Eligibility quiz
Do you have a spouse or partner who is a Finnish citizen, or did you have one who has died?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Finnish passport and ID
A Finnish passport lets you travel internationally, subject to the entry rules of your destination.
A Finnish identity card can be used to travel to listed European countries.
You do not need a passport between Nordic countries, but you must be able to prove your identity and citizenship.
Live in Finland for life
Finnish citizens have an unconditional right to live in Finland, and citizenship does not expire.
Study in Finland
Finnish citizens can study in Finland without a residence permit.
Work in Finland
Finnish citizens can work in Finland without a residence or work permit.
Get help abroad
Finnish citizens can seek consular help abroad in emergencies, including arrest, serious illness, unrest or lost documents.
If Finland has no local representation, you can seek help from another EU country’s embassy or consulate.
Vote in elections
Finnish citizens can vote from age 18 in parliamentary, presidential and European Parliament elections, under each election’s rules.
Voting in municipal and wellbeing-services-county elections is principally tied to residence in the municipality or county.
Use public healthcare
Finnish citizens can use public healthcare when they have a municipality of residence in Finland.
Get social support
Finnish citizens can receive Kela benefits if they meet the conditions, which depend mainly on residence, work and the benefit.
How to apply
Applying onlineApplying online
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your citizenship application.
See required documentsFill in the application online
Create an account or sign in to Enter Finland and fill in the adult citizenship application. Include your spouse or partner, your residence and trips abroad, and your income sources for the past two years.
Fill in the applicationSubmit your application
Upload the required documents and submit your application in Enter Finland, paying the processing fee there when you submit. You can instead hand in a paper application at a Finnish Immigration Service service point.
Submit your applicationBook an appointment
If you did not use Finnish online-banking credentials or another accepted strong identification method in Enter Finland, book an appointment at a Finnish Immigration Service service point. If you used strong identification, you do not need to visit.
Book an appointmentGo to your appointment
If you need a visit, bring your filled application, attachments and their originals, a passport photo or photo retrieval code, and evidence that you paid the fee to the service point. The Finnish Immigration Service will check your identity and original documents.
See what to bringSearches DuckDuckGo for “What do I bring to a Finnish Immigration Service appointment for a Finland citizenship application?”
Wait for the decision
Follow your application in Enter Finland, keep your contact details up to date and answer any requests for more information. You will be notified of the decision through the service.
Follow your applicationDocuments needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Relationship records* *
Provide the marriage or registered-partnership record, family-ties document, or other evidence the form asks for. The evidence should cover your relationship with your Finnish spouse or partner and your time living together.
* Only if the application form asks for proof of your relationship or time living together.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Registration when living abroad
Finnish citizens moving abroad for more than three months must report the move and keep their population records up to date.
They must also notify Kela where relevant.
Military service for men
Finnish men aged 18–60 must perform national defence service if fit.
This can be armed, unarmed or non-military service.
Citizenship can be lost
At 22, citizens with another citizenship may lose Finnish citizenship without sufficient ties to Finland.
It can be revoked for decisive application fraud or certain serious offences by adults with another citizenship, after a qualifying sentence and assessment.
Release on request requires another citizenship if otherwise stateless and cannot be used to evade duties while resident in Finland.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Foreigners in Finland
English Facebook group for people living in Finland interested in Finnish local life
Join on FacebookExpats & Foreigners in Finland
English Facebook group for people living in Finland interested in Finnish local life
Join on FacebookJoensuu English Speakers
English Facebook group for people living in Finland interested in Finnish local life
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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