The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) has finished a two-year digital transformation project and, as of 00:01 on 17 December, will only accept citizenship applications through its Enter Finland e-portal. Every step—from uploading documents to paying fees and receiving decisions—now happens online. Paper forms, in-person counter service and postal submissions have been discontinued.
Behind the sleek interface sits an expanded data-sharing architecture that automatically pulls identity, tax and police records. Migri predicts this will cut average processing times from eight months to roughly six and save an estimated €4 million a year in back-office costs. Corporate mobility managers are being encouraged to update onboarding checklists and to brief foreign assignees early about the new digital-only pathway.
For anyone who could use an experienced guide through Finland’s new e-only citizenship channel, VisaHQ offers tailored support. Its Helsinki-focused team can pre-check your digital files, alert you to missing documents, and even coordinate side-services such as Schengen visas for family members. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/finland/.
![Finland Moves All Citizenship Applications Online & Extends Residence Requirement to Six Years]()
Substantive eligibility rules have tightened in parallel. Applicants must show six consecutive years of lawful residence in Finland (up from five), demonstrate sustainable earned income that is independent of social assistance, and prove Finnish or Swedish language skills at CEFR A2 level. The tougher requirements are part of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s programme to align naturalisation policy with wider efforts to boost integration and labour-force participation.
For employers the longer residence requirement means talented staff on assignment may have to wait an extra year before accessing the travel flexibility that comes with an EU passport. Mobility teams should therefore review long-term contract durations and plan ahead for any travel that hinges on Finnish citizenship—particularly assignments involving global roles that expect visa-free mobility across multiple regions.
Affected foreign professionals are advised to create an Enter Finland account well ahead of eligibility, gather payslips and tax certificates in digital form, and schedule language tests early, as slots at recognised test centres tend to fill quickly toward year-end.
Behind the sleek interface sits an expanded data-sharing architecture that automatically pulls identity, tax and police records. Migri predicts this will cut average processing times from eight months to roughly six and save an estimated €4 million a year in back-office costs. Corporate mobility managers are being encouraged to update onboarding checklists and to brief foreign assignees early about the new digital-only pathway.
For anyone who could use an experienced guide through Finland’s new e-only citizenship channel, VisaHQ offers tailored support. Its Helsinki-focused team can pre-check your digital files, alert you to missing documents, and even coordinate side-services such as Schengen visas for family members. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/finland/.
Substantive eligibility rules have tightened in parallel. Applicants must show six consecutive years of lawful residence in Finland (up from five), demonstrate sustainable earned income that is independent of social assistance, and prove Finnish or Swedish language skills at CEFR A2 level. The tougher requirements are part of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s programme to align naturalisation policy with wider efforts to boost integration and labour-force participation.
For employers the longer residence requirement means talented staff on assignment may have to wait an extra year before accessing the travel flexibility that comes with an EU passport. Mobility teams should therefore review long-term contract durations and plan ahead for any travel that hinges on Finnish citizenship—particularly assignments involving global roles that expect visa-free mobility across multiple regions.
Affected foreign professionals are advised to create an Enter Finland account well ahead of eligibility, gather payslips and tax certificates in digital form, and schedule language tests early, as slots at recognised test centres tend to fill quickly toward year-end.
