Eligibility quiz
Was your father a Finnish citizen when you were born?
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 in FinlandApplying in Finland
Find a service point
Find a Finnish Immigration Service service point where you can hand in your citizenship declaration.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Finnish Immigration Service service point near your city accepts citizenship declarations?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the service point.
See required documentsDownload the declaration form
Download the citizenship declaration form for an adult whose parent is a Finnish citizen from the bottom of the Finnish Immigration Service page.
Download the formFill in the form
Fill in and sign the paper declaration form.
Find form instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Finland citizenship declaration for an adult whose parent is a Finnish citizen?”
Book an appointment
Book an appointment at a Finnish Immigration Service service point using its appointment system.
Book an appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book a Finnish Immigration Service appointment for a citizenship declaration in Finland?”
Go to your appointment
Go in person and bring your signed declaration, its attachments and your original documents to the service point. Pay the €260 fee at the appointment; ask the service point which payment methods it accepts.
Find payment methodsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How can I pay the Finnish Immigration Service citizenship declaration fee at a service point in Finland?”
Wait for the decision
Watch for messages from the Finnish Immigration Service and send any extra information it asks for as instructed. If your declaration is approved, you can apply for a Finnish passport.
Check your applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How can I follow my Finnish Immigration Service citizenship declaration in Finland while waiting for a decision?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Parentage record
Get an official document showing that your Finnish father or non-birth mother was legally recognised as your parent. Ask the office that recorded the parentage for the document.
Birth certificate *
Get your birth certificate from the office that issued it. It must show your parents and your place of birth.
* Only if your details are not already in Finland’s Population Information System.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationParent's citizenship records *
Get a document showing that your Finnish father or non-birth mother was a Finnish citizen when you were born. This could be a copy of their Finnish passport with the relevant residence or citizenship evidence, or an official certificate showing they had not become a citizen of their country of residence.
* Only if your Finnish parent lived outside Finland beyond the Nordic countries, did not become Finnish by application and live in Finland until your birth, and did not become another country's citizen on or after 1 June 2003.
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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