Numerous changes have recently been made to citizenship legislation which mean that from 1 September it will become easier for foreign nationals to be granted Finnish citizenship.

Most nations require would-be citizens to have been resident in that country for a certain number of years, and Finland is no different. Previously, Finland must have been the country of residence of the prospective citizen for a total of six years if over 22 years of age, or ten years for 18-22 year olds, with Nordic citizens being subject to slightly less stringent requirements.

However, as of next month, the time an applicant must have been resident in Finland will be reduced to five years of uninterrupted residence. Furthermore if the applicant demonstrates a comprehensive grasp of Finnish or Swedish, citizenship may be granted after four years.

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