical arrangements is expected during autumn 2026. Special arrangements may be available in some circumstances, including illness or disability. These can include additional time, an oral test or use of a personal assistive device. In serious cases, an exemption from the civic-knowledge requirement may also be possible because of health, disability or another very serious reason.

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฎ Finland1 versionUpdated 7 Sept 2026

Recent changes in this category

FinlandCitizenshipEffectiveEffective 1 Jan 2027

Finland Introduces New Civic Knowledge Requirement and Citizenship Test for Naturalisation

What changed

Finland's Citizenship Act 2027 will implement a new civic knowledge requirement for individuals applying for Finnish citizenship. This change, which comes into force on 1 January 2027, mandates that applicants aged 18 to 64 must demonstrate an understanding of Finnish society, its key principles, history, and culture. The requirement will specifically apply to citizenship applications submitted to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) on or after 1 March 2027, with the new citizenship test being a primary method of fulfilling this obligation.

Effective 1 Jan 2027Migri โ€” Newsroom