Finland has flipped the switch on the most sweeping overhaul of its Nationality Act since it joined the EU. As of 00:01 on 17 December 2025, every naturalisation request must be filed through the Enter Finland e-portal; paper forms and in-person submissions are now history. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) predicts the end-to-end digital workflow—covering fee payment, biometric capture, document uploads and e-signatures—will shave roughly two months off the current eight-month average processing time and cut back-office costs by 12 percent.
The substantive requirements have also tightened. Applicants must now show six consecutive years of legal residence (up from five), produce evidence of sustainable earned income that does not rely on unemployment benefits or social assistance, and maintain A2-level Finnish or Swedish skills. Migri may summon applicants for in-person language interviews if test scores appear inconsistent. A narrow grandfathering clause means only those who had already reached the previous five-year residence threshold by 17 December keep that route; everyone else is reset to six years.
For employers, the changes alter long-term talent-retention strategies. Sectors such as ICT and gaming have historically used the promise of relatively quick citizenship to lure experts from outside the EU. HR teams must now recalibrate timelines, re-run cost projections and update mobility policies. Companies that sponsor assignees will also need to train staff in strong e-ID authentication and digital document handling, as incomplete e-files will be auto-rejected after 30 days.
![Finland’s New Citizenship Act Goes Live with Fully-Digital Process and Higher Hurdles]()
For applicants who’d rather not navigate the new system alone, VisaHQ can bridge the gap. The firm’s Finland desk provides end-to-end guidance on assembling compliant e-files, verifying income documentation, booking biometric slots and tracking application milestones—services that relieve both individuals and corporate HR from steep learning curves. Explore the options at https://www.visahq.com/finland/.
The fully digital model offers efficiencies but creates new practical risks. Older applicants or those without high-speed internet may struggle with the online interface, while the abolition of in-person counter service removes a safety net for missing paperwork. Law firms and visa facilitators foresee a surge in demand for “done-for-you” filing packages that walk applicants through each upload step and schedule biometric appointments.
Looking ahead, policymakers will watch whether the tougher income rule improves labour-market outcomes or simply discourages mid-career specialists from choosing Finland over neighbours like Sweden, where citizenship still requires five years and no income test. A parliamentary review is scheduled for late 2026, giving stakeholders less than 12 months of data before the first post-reform cohort reaches eligibility.
The substantive requirements have also tightened. Applicants must now show six consecutive years of legal residence (up from five), produce evidence of sustainable earned income that does not rely on unemployment benefits or social assistance, and maintain A2-level Finnish or Swedish skills. Migri may summon applicants for in-person language interviews if test scores appear inconsistent. A narrow grandfathering clause means only those who had already reached the previous five-year residence threshold by 17 December keep that route; everyone else is reset to six years.
For employers, the changes alter long-term talent-retention strategies. Sectors such as ICT and gaming have historically used the promise of relatively quick citizenship to lure experts from outside the EU. HR teams must now recalibrate timelines, re-run cost projections and update mobility policies. Companies that sponsor assignees will also need to train staff in strong e-ID authentication and digital document handling, as incomplete e-files will be auto-rejected after 30 days.
For applicants who’d rather not navigate the new system alone, VisaHQ can bridge the gap. The firm’s Finland desk provides end-to-end guidance on assembling compliant e-files, verifying income documentation, booking biometric slots and tracking application milestones—services that relieve both individuals and corporate HR from steep learning curves. Explore the options at https://www.visahq.com/finland/.
The fully digital model offers efficiencies but creates new practical risks. Older applicants or those without high-speed internet may struggle with the online interface, while the abolition of in-person counter service removes a safety net for missing paperwork. Law firms and visa facilitators foresee a surge in demand for “done-for-you” filing packages that walk applicants through each upload step and schedule biometric appointments.
Looking ahead, policymakers will watch whether the tougher income rule improves labour-market outcomes or simply discourages mid-career specialists from choosing Finland over neighbours like Sweden, where citizenship still requires five years and no income test. A parliamentary review is scheduled for late 2026, giving stakeholders less than 12 months of data before the first post-reform cohort reaches eligibility.
