Finland citizenship restrictions have entered a new phase as the Finnish Parliament approved a major amendment to the Citizenship Act. The reform passed by 103 votes to 58 and represents the second stage of the government’s broader plan to redefine the path to Finnish nationality.
The new law focuses heavily on financial self-sufficiency. Applicants will now be required to show that they can support themselves through employment or business income. Those who have received social welfare for more than three months within the last two years will no longer be eligible to apply. The rule applies to most adult applicants, while minor children and people above 65 years remain exempt.
The goal of the reform is to ensure that Finnish citizenship reflects genuine participation in the country’s economy and social life. According to Mari Rantanen, Finland’s Minister of the Interior from the Finns Party, the government wants to link citizenship with responsibility and long-term commitment to the community.
The revised law also introduces tougher conditions related to personal conduct and criminal history. Those who have been convicted of crimes will now face longer mandatory waiting periods before being allowed to apply for citizenship. For instance, an unconditional prison sentence will now result in an eight-year waiting period, compared to seven years under the previous legislation.
Citizenship can also be denied for national security reasons, even if all other requirements are met. In addition, the law expands grounds for rejecting applications based on fraudulent actions. Giving false information or allowing someone else to complete the mandatory language test on behalf of the applicant will automatically disqualify the individual.
The new legislation also lowers the threshold for revoking citizenship in cases involving serious crimes such as treason, state offences, or terrorism. A prison sentence of two years or more can now result in the loss of citizenship, compared to the previous five-year minimum.
While the reform was largely supported by the ruling coalition, not all members agreed. Eva Biaudet of the Swedish People’s Party was the only government MP who voted against the proposal. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) also expressed concerns, even though it supported the general direction of the reform.
Eveliina Heinäluoma, a member of the Administration Committee from the SDP, emphasized that while financial stability is important, the government’s model fails to consider temporary unemployment or economic difficulties faced by otherwise well-integrated residents. She noted that Finland’s high unemployment rate can affect even active jobseekers through no fault of their own.
The SDP proposed an alternative plan that would allow exceptions for those who have received welfare for more than three but less than six months, provided their situation was temporary and beyond their control.
The newly adopted law marks the second of three planned phases in Finland’s ongoing citizenship reform. The first phase, which took effect in October 2024, increased the minimum residence requirement for naturalization from five to eight years. The final stage will introduce a citizenship test that will cover topics such as Finnish society, history, geography, and everyday life. Lawmakers are expected to debate the test proposal during the current autumn session.
The Finnish government views the full reform as a way to strengthen national identity and ensure that citizenship reflects both economic independence and civic responsibility.
