At 00:01 on 17 December Finland activated a completely paper-free naturalisation process. All citizenship requests must now be filed through the Enter Finland portal; physical forms and walk-in submissions have been abolished. Migri estimates the end-to-end digital workflow will shave two months off the current eight-month average processing time while cutting back-office costs by 12 percent.
Alongside the digital leap, the substance of the law has become markedly tougher. Applicants need six consecutive years of legal residence instead of five, must prove sustainable earned income that is not based on social assistance and demonstrate Finnish or Swedish at CEFR level A2. Migri may summon candidates for language interviews if test scores appear suspect.
For foreign professionals seeking guidance through the new digital-only landscape, VisaHQ’s Finnish desk offers step-by-step assistance with the Enter Finland portal, document verification and language-test scheduling. Their online platform (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) streamlines the paperwork that remains behind the scenes and can liaise with Migri on your behalf, reducing the risk of auto-rejection and saving valuable time.
![Finland Switches to All-Digital Citizenship Applications and Raises Eligibility Bar]()
A narrow grandfathering clause protects foreigners who had already reached the five-year threshold by 17 December, but everyone else is reset to a six-year track. The change forces employers—particularly in ICT and gaming, sectors that rely on quick access to citizenship to retain talent—to recalibrate assignment timelines and cost projections.
The all-digital model also introduces new risks. Applicants with limited digital skills or unreliable internet now have no in-person fallback, and incomplete e-files are auto-rejected after 30 days. Visa consultants predict a surge in demand for “done-for-you” filing services that bundle identity verification, document uploads and biometric booking.
Parliament will review the impact in late 2026. If the stricter income rule reduces naturalisation without boosting labour-market outcomes, MPs have hinted at possible fine-tuning—but for now the message to HR teams is clear: start digital-readiness training and budget for longer retention windows.
Alongside the digital leap, the substance of the law has become markedly tougher. Applicants need six consecutive years of legal residence instead of five, must prove sustainable earned income that is not based on social assistance and demonstrate Finnish or Swedish at CEFR level A2. Migri may summon candidates for language interviews if test scores appear suspect.
For foreign professionals seeking guidance through the new digital-only landscape, VisaHQ’s Finnish desk offers step-by-step assistance with the Enter Finland portal, document verification and language-test scheduling. Their online platform (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) streamlines the paperwork that remains behind the scenes and can liaise with Migri on your behalf, reducing the risk of auto-rejection and saving valuable time.
A narrow grandfathering clause protects foreigners who had already reached the five-year threshold by 17 December, but everyone else is reset to a six-year track. The change forces employers—particularly in ICT and gaming, sectors that rely on quick access to citizenship to retain talent—to recalibrate assignment timelines and cost projections.
The all-digital model also introduces new risks. Applicants with limited digital skills or unreliable internet now have no in-person fallback, and incomplete e-files are auto-rejected after 30 days. Visa consultants predict a surge in demand for “done-for-you” filing services that bundle identity verification, document uploads and biometric booking.
Parliament will review the impact in late 2026. If the stricter income rule reduces naturalisation without boosting labour-market outcomes, MPs have hinted at possible fine-tuning—but for now the message to HR teams is clear: start digital-readiness training and budget for longer retention windows.
