The proposal will be receiving comments until January 2025. The government proposal is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament in the spring of 2025. Recently, the Finnish authorities increased the residence period for obtaining Finnish citizenship from five to eight years, with the chance to be reduced in special circumstances.

Tighter Rules for Citizenship Candidates Who Have Committed Offences

When it comes to integrity, the Finnish authorities are planning to introduce tighter rules, making it more difficult for former offenders to obtain citizenship. If this initiative is supported, those who have committed offences will have a lower chance of becoming Finnish citizens.

The main reason why the criminal record will have such an impact on a candidate’s profile is national security, which, at a European level, is increasingly being compromised.

Recently, Sweden introduced more demanding rules for citizenship candidates with criminal records, including measures improving ID controls, while Denmark is pushing for tighter citizenship rules for people who are against homosexuals or antisemitism.

Finnish Government to Pay More Attention to Candidates’ Financial Resources

Another amendment to the Citizenship Act can be related to financial resources, with the Finnish authorities being more rigorous when it comes to the income that candidates earn.

The financial resources are considered an integration into Finnish society, meaning that people who have jobs and earn steady incomes are more likely to be granted citizenship. Those on unemployment benefits can expect the opposite.

The press release issued by the Finnish Interior Ministry also pointed out that those who earn Finnish citizenship can have their passport revoked if they provide false information when applying for the document. In addition, committing offences against Finland’s interests, such as terrorism, can cause candidates to lose their Finnish citizenship. A higher number of terrorism-related crimes can lead to the revocation of citizenship.