Finland’s Ministry of the Interior confirmed on 28 October that the long-awaited revision of the Finnish Citizenship Act will enter into force on 17 December 2025. The reform is part of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s immigration policy package aimed at tightening access to citizenship while modernising the application process. All citizenship petitions will have to be filed electronically through the Enter Finland portal, allowing applicants to monitor case progress in real time, upload supplementary evidence and communicate securely with case officers. Paper applications will be discontinued, and applicants without sufficient digital skills will need to authorise a representative.
The substance of the law is equally significant. Applicants must now demonstrate sustained, lawful income that is not based on unemployment benefits or social assistance. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) clarified that payslips, audited business accounts or pension statements will be required; bank deposits alone will no longer suffice. The change aligns Finland with other Nordic countries that have recently emphasised economic self-reliance as a condition for naturalisation.
Criminal background scrutiny has been tightened. While minor traffic fines will not automatically block an application, repeated misdemeanours, tax offences or any custodial sentence will trigger mandatory waiting periods that can stretch up to ten years. In extreme cases involving terrorism or treason, the revised act empowers authorities to revoke citizenship retroactively — a power Finland has not previously exercised except in fraud cases.
Law firms specialising in corporate immigration are urging eligible employees to lodge their applications before the 17 December cut-off to avoid the tougher rules. Multinational companies with assignees in Finland should audit their talent pools quickly, as processing queues are likely to lengthen in the run-up to the deadline. Employers also need to update onboarding manuals to reflect the mandatory use of the Enter Finland portal and to budget for additional payroll documentation.
For foreign professionals considering a long-term future in Finland, the message is clear: make sure your tax affairs are in order, keep your criminal record clean and maintain a stable income stream. Failure to meet the new standards could delay citizenship by several years and, in the worst case, lead to revocation after naturalisation if serious offences occur.
The substance of the law is equally significant. Applicants must now demonstrate sustained, lawful income that is not based on unemployment benefits or social assistance. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) clarified that payslips, audited business accounts or pension statements will be required; bank deposits alone will no longer suffice. The change aligns Finland with other Nordic countries that have recently emphasised economic self-reliance as a condition for naturalisation.
Criminal background scrutiny has been tightened. While minor traffic fines will not automatically block an application, repeated misdemeanours, tax offences or any custodial sentence will trigger mandatory waiting periods that can stretch up to ten years. In extreme cases involving terrorism or treason, the revised act empowers authorities to revoke citizenship retroactively — a power Finland has not previously exercised except in fraud cases.
Law firms specialising in corporate immigration are urging eligible employees to lodge their applications before the 17 December cut-off to avoid the tougher rules. Multinational companies with assignees in Finland should audit their talent pools quickly, as processing queues are likely to lengthen in the run-up to the deadline. Employers also need to update onboarding manuals to reflect the mandatory use of the Enter Finland portal and to budget for additional payroll documentation.
For foreign professionals considering a long-term future in Finland, the message is clear: make sure your tax affairs are in order, keep your criminal record clean and maintain a stable income stream. Failure to meet the new standards could delay citizenship by several years and, in the worst case, lead to revocation after naturalisation if serious offences occur.
